Author's Note: Anyone who has read this before will probably notice the absence of a few chapters, mainly regarding the one about Holliday's pirate ancestor. This is because I decided to remove it in order to make a Black Flag/Black Sails Crossover. Anyway Read and enjoy
Lucy felt like she was waking up to a nightmare. One moment they were all together on the platform observing the apple and the next Desmond was inches from her. The apple in one hand and his hidden blade buried in his abdomen.
Lucy looked at Desmond's pained expression as tears slowly ran down his face. He looked at her with his golden brown eyes, "Lucy," he said his voice barely above a whisper. Before she could anything, Desmond crumpled to the floor. his hidden blade retracted and blood began to flow freely with every beat of his heart.
'No,' she thought, 'no, no, no, this isn't happening, this can't be happening. At first, she wanted to believe that the scene before her wasn't real, but the longer she stayed the more convinced she became. Getting over her shock Lucy dropped to her knees and pressed her hand to Desmond side in an attempt to stop the flowing blood. The others around her were talking rapidly, but she could understand what they were saying because someone was screaming. Lucy then realized the person screaming was her.
"DESMOND!" She cried out to him, "OH GOD DESMOND NO, STAY WITH ME, YOU'LL BE OKAY JUST STAY WITH ME, PLEASE!"
She didn't notice Holliday and the others rush forward and crouch beside Desmond. In Holliday's hand was a small box with a medical cross. "Open the wound," he ordered as he opened the box. Lucy stared at him like he was crazy. "JUST DO IT," he snapped. Hesitantly Lucy opened the stab wound as Holliday ordered Shaun and Rebecca to hold Desmond down. Holliday took a small tube and poured what appeared to be gunpowder lightly over the gash. He then took out a lighter and brought it to the wound. The flame caused the gunpowder to ignite. The heat and the quick flame cauterized and sealed the wound. The painful procedure caused Desmond's body to thrash instinctively for a few moments. Once Desmond stopped thrashing Holliday poured alcohol over the wound, then allowed Lucy to apply pressure. Holliday reached into his kit and took out modeling glue. Holliday carefully applied the glue over the wound and Lucy held the skin together until the glue dried effectively keeping it from reopening.
Holliday sighed and wiped his brow, "that should do for now until we can get proper medical treatment." Lucy also sighed in relief as she cradled Desmond's unconscious head in her lap, her fingers petting his hair as she looked down at him with tears in her eyes.
"Where can we go?" Shaun asked. "We're in Rome and if we bring Desmond to a hospital the Templars are sure to catch us."
Holliday walked over to Lucy and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, her eyes red with tears. "We should get him up," Holliday said, we can't stay here."
Lucy looked down and placed a hand gently on Desmond's wound. As if reading her thoughts Holliday knelt down. "It will do for now," he assured her, "But we still need to get him properly treated." Lucy nodded and together Holliday and the assassins carefully carried Desmond out of the Temple.
"Rebecca," Holliday called. the brunette assassin turned to him as Holliday gestured towards the apple. "Get that...Thing whatever it is but don't touch it." He stripped off his coat and threw it over the Apple. Rebecca carefully picked it up and followed the group.
Once they got topside they were met by a group of armed men in hoods. Holliday instinctively drew his Automag and aimed it at them. The hooded men did the same but before a firefight could start, Rebecca stepped between them.
"Don't!" She cried in alarm, "the Mentor sent them."
Holliday eyed the man suspiciously before holstering his gun, once his was holstered the men followed. They came forward and examined Desmond.
"Is he alright?" One of them asked.
"If 'alright' you mean alive," Holliday implied, "then yes."
"Who the hell are you?" asked one of the other men.
"We got more important things to worry about at the moment," Holliday snapped. "Like getting Desmond treated for this wound."
The man sighed and nodded and together they all took Desmond to the van and laid him on his back. Lucy resolutely refuse to leave his side and she sat on the floor of the van clutching Desmond's hand. Holliday decided to take the wheel. "You don't happen to have any doctors at the sanctuary do you?"
Shaun shook his head, "Where should we go?" He asked, "we can't go back to the Villa, not with Desmond's condition."
"Well go to Gradara," Holliday decided. "I have friends there who can help him."
The assassin team turned to Lucy. She looked at them and nodded before looking down at Desmond. Holliday took his coat carrying the apple and put it in his duffle bag and putting a lock on the zipper
The trip from Rome to Gradara would nominally take about 4 hours. But Holliday's borderline reckless driving allowed them to cut a whole hour off. Both Holliday's and the assassin's medical supplies were placed in the van Desmond was in for Lucy to use. As they drove, Holliday pulled out his phone and started typing rapidly," When the other line picks up, Holliday spoke seven words, "I'd like to make a dinner reservation." After getting a quick reply he hung up.
"Are you sure they won't be able to trace that call?" Lucy asked worriedly.
Holliday nodded, "my phone piggybacks on multiple signals, it will take them days to figure out the real source made a call to his friends in Gradara.
Lucy nodded in acceptance and after a long moment, she spoke again, "this is my fault," she said miserably.
Holliday turned his head slightly, "What?"
"I did this to him," Lucy continued, "we pushed him too far. In our eagerness to beat the Templars to the Apple we were willing to risk Desmond's mental state to do so. He was already starting to slip, I should have slowed down, I should have given him more time to rest. Now he's dying and it's all my fault."
"HEY!" Holliday snapped causing Lucy to look up startled. Holliday sighed and said more calmly. "Beating yourself over the head is not going to help Desmond. Remember he WANTED to do this, he was aware of the risks, yet he was willing to take them. The state he is in was not your doing. We don't know what happened down there, but one thing I know. That thing, that Apple had something to do with it. For all we know the apple poisoned his mind or took control, we don't really know these things do we?"
"If the apple did this to him then it's still my fault," Lucy replied. "We were so confident, so sure, that we threw caution down the drain. Not even considering the risks of handling the apple. As you said we have barely scratched the surface with what it's capable of. We should have been careful, now our recklessness has cost us."
"Well when Desmond wakes up we shall know the truth," Holliday said confidently.
"If he wakes up," Lucy tried to correct him.
"No, WHEN," Holliday insisted. "Desmond is tougher than you think Lucy, he will survive this." Lucy didn't reply as she looked back down at Desmond. Holliday concentrated on his driving. 'You will live angel eyes,' Holliday thought to himself, 'you have to.'
The drive to Gradara was the longest three hours of Lucy's life, every minute that passed Lucy feared might be Desmond's last. When they finally arrived the assassins expected him to go to some underground hospital, or a private residence, Instead he led them to Gradara castle. Surprisingly the gates of the curtain wall opened without question and they were able to drive straight up to the keep itself. no sooner had the cars stopped that people from inside came out and rushed to the van. Among them was a beautiful woman with long red hair and bright green eyes wearing a doctor's robe.
Holliday and the woman shared a brief kiss before she turned to Desmond who was being put on a stretcher. "What do we have," she asked them in a strong Manchester accent.
"He got stabbed in the abdomen," Holliday explained. 'I manage to seal off the wound but he still lost a lot of blood." The woman nodded and brought Desmond inside.
Thanks to her medical background, Lucy was allowed to follow the Doctor to the improvised operating room, the others had to wait outside. As the doctor and her assistants worked to save Desmond's life, a man arrived at the gate of the outer wall. Through the security cameras, Lucy and the others identified him as Desmond's father William. In all honesty, from Desmond's descriptions of his childhood, Holliday expected a brutish man, old and rough looking. Instead, William turned out to be a plain middle-aged man, 'what a disappointment,' Holliday though. The assassins William arrived with introduced themselves as Adriano Maestranzi leader of the Italian Assassins, Harlan Cunningham, and Gavin Banks.
Though his face was stern, William's eyes seemed genuinely distraught. "How is Desmond?" William asked desperately.
Rebecca shook her head, "We don't know, he is lucky to still be alive. God, William things just got so fucked up so fast."
William ran his hands through his hair, "how could this happen?" He demanded, "weren't you watching him!"
"It's not fair to lay blame on them, Mr. Miles," Holliday interjected. "None of us know what happened, but once Desmond wakes up we will know."
"You seem so sure he will make it," Shaun observed.
Holliday turned to him, "Heather has dealt with much worse than that, trust me. Angel Eyes is in good hands."
"Wait," Rebecca interrupted and pointed to the door, "That's Heather Beauregard."
Holliday shrugged, "the very same."
Before they could discuss it further, William cut it. "I'm sorry but who the hell are you. You're no assassin that much is certain."
Holliday nodded, 'Indeed, my name is Michael Holliday I'm a friend of your son's." He held out his hand. William stared at him suspiciously as Holliday shrugged and withdrew the hand, "suit yourself." He took a seat and pulled out a leech from his container and placed it on his arm.
William gave Shaun and Rebecca a look. "A word in private if you would," he said sternly. The two assassins looked at each other and followed their mentor to another room.
Once they were out of earshot William looked at them sternly. "I expected you and Lucy to be more vigilant when you agreed to look after my son. How can you allow this stranger to walk amongst us?"
"Desmond says he can be trusted," Rebecca explained. "Sure Michael doesn't look like a trustworthy person, but so far he has given us no reason to doubt him."
"And besides," Shaun added, "It's not like we can tell him to leave. We are using one of his safe places right now If he wanted us dead we wouldn't be having this conversation."
William was unconvinced, "what do you know about him."
Shaun rubbed his chin, "admittedly not much other than he is a mercenary slash vigilante who enjoys killing a little too much."
"All the more reason not to trust him," William concluded.
Maybe," Shaun agreed, "but our greek cell owes it's life to him." William stared at him confused as Shaun elaborated, "Holliday was at Istanbul."
William and his team were silent in shock, he looks in the direction of the room Holliday was in and turned back to Shaun and Rebecca. Harlan was the first to speak, "Are you telling he that man in there is the one who wiped out the Turkish and Syrian Templar rites."
"Well to be more precise it was him and his two brothers." Rebecca pointed out.
"Good God," Gavin gasped, "three men took out two rites in a single night."
"What proof do you have of this," William asked.
"He gave a detailed description of the night," Rebecca explained. "Plus he has a whole collection of Templar rings, all taken from the members he has killed."
Gavin Banks rubbed his chin in thought. "Now that I think of it there have been a fairly large amount of unexplained Templar deaths in the last few decades. Judging by the way the killings it wasn't done by any of us. Of course, the Templars don't believe it and blame us anyway."
Heather and Lucy finally came out where the assassins waited anxiously. Heather removed her gloves and sighed. "Desmond will live, but he still lost a lot of blood so it will take him some time to recover."
The assassins breathed in relief, but Rebecca could sense something else since Lucy's eyes were downcast, "But?"
Heather frowned, "while he may be fine physically, mentally... " Heather shook her head, "I don't need to be a psychiatrist to know that his mind is going through a dangerous amount of stress. Judging from what I can see it's a miracle he's still sane."
Rebecca and Shaun now shared Lucy's pained look and William continued. "How, long it will take?"
"No less than 4 weeks as long as he doesn't do any activities that will strain the wound. His mind however, the stress coupled with the trauma of all this, only time will tell."
"Thank you, Heather," Michael said after a moment.
"Of course it's all part of the job," Heather gave him a half smile.
For a week nothing seem to happen and Desmond remained unconscious. Lucy and William refused to leave his side and their food was brought to them. Holliday checked up on the three regularly and kept the apple at his side at all times. With everyday Desmond didn't wake up the more Lucy began to doubt.
To ease her anxiety Heather decided to calm her with small talk. She handed Lucy a cup of coffee and sat down next to her. "Michael tells me you had interest in cognitive neuroscience." Lucy seemed to snap out of a trance she was in to look at Heather and nod, she smiled. "Don't be discouraged, when it comes to the higher knowledge there is little you can learn from those decrepid old farts at the universities."
Lucy smiled despite herself, "I wish we could have met under better circumstances, your writings led me to study the subject myself."
Heather laughed "well I'm honored to meet a like-minded person. Not many people are willing to study the unknown, most are simply satisfied with the knowledge of their next meal. I swear knowledge isn't pursued as it once was."
Lucy's smile saddened at how true that was, deciding to continue the conversation she changed the subject. "So how did you and Michael meet?"
Heather smiled mischievously, "do you know what I was before I pursued a career in medicine?" Lucy shook her head and Heather's smile broadened. "I was a circus performer."
Of all things that was the last thing Lucy expected to hear, even after hearing it she couldn't believe it. "A circus performer? How does that tie in with being a doctor?"
Heather raised her finger, "you would be surprised what the circus can teach you about the human body. When you're an acrobat on the highwire, that knowledge becomes essential."
Lucy was still in awe, "a doctor and an acrobat, who would have guessed."
Heather then continued her story, "since we were always traveling, I could never actually attend school proper so I was mostly Home Educated. My test scores were high enough that I was accepted into Manchester Medical School."
"What turned your interest to Cognitive neuroscience?" Lucy wondered.
Heather chuckled, "strangely enough it was Harry Hendrix a Hypnotist. He often told me that the body can do anything if the mind is in the right state. His own acts were proof of that, you wouldn't believe half the things he was able to make a person do with a watch and a golden coin."
Lucy continued to listen as Heather told her tale. "After I graduated, I joined the Royal Army Medical Corp. I met Michael during an assignment in Israel. He was injured while aiding an SAS squad deal with a local Terrorist group. We get to talking and before I know it he's teaching me Varma Kalai.
After talking for a bit Heather told Lucy to get some rest, but Lucy initially refused. "You're no good to Desmond half dead, Heather said firmly. Finally convinced Lucy reluctantly agreed but only on the condition that they wake her as soon as something happened. Heather agreed and Lucy left the room while Michael took over watch.
The wait lasted two hours when the monitor began showing signs of activity. Heather went to go get Lucy as Michael strode over to Desmond's bedside. Desmond was sitting up from bed looking around frantically, "Lucy," he gasped desperately. "Where's Lucy? Is she okay? Please tell me I didn't hurt her."
"Easy, easy," Holliday calmly restrained his movements. "Lucy is fine, take it easy son, you've been through enough."
Upon learning that Lucy was unharmed, Desmond breathed a sigh of relief. Holliday handed him a bottle of water and Desmond took it gratefully draining the whole thing in seconds. A moment later Lucy came into the room with tears in her eyes. "Desmond," she gasped and rushed to his side. the rest of the group followed Rebecca shed tears of joy, and even Shaun was smiling and it was actually genuine. William stood at the doorway.
"Lucy," Desmond exhaled upon seeing her, "thank god you're okay."
"I'm okay?" Lucy cried incredulously, "you stabbed yourself."
"A fair trade," Desmond replied softly "I had to."
"What happened in the temple Desmond?" Holliday inquired
Desmond ran his fingers through his hair, "When-when I touched the apple, Juno took control over me, I could still think freely but I couldn't control my body."
"Are you sure it was her?" Holliday asked."
Desmond nodded, "it was the same voice of the ghost that was following us in the tunnels." Holliday nodded and Desmond continued. "She- she wanted." Tears formed in his eyes at the memory. "Juno tried to make me kill Lucy." He shuddered at the pain, "I tried to fight back but she wouldn't relent I didn't know what else to do."
Lucy hugged him tightly crying softly, and Desmond returned the embrace, "it's okay Lucy, I'm okay, we're going to be fine."
Lucy looked up at him, "I-we thought we lost you."
Neither Desmond nor Holliday failed to miss Lucy catching herself, Holliday smiled knowingly while Desmond preferred to hide his knowledge. Net up were Shaun and Rebecca.
"Bloody hell mate you damn near gave us all a heart attack," Shaun exasperated.
"I see you haven't changed much," Desmond said with a half smile.
"We're just glad you're okay," Rebecca said offhand.
"I'll be the judge of that," A voice said behind the group. They all turned to see Heather walking towards them. She took hold of Desmond's wrist and checked his pulse
William took this moment to approach. When Desmond eyes saw him Holliday saw them harden, and his jaw clenched, "Hi dad," he muttered.
William's mouth twitched at the coldness in his son's voice. "How are you feeling son?"
Like a got a blade to the belly," Desmond japed. "Other than that no worse the before."
William nodded, "Good because we need you to get into the animus again."
Holliday whirled on him, "Your son just got out of a coma and you what to put him in that damned machine? He found your damned apple and nearly died for it. I think he has more than earned a break from it."
"He's had a break," William objected.
"A coma is not rest William Miles," Heather countered. "I told you already he needs a few weeks to recover."
"Besides that, we're not staying here," Holliday cut in. Everyone turned to him, and Holliday looked at them in turn. "What? We can't stay in an urban center. We have already stayed too long here we can't risk drawing attention to out host. We may need his help again."
"We have our own safe houses," William objected.
"Yeah and how long to those last I wonder?" Holliday quipped.
William turned to the former mentor, Gavin who rubbed his chin. "It can't be much worse than our other safe houses." He turned to Holliday, "I'm trusting you do not make us regret it."
Holliday shrugged your team has trusted me so far and they haven't regretted it. That should tell you something."
Gavin nodded reluctantly and Heather spoke up, "If this reunion is done I think we need to let 'angel eyes', here get some rest.
William and Gavin turned to Lucy as they headed out, "angel eyes?"
As they left the room Desmond spoke up, "Michael, could I have a word in private?"
Holliday turned back and nodded. He looked to see if anyone was around and sat beside his friend, "What is it Desmond?"
Desmond sighed, "when Juno controlled me with the apple she showed me something."
Holliday's eyes narrowed as he leaned in closer, "what visions did she show you."
Desmond hesitated before continuing, "she claims Lucy is a Templar."
Holliday studied him silently for a moment, as he rubbed his chin in thought, "I see," he said finally. "I think it would be best if you started from the beginning and give details."
Desmond nodded and told Holliday everything Juno showed him in the temple, once again Holliday listened carefully. When Desmond finished his tale Holliday was deep in thought. "You realize how serious this is right? Though why tell me and not Shaun, Rebecca or your father?"
Desmond shook his head, "my father has a tendency to be unreasonable about such things. Shaun and Rebecca are assassins so I don't know how they will take the news. Besides, I don't know them that well. Your the only one that I can get an unbiased answer from."
Holliday sighed and nodded, "It is a curious tale and one worth exploring. But we also must tread carefully."
"So do you believe it." Desmond wondered.
"That's a question you should be asking yourself, not me."
Desmond shook his head, "honestly I don't know what to believe anymore."
"From what you told me, all Juno showed you was a vision of Vidic talking to Lucy and nothing else." Holliday pointed out, "I hate to sound like a lawyer but that is hardly evidence of treason."
Desmond thought on that, and realized Holliday's point, "to think I almost listened to her and stabbed Lucy.
Holliday shrugged, "in that case let's entertain the idea for a moment. "What would you do if Lucy was a Templar?"
Desmond frowned, "the creed dictates that I have to kill her, but I don't want that."
Killing her just for being a Templar?" Holliday wondered, that's a bit harsh and that's coming from someone who's killed Templars most his life."
Desmond thought for a moment, "If she is a Templar that means she's a traitor. Betrayed our brotherhood, betrayed our cause, betrayed me."
"Traitor or Coerced?" Holliday asked simply. "we don't know the circumstances. Nor do we know Lucy's thoughts about the matter."
Desmond laughed bitterly, "an assassin in love with a Templar. What a story that would be
"If I recall from looking at your history Maria Thorpe the wife of your maternal ancestor was a Templar and that relationship worked out alright."
Desmond laughed, he had forgotten about Maria Thorpe, she was a Templar before she met Altair and became an assassin. If she could be turned why not Lucy? "So what should we do in the meantime?"
Holliday thought for a moment, "we should be patient and see what happens. In the meantime be vigilant and show no sign that may welcome suspicion. Just remember this Angel Eyes you are not the first person to fall in love with a Templar and I daresay you will not be the last."
Desmond smiled, "given that I am refusing to believe Juno, I can do that." As Holliday got up to leave, Desmond spoke up again. "Michael, thanks for this."
Holliday smiled and patted Desmond's shoulder, "get some rest Angel Eyes, we have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow."
Desmond was given a room in the estate. 'Bed, such a wonderful world, Desmond thought as he laid down slowly taking in the feel of the mattress beneath him. the Bed combined with weariness allowed Desmond to drift off quickly.
Lucy was alone in the hallway silent tears streaming down her face. She had thought gaining closure about Desmond would give her peace instead it only made her feel worse. "he did it for me,' she thought miserably. "He nearly killed himself, for me."
When she first met Desmond, she had very different expectations of him. She had expected an arrogant, brash and an all around asshole. At first, he met those expectations. The Desmond that came to Abstergo was gruff cynical and entirely uncooperative. Yet now that she looked back on it, his attitude was understandable. Desmond was after all kidnapped and held hostage. All Desmond clearly wanted was to escape the whole Assassin/Templar ordeal, it was a desire that Lucy understood perfectly.
But the more time she spent with him the more she realized that she had misjudged him badly. Though she had pretended to care at first, the line between pretense and sincerity became more and more faint. At first, Lucy tried to ignore it and maintain the wall she had put up against such feelings. Then it happened, Desmond kissed her outside the villa. Lucy was horrified, not that Desmond had kissed her but the fact that it confirmed her worst fears. Not only had she had grown to truly care for Desmond, she was in love with him.
Beneath his hardened exterior Desmond proved to be gentle, loyal, selfless and caring. His actions at the coliseum was a testament to this. He loved her and was willing to risk it entirely for her.
Lucy stared at her phone, "it wasn't fair, this was suppose to be easy. Help obtain the apple, then betray them and give the apple to Vidic. Then Desmond comes along and throws a wrench after wrench into her plans, not only that but Holliday inadvertently was playing his part. Betraying Shaun and Rebecca was hard enough, Desmond made it worse. But now after what Desmond did for her, betraying him would bring her only unbearable pain. No this had to end, the lies the deceit it had to end.
'I'm done Warren, I'm sorry but I can't let you hurt Desmond anymore.' With newfound determination, Lucy made a plan. She would stall Vidic for as long as she could and thanks to Holliday, he would hake that job easier. Then once they reached Holliday's safe house she will tell Desmond everything.
"This may cost me my life," she thought. "But if it saves Desmond's so be it.
Note: I'm not a doctor so please don't rant on me if the method I used he help Desmond was inaccurate
