Chap 23

Damian POV

Seeing her up and about has me feeling so happy, knowing that she's okay. For a second there I started to wonder if I did the right thing not bringing her to the hospital. But seeing her and kissing her makes it all worth it.

Not under these unorthodox circumstances, I sigh in the seat across from her, even though she looks nervous.

"I do have some questions." I say finally resting my elbows on my legs as I'm trying to relax and not give off such a tense posture. I don't want to stress her out when she should be resting, but there are things that I need to know.

"Ask me anything." she says, wiping her hands on her shirt, clearly sweating palms. I bite the inside of my cheek as I think of the question that bothered me the most.

"Why'd you lie to me about the book and the basement?" I say firmly, trying to show her just how much it bothered me.

"I was going to ask Becky's boyfriend about her disappearance and didn't know how you'd feel about it." I shake my head at her. It all felt too premeditated, like it was all planned out that way, until the end when I came in at the end.

"Anya, why wouldn't you have me there? He could've hurt you." I say wanting to reach across and hold her hand in mine, but know this isn't the time for that.

She says small, looking down, "I didn't want to involve you in my issues. I can't put your standing at risk for my drama, I know how your father is.."

"All of this because of my reputation? My father?" I say incredulously, "Anya, standing be damned, I can't lose you."

She bites her lip unsure of my words, "I don't want your father to hurt you again because of me." silence is thick between us at her words.

How could she know? She can't? I never told her, I would never.

Deciding to change the subject without outright denying the claim, I ask "What was it that you did to him in the basement? He said you did something to him." I say crossing my arms feeling defensive.

She leans back and rocks forward as if she's trying to get comfortable when I've made her uncomfortable with my question.

She shrugs after a beat, "I was just asking him questions, I've been trying to find out what happened to Becky."

I wiped my face. "I could tell that much from the conversation." her shoulders straightened at that, she didn't realize I heard the conversation.

"But that's not what he meant, he looked… dazed when he was talking to you." I think back to seeing his shoulders slump as he spoke to her willingly answering her questions before the switch flipped to his anger.

"Damian I can't answer that…" She says biting her lip nervously as I continue with my questions.

"What happened to honesty?" I say exasperated, "Did you hypnotize him or something?" I say looking at her anxious posture.

"Damian…It's not…I…" she doesn't finish as she bites at her lip turning a darker shade of pink the more she chews on it, lost for words. Tears on the brinks of her eyes, shit.

"I don't know why you felt you couldn't talk to me about it." Her leg is starting to shake, I'm realizing this is starting to turn into an argumentative as I start to let my emotions get the better of me.

I stand and move beside her on the bed wrapping her up in my arms moving her legs across my lap while I hold her. "I'm not mad." I say trying to soothe her. "I was just worried when I saw you bleeding…I care for you so much…it scared me." I admit it honestly.

She doesn't respond right away but when she does it is barely above a whisper, "I just miss her so much, being happy feels wrong, knowing she's not here." She's talking about Becky.

My stomach lurches knowing that I should tell her what I know. But I'm debating on if this is the best time. But if I don't she'll pursue her own investigation and likely put herself in more danger.

So I decided to take Loids advice and just be honest.

"Anya…I know where Becky is." she tensed and looked up at me eyes wide but then she looked down at her lap again. Before she could respond I continued "I don't know exactly where, but I know my father has her."

She moves and for a minute I think she's going to move away from me in disgust, but she doesn't she just cries. I hold her and she just sobs in my arms, and I feel so helpless. I know it's selfish to think of it right now, but I'm hoping she doesn't push me away now that she knows. But I don't think I could let her go, even if I tried.

Once she was calmer I was waiting for her to shift away from me and get distance, but what she finally said was what I didn't expect.

"I've known where she was…but I can't get to her." My stomach sank, that is why she hasn't pushed me away. She's always known my father is a monster. Yet she stays with me still?

"How did you know?" I ask peering down to try and look at her face, she reaches on the bed for her phone. Clicking on a few things, she pulls up a screenshot of an app, it takes me a moment to realize the app since I have one similar. She tracked Becky with this, and the location shows the estate highlighted. "You're not really talkative when it comes to your home life, especially your father, and after what happened last time you brought me to your house.."

My heart dropped. She's known this whole time and she hadn't said a word. I'm almost too stunned for words but I know she deserves a response. But I know nothing I could say can curb her pain and constant worry for her best friend.

"I'm sorry… about everything, I understand, if you don't want to see me anymore." She lifts her head to face me, brows furrowed in confusion.

"I don't want that at all. I know you're nothing like your father, I don't blame you for what he's done." Her grip around my waist tightens, "How could I, you helped me save her the first time. Without hesitation even given your non friendship all these years." I scowl a bit remembering the bickering history we had. But soften thinking of how helpless she looked at her party. No one deserves that, history be damned.

She lays her left hand on my chest, "Because you're a good person, you do the right thing." She lowers her head slightly to avert my gaze, "It's one of the things I've always loved about you." she says honestly.

Her words bounce around my brain for a moment, before things start to settle in. I realize that I have to do this, because it's the right thing to do. Her hand lowers slightly and I grab it with my right hand holding it against me and ask "Will you help me save her? It'll be dangerous but I'd rather us work together and promise me you won't go vigilante on me." her eyes widening.

"But your father-" she says, exasperated, not fully believing me, "We just have to do it in a way, he won't know it's us." I say quickly, not wanting to give him any more attention than he deserves.

"How?" She asks, her face is flushed and partly wet from her earlier tears. Her hair slightly damp from her shower sticks to her neck and her cheek. Even now she's so beautiful, I've always been a sucker for her when she starts crying.

Flickers of her blood stained face and clothes come to mind and I just want her to lay down. I brush my hand gently across her cheek and neck and she nuzzles into my hand.

"We'll talk more tomorrow, right now you should rest some more." I wind my left hand around her waist guiding her to lie down in the bed. She lies back against her bed, her hair splayed across her pillow looking up at me. I pull out from under her legs and grab the spare blanket and pillow her mom left for me. She pulls on the blanket over herself, but I can feel her gaze on me as I walk to turn off the light.

"Sleep...in the bed…with me." I hear her voice say in the darkened room, which I'm thankful for because I immediately blush deeply. Not like I haven't slept with a woman before, because I have.

But with Anya everything just feels so new, and genuine that I can't help but do as she asks. I drop the blanket on the floor and just toss my pillow on the other side of her and slide in beside her warmth under the sheet. Even though we've done so much more, this feels forbidden. It's making my heart pound and I keep my distance for a bit, afraid if I press myself against her like I want, she could feel it beating.

But since her bed isn't as big, I really didn't have a choice in the matter. She turned on her side so her back was to me and she scooted a little bit back, just barely touching me. I close the distance and place myself molded against her, wrapping my right arm gently around her waist pulling her close.

I know she's exhausted and we've talked about some pretty heavy stuff. I kiss the top of her head as we spoon and whisper "Good night Anya." which she returns lifting my hand to her lips kissing it before returning it to her waist.

I smile even if she can't see it in the darkness. To be honest, I didn't think I'd still be here. After telling her about Becky and my father. I thought I would've had to call Demetrius and tell him how I screwed up everything with her. But she knew…and she still wanted me, despite my father.

Her small snores filled the air not long after, she must've been tired even after sleeping most of the afternoon. Her warmth and scent made sleep come easy, once I knew she was safe. Now all we need to do is bring Becky home, and my girl will be whole again.

Loid POV

I approached the restaurant across town to meet the handler, based on the cipher I got at the store when I went with Damian. I sit with a suit and hat, but it's dark enough in the evening at this point that no mask is really necessary.

"Agent, how are things on your end?" she says sipping her tea slathering butter on the warm rolls that were on the table. "Anya has made progress in her relationship with Damian."

I order a tea with the waiter as he approaches, when I return my attention to her I add "He's at my house right now." she raises her brows, "I must say I'm surprised after all this time, she gets to the target. This is excellent work."

She places her butter knife down and says "Earlier this evening Dr. Petrov's body was found and identified. Authorities made contact with his next of kin." she says taking a bite out of her buttered roll.

"Actually earlier today my daughter was touring the university, and met with his daughter Katrina." the handler puts the rolls down, dabbing her napkin on her mouth. Obviously wanting to be attentive with the information I'm about to reveal.

"Was she aware of her fathers under the table dealings?" she asks with her hands folded in front of her. "Quite the opposite, seems like her father used her unknowingly to further his agenda with Desmond." she nods taking it in.

"Demetrius has already been meeting with her under the guise of romance to obtain the design schematics. She's in danger she could end up imprisoned with Becky, if she continues to refuse to provide them information." He says trying to press the urgency of the matter to her.

"This is concerning news, as It has been understood through looking into the Blackbell financials, that they did in fact purchase the uranium. Due to this change in events, we can't authorize a recovery mission for Ms. Blackbell." I clench my fists trying not to alert those in our surroundings of my anger.

"You know once they have what they need they'll kill her." the handler shrugs, "She's not considered an asset, and there are other less risky methods they can do to thwart Desmond. We need to focus on Katrina."

So Becky is just a casualty of war to them.

I decided to not tell the handler about the interrogation with Becky's boyfriend, since they've made it clear that they're not willing to help this incident girl who I've known since she was a child. She's still a child in the middle of this war, and they all deserve to be saved. They've made it clear that we'll have to do it ourselves then.

A/N: Sorry for the delay took a small mental vacation after finishing summer classes. :) Enjoy.