Jess righted herself and let her focus come back.
"Hmmm where to I start?" Mulvane sneered at her, "Your childhood… the beginning… the teenage years… but maybe we should leave the best for last." He held the gun to her temple, "But I know it all… why you left England… why you just packed and left… why you won't let anyone in." He walked behind her and smelled her hair, murmuring into her ear, "Why you're all alone. You see Jess, I made it my business to learn everything about you. Those files, the car, the prickly feeling you got on the back of your neck every time you were in public… it was me." He grabbed her suddenly and pushed her into the wall, his free hand gripping her throat, "I've waited, watching you. Now I'm going to finish the job."
She spotted the pipe from the corner of her eye; right beside her head. If she could move fast enough… as though from nowhere, Lizzy appeared beside him and, grabbing the end dangling from his wrist, snapped the cuffs around the pipe.
Mulvane roared in anger and swung round pointing the gun toward her.
Everything happened at once.
Jess lunged for Lizzy, trying to shield her from him
The door burst open
Mulvane swung round
Voices yelled
Orders to drop weapons
Mulvane aimed, pulled the trigger and hit…
…nothing.
"What the fuck!" Mulvane looked at the gun.
Jess looked at him, "Blanks, dickhead."
Mulvane went for her, but didn't get far.
Then the world, like her heart, slowed.
Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay¹
Martin and Jack tackled Mulvane and took the gun from his hands.
Sam came to her, ran a soothing hand across Jess's head and, reaching into her jacket, took her handcuff keys.
There's always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day¹
Vivian wrapped a blanket around Lizzy's shoulders and lifted her to her feet. Lizzy looked back at Jess, silently asking what to do.
Jess felt herself nod and heard her voice say, "Its okay, Liz, go with her. You're safe now."
Still she remained seated, her legs unable to move. He lifted her and held her to him as her tears erupted.
In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold room
And the endlessness that you fear¹
Years of fear and pain were released and she knew then that she would finally be safe. He helped her out of the room and up the stairs. She walked out into the light of the May sun and felt a release. A weight was lifted from her shoulders and she stood up tall.
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reveries
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here¹
"You think this is over Jessica?" Mulvane called to her as he was taken to a police car, "It hasn't even begun. I'm coming back for you."
Jess ignored his taunts.
"And you know what else? It was good."
Jess lost her cool and lunged towards him. She calmed herself in time and stood nose to nose with him. "Take a good look around, Mulvane. Take a deep breath… she smiled sweetly at him, "For it's the last time you'll ever see, ever taste freedom, or breathe the free air. I promise you that."
Danny placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her away. They watched Mulvane be pushed down into the car. The door closed and he peered out the window at her. He blew a kiss at her as the car pulled away.
Danny squeezed her hand and looked at her for reassurance that she was okay. She smiled, nodded and walked towards Lizzy, who was being held close by her father. She looked up at Jess and smiled, tears glistening in her eyes.
They hugged, and Jess stroked her daughter's hair, "You're safe now… I will never ever let anything happen to you again. I'm so sorry."
Lizzy looked up at her, "I love you."
Jess smiled, "I love you too." She looked at the Ambassador, who returned her smile and joined the embrace.
¹Sarah McLachlan - Angel
