Disclaimer: I do not own Fifty Shades Trilogy
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I've failed her
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Chapter 6
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April 2nd, the year 2016:
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Ana's colleague plopped down in one of the chairs in their lab, as she did the last tests of the day.
"I'm exhausted, and so hungry, I could eat ten meals right now."
She chuckled at hearing that, and noticed the bags under his eyes." Go home, Brad. I'll finish up here"
He shook his head in response." Nope, Grey... I won't leave you with the rest of the work" Brad replied." What kind of colleague do you think I am?"
She rolled her eyes at him, and kept working." Go home... I''ll be fine" she insisted, and looked into the microscope." Walter, my trusty security guard will make sure I'm safe, you know"
"Your husband is gonna kill me, if he knows I left you here alone at night" Brad countered.
Ana turned to look at him, and winked." Well, who's gonna tell him, huh?" she remarked." Not me"
Brad sighed deeply, and got up." Fine, but don't go looking for trouble, OK?"
She laughed in response." I'll be a good girl,' dad'. Don't you worry" Ana said in a teasing manner.
"See you tomorrow, Grey"
"Till tomorrow, Michaelson." She replied, and heard the automatic door of their huge lab open and close.
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It took Ana exactly forty-three minutes to finish the tests, and another fifteen to tidy things up. She placed her finished work neatly in the cabinet, and punched the code to lock it up safely.
After, she grabbed her bag and phone, so she could contact Christian. While walking out her lab, she was texting Christian to tell him that he needed to send a car to pick her up...
In the process of doing that though, Ana heard a loud commotion coming from the other lab. Within a few moments, she saw two security guards run towards that lab.
It was the research department!
"What in the hell?" she uttered, and sped towards it.
Ana barely reached the door, when she was halted by Walter." Mrs. Grey, you aren't allowed to go in there." he told her and gave her a stern look.
"What?" she said, and furrowed her brows." And why not? But Leila, my colleague, she's in there... What happened to her?"
"Everything is under control, Mrs. Grey." Walter told her, and held his hand up, 'cause he was communicating with someone through his earbud.
Ana stayed at her spot, but when she heard that someone was groaning in pain, she took a step forward, wanting to assist the person.
However, another security guard grabbed her, and blocked the entrance of the lab." Mrs. Grey, you need to go home right now" he barked, and was all up in Ana's face, his disgusting breath almost making her throw up." GO! Now! Your car has arrived"
In response, she threw daggers with her eyes at him." Fine, I'll go... but you will be hearing from me tomorrow"
With that, she walked through the hall, went into the elevator and got off on the first floor.
Ana noticed right away that there was only one guard on duty at the lobby. Usually there were three. 'They were probably in the research department, assisting her co-workers?' she thought.
While she exited the building though, she felt her stomach churn.
"Something wasn't right" Ana uttered, and yet made the decision to go home, 'cause she promised Brad to stay out of trouble. Plus, the driver that Christian had sent was calling her on her phone.
"I'm on my way, Manny"
And just as she was about to step inside the vehicle, Ana noticed how three black SUV's and a big van halted in front of the building.
"What in heaven's name is going on here?" were the words Ana uttered, her face in total shock.
"Mrs. Grey, step inside please?" she heard Manny say." Mr. Grey is waiting impatiently for you"
However, Ana hesitated, and then took a step back, her face torn." Manny, I've gotta find out what's happening at my workplace" she told him, her eyes pleading" I cannot let this go... I have to find out what just happened to my colleague, Leila... can you please wait a few minutes? I'll be back, promise"
He was a loyal employee, and just couldn't refuse anything Ana asked of him. "OK, Mrs. Grey... just come back soon, please?" Manny requested.
Little did she and Manny know that that was the last time they would see each other...
Cause after Ana's disappearance, Manny helped Christian search for his wife for two whole years, while feeling guilty the entire time...
And right after, Manny was involved in a car accident on the highway, and unfortunately died on the way to the ER.
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... Present day, in the house where Christian reunited with Ana...
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"I have to explain to you, baby... what happened four years ago." Christian heard Ana say, as they pulled back from their warm embrace.
He smiled happily, and cupped his wife's face lovingly." Wow, you do look a bit different with red hair" Christian complimented." Such a sexy look... wait till you get to meet our little girl"
"I had to dye my hair, Christian..." she replied, smiling shyly at him.
However, Ana and Christian's smiles froze, when they heard a man say." You two won't be seeing your daughter for a while"
In response, Christian looked at the man from head to toe. And then noticed that Gia Matteo had walked into the living room also" What the fuck are you on about?" Christian hissed, while giving the tall man a venomous look, still holding Ana's hand tightly.
"He's right, Mr. Grey" detective Matteo announced, her face stern." Now that you're here with your wife, we cannot let you go"
"And why not?!" Christian shouted, his voice trembling slightly from anger." No one will keep Ana and me apart from my daughter!"
In response, the tall man put both hands in front of him, in defense." OK, I think we got off on the wrong foot, Mr. Grey." the man said." Let me introduce myself... my name is Jack Hyde, and I am a U.S. Marshal."
"What?" Christian uttered, not understanding why a U.S. Marshal was here in their presence." But..."
It was then, when he felt Ana squeeze his hand. Christian's eyes then darted towards hers.
She nodded in response." It's true, Christian"
"But how? Why? I don't understand" he questioned with a confused look on his handsome face.
"That's why I have to explain it all to you, baby" she said, and cupped his face lovingly." Like I told you before on the phone, there are dangerous people out there who want to do me harm. And now that you're involved too, you are also in grave danger. Detective Matteo and her partner prevented those people from capturing you last night"
Christian was dumbfounded, and attempted to let the information sink in." Is that why you left Aurora and me?" he questioned, and then lovingly brushed a red lock from her pretty face." And is that why you're a redhead now?"
Ana nodded." Yes, I need to disguise myself"
"My partner and I, we've provided 24-hour protection to your wife, Mr. Grey" Jack Hyde, the U.S. Marshal, told him." We've been successful, but now that you're here, her safety and yours isn't guaranteed"
Christian shook his head at hearing that." What does all that even mean?!" he said, so fucking confused.
'My Ana has been in the Witness Protection program for four years?' Christian thought.
First, he found out Ana was still alive, then he discovers Detective Matteo had been lying to him about everything, and now he hears his wife has two U.S. Marshals protecting her?
All of it was just too much for him to process at once.
"I need to think... I need to sit down" Christian uttered, but Jack Hyde shook his head fiercely.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Grey... we have to go, NOW" Hyde insisted, while communicating with his partner and the Police through his earbud." We've received reliable INTEL from Prescott... it is NOT safe here anymore for the two of you"
"Wait, wait! Where are we going?" Christian said, while being led outside by a tall, African- American man with long dreadlocks.
"We can trust them, Christian... follow their orders, please?" he heard Ana say, her beautiful, blue eyes pleading." They've kept me safe for four years now"
When he locked his eyes onto hers, seeing how calm Ana was, he felt on edge still, but because she trusted them, he decided not to resist.
As they sat inside the black SUV, Christian's eyes fluttered shut, thinking about little Aurora, feeling so powerless right now.
Ana was quiet, but squeezed his hand for comfort." I know how you feel, Christian...but don't you worry, my love. Our family will be complete again soon"
As tears pooled in his eyes, Christian shook his head." I left her, Ana... I left our baby girl" he uttered, his voice trembling heavily." She will be looking for me and I won't be there... I've failed her, just like I have failed you that night, four years ago..."
"No... you haven't, Christian." Ana said, trying to convince him, while tears rolled down her cheeks." It's not your fault at all."
'It is MY FAULT' she thought right then, while a gnawing pain shot through her heart and soul. 'If only I listened to Manny that night, and got in the car... and went home to you, my love.'
While the driver of the black SUV drove above the speed limit, Christian and Ana both were silent for a little while.
And after, he asked." Who is after us, Ana... and more importantly, is our precious Aurora safe?"
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It was almost eight in the evening, when Mia arrived at Christian's mansion.
"Is she alright?" she asked, and placed her bag and phone on the coffee table.
Gail shook her head in response." No, she's inconsolable, Mia" she told Christian's sister.
"What exactly happened, Gail?" Mia questioned." Cause Luke wasn't making any sense to me on the phone"
At hearing that, Christian's employee gave her a sad look." Mia, first things first... can you please try to comfort Aurora?" she requested." I cannot get through to her. She won't speak to me"
Mia nodded at that." OK, I'll try, but I can't make any promises." She told Gail.
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Approximately ten minutes later, Mia walked down the stairs, the expression on her face grim.
"Well?" Gail asked with a hopeful look on her face.
Mia shook her head at that." She doesn't want to talk to me either," she said, and swallowed the huge lump in her throat." Why isn't Luke here, Gail? Where is he? Cause he has a stronger bond with Aurora than I have with my own niece..."
It hurt Mia to say that aloud, but it was the naked truth.
"I bet he'd be able to get Aurora to speak about what it is that's eating at her"
"He left with Jose and Ethan"
"What? I cannot believe this! Why would Luke leave, if he knew that Aurora was in distress?"
Gail took a seat in a chair, the weight of all that had happened too much for her body and heart to carry." It's because she is in distress, that's why he had to leave. He wants to find Mr. Christian for Aurora..."
Mia shook her head in response. "I don't understand, Gail... where's my big brother?"
It was then, when Gail finally told Mia everything that had happened, and what Jose had discovered.
"What?" Mia whispered, while a shocked expression appeared on her gorgeous face, her mouth open slightly." Ana was murdered?! And Christian was attacked by some men, and is still missing since last night?"
Gail nodded in response." And now the guys are out investigating it themselves, following a tip that could lead them to Christian"
"What?! Are you serious? You're kidding, right?!"
Gail shook her head." I don't joke about such things, Mia"
"But why would they do that?! Shouldn't they go to the authorities, instead of running around playing cop?"
"The Police told Luke to wait 24 hours, before he could report your brother missing" Gail explained.
"Well, that's FUCKED up!" Mia hissed, and walked over to the coffee table to grab her stuff." I'm going to the local law enforcement agency right NOW to make a missing person's report, and if they dare to tell me to wait a few more hours, I promise you that heads will roll!"
Mia really meant business...
"Mia, wait!" Gail said, but she was already out the door.
She groaned aloud, and then she started to cry again." What will become of my precious Aurora" Gail uttered, and walked up the stairs, planning on consoling her little princess anyway.
After Luke noticed that someone was leaning onto the kitchen door, he hinted at Jose to keep quiet.
However, the little girl had heard most of what they discussed.
"Where's daddy? He's missing?!" Aurora asked, while clinging onto her 'Nijntje', tears pooling in her eyes." My mom wasn't in an accident? Someone killed her?!"
Gail and the guys were so shocked to discover that Aurora found out everything, that they weren't able to say anything for a minute.
And because they didn't deny it, she assumed it must be true what she just heard from Jose and the others.
She then ran up the stairs and sobbed aloud, telling them that she was going to call her father, and proof them all wrong!
"My dad WILL come home soon!" She said, while a loud sob escaped her lips." You are all liars!"
Gail felt such a gnawing pain, cutting through her heart at the memory... seeing her little girl hurt like that, was the worst thing she experienced, since losing Ana, and two years earlier, losing Manny...
She knew it was going to be hard; it probably was an impossible task, but she had to try... she needed to console Christian's baby girl.
"Aurora, you still up, sweetie?" she asked, and knocked softly on her bedroom door.
When the girl didn't answer, Gail stepped inside and saw that she had fallen asleep.
As Gail's eyes landed on Christian's precious baby girl, her heart broke into a thousand pieces...
Aurora was already in her pajamas, and had cried herself to sleep, while clinging onto a photo of her mom and dad, on their wedding day.
"Mr. Grey... where are you? Aurora needs you so..." Gail uttered, and caressed the little girl's cheek, hoping and praying for Christian to come back home safely." Please, come back home soon."
Note: So... what do you think? Will the authorities send protection for little Aurora?
This was the chapter, you all. Thank you for reading my work, and also for the wonderful feedback. :)
Till the next chapter, on Friday.
xoxo,
J
