SUMMARY: Steve has not been so lucky in love. Even his latest love interest has deadly consequences. Steve-whump, obviously.
A/N: This particular LOD story takes place after Season 5. Read on, mates!
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DS Steve Arnott slowly opened his eyes to a bedroom not of his own. It was pitch dark if not for the light from the street that streamed in through the window. Grappling about for his wristwatch that he had placed on the night stand, he squinted to see the time.
It was 3.13 a.m, about time for him to return to his own flat. He had an early shift that day, so he needed to get home to get ready for the office. But as he made a move to leave the bed, his companion rolled over and draped an arm over his chest.
"Don't go," the beautiful blonde muttered, her eyes only half closed.
Steve smiled, and leaned down to kiss her. "Have to, my darling. Gotta work."
"Aww…do you have to?"
Chuckling, he kissed her again. "You know I do."
"Stay a bit longer. Please…"
"I can't. There's an important interview today."
She pouted. "Am I not important then?"
"Indeed you are, love. I swear on this," he responded, stroking her smooth porcelain cheek. "I'll call you."
"You'd better." Her hand then slipped lower down the sheets to grab hold of his hardness. "My, my. What do we have here? Little Stevie is waking up again. Can we satisfy little Stevie one more time before you go?"
Groaning, he swooped down on top of her amid her fit of giggles.
Ten minutes later, he lay flat on his bed and stared at the ceiling. "You're one wicked woman."
"Wicked is my middle name." Smiling, she rose to an elbow and gazed lovingly at him. Tracing a finger around his left nipple, she quietly said, "I love you, Steve."
Turning to her, he caught her naughty hand and brought it to his lips. "And I love you, Natalya."
She looked tentative when she said next, "Steve…"
"Hmm?"
"I…uh…" Natalya hesitated before continuing, "I have something to tell you."
He raised one eyebrow, inquisitively. "What is it?"
After a slight pondering, she flashed him a bright smile. "You know what? It can wait."
"Oh, come on. Don't do that," he protested. "I'm dying with curiosity here. What is it that you want to tell me?"
"Later, okay?"
"But—"
She quickly kissed him to shut him up. "I will tell you tonight over dinner. I promise."
Steve gave her a searching look before he nodded his acquiescence. "Alright then. That give me something to look forward to."
After another long kiss, he swiped away the covers and reluctantly left the bed.
"I'll take a shower first before I go," he said as he walked naked towards the bathroom.
"Want me to join you?" she asked, admiring the spectacular view of his behind.
"Better not, or I won't be able to leave the battlefield unscathed."
Shutting the bathroom door, Steve could hear her laughing. Still grinning, he stepped into the shower stall and turned on the water to its lowest temperature. Nothing like a cold shower to eased his libido.
God, how he loved her!
Steve had met Natalya Petrenko almost two months ago when AC-12 was investigating an extortion case involving a high ranking police officer and a well-known MP. Natalya was the case witness as she had been there at the private lounge of Roshkosh Hotel in Derby where she worked as the night manager when the said officer and the MP had met in a secret rendezvous. Thanks to concrete evidence and witnesses' statement, the officer who had been doing the extortion had been arrested soon afterwards. Meanwhile, the MP had immediately stepped down from Parliament when the case had become a huge sensation nationwide.
Steve had known that the moment he set his eyes on Natalya, he would never be able to forget her. She was a petite lovely woman in her early thirties with eyes the color of the stormy sky. She had been transferred from her hometown in St. Petersburg, Russia to the hotel's UK branch about a year before. Other things about her that he had learnt so far was that she was an only child to a single parent, she never knew her father, she had a degree in economics, and she could play the piano like a master.
The moment the AC-12 had closed the file on the extortion case, Steve had dug out her phone number and asked her out. He had expected that she would turn him down, but to his pleasant surprise she had eagerly said yes. Since then, they had seen each other for at least twice a week. Their relationship grew stronger each day even though they had nothing much in common apart from their mutual love for books and English football.
No one knew about him and Natalya, except for Kate of course. Steve didn't want to tell his partner at first. However, perceptive that she was, DI Kate Fleming had noticed the subtle changes in his mood. She had poked and prodded mercilessly, pushing him until he finally admitted that he had found a new love interest.
Kate was happy for him, she truly did. She knew that his feelings for this Russian woman was serious and a real deal, a far cry from the casual shagging that he was famous for. The extortion case was now closed and Steve's relationship with Natalya would not affect any of the legal proceedings, but Kate had agreed to keep that knowledge to herself. It was better if nobody else at the office knew about the budding romance, especially Superintendent Hastings. The last time Steve had gotten overly playful with a witness, he and the gaffer had had a massive row. Hastings might not be as against it as before, yet that didn't mean he would entirely approve.
Standing under the jet of water, Steve couldn't stop himself from smiling when he recalled his partner's total understanding. Kate had even excused him from last night's surveillance op when she found out that he had promised Natalya to accompany her to a gala dinner held by her employer in appreciation of its staffs and business associates. Besides, Steve had not been actively involved in the case that required the surveillance. He was actually supervising another case regarding two Detective Sergeants from a nearby station that had been accused of falsifying a report on a drug bust. He was going to interview both DSs that morning, which would also be led by the gaffer.
Wishing Kate all the best on her surveillance op, Steve lathered some liquid soap all over his body before standing under the shower to rinse it off, whistling a low tune the entire while with a sense of contentment he had rarely felt before.
And so it came as a great shock when suddenly there was a loud crash, followed by Natalya's cries of alarm.
"Natalya!"
With a shout, Steve rushed out of the shower stall towards the bathroom door. He was twisting the door knob when it flung open without warning, slamming into him so hard he flew backwards and hit the floor.
His world spinning from the blow, Steve tried to push himself up. Amid the confusion, he could hear Natalya screaming for him in the background. But a tall muscular man now stood between him and the door, blocking his path. Growling with anger, Steve leapt and rammed his elbow into the other man's solar plexus. It was like hitting a brick wall. The guy only moved an inch at the most.
Without a word, the man grabbed a fistful of Steve's hair and easily swung him around, bashing his head against the mirror over the sink. As the glass broke all over his head, Steve cried out in pain and dropped onto all fours.
"Steve!" Natalya screamed again.
Groaning, Steve stared through bleary vision at the broken pieces of glass scattered on the floor. Without hesitation, he grabbed the largest piece and jabbed it hard into his attacker's right foot.
The man gave a loud howl, hopping on one leg. Steve shot up and punched him in the nuts, causing the man to yowl louder. Caught unbalanced, he toppled over like a log.
Stumbling out of the bathroom, Steve was shocked to see Natalya being bundled up in blankets by two strange men, both as tall and muscular as the first goon. She was giving quite a fight but they were a lot stronger than her.
"Release her!" Steve shouted as he staggered towards them.
"Finish him off!" one of the men yelled back.
Steve instantly spun around when he realized that his attacker had quickly recovered and was now approaching from behind, clutching at the bloodied piece of glass. When the man raised his makeshift weapon to hit him, Steve instantly put up his arm in defense. Instead of his neck, the glass sliced through his exposed wrist. It was a downward slash, right through the vein, and blood instantly gushed out like a faucet.
The man wasn't finished though. A huge fist slammed into Steve's face afterwards, knocking him down. Slowly losing consciousness, he could only watch helplessly as the two men carried the still thrashing Natalya out of the room.
"Steve! Steve, I'm so sorry—" she managed one last fearful cry before they quickly gagged her.
"Natalya…"
His strength fully spent, Steve could hardly fight it when his attacker lifted him bodily off the floor. His vision was already darkening when he was dragged back into the bathroom before being tossed into the empty bathtub, head first, leaving both feet dangling over the rim.
Steve began to panic when his attacker pushed down the drain stopper before turning on the water at full blast. The bathtub would fill up within minutes. He needed to get out of there quick, or he would drown! Unfortunately, his entire limb wouldn't respond.
"Sweet dreams, lover boy," the goon mockingly said with a Russian accent. Seconds later, he was gone.
As the water lever grew higher and higher, rapidly reaching his mouth and nose, Steve's fading thought was of Natalya's last words.
What the hell is she sorry for?
And then everything went black.
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Two blocks away, a large black van pulled over to the side of the street, followed by an Audi sedan. The side door of the van slid open and five dark clad figures armed with assault rifles leapt out. DI Kate Fleming got out of her service vehicle to join them.
"Alright, everyone," she began to address the AFOs. "Just to be clear, this is not an arrest. The woman is a person of interest only, not a suspect. So tread lightly. We need to take her into custody for her own safety. Try not to make too much noise, yeah?"
"Yes, ma'am." The four AFOs nodded in unison.
"Kyle, lead the way."
"Ma'am," Sergeant Kyle Ferringham responded, pulling down his safety goggle. "Team, on me."
With Kate bringing up the rear, they all moved stealthily in a single file towards the six-storey service apartment looming on their left. Upon reaching the concrete front wall at the main entrance, Kyle halted and raised a clenched fist.
"Hold it."
"What is it, Kyle?" Kate asked.
"There's someone at the main door, ma'am."
"At this hour?" Her eyebrows raised. "Is it a man or a woman?"
"Male. Approximately over six feet tall, powerfully built. Wearing dark clothing and a black beanie over his head."
Frowning, Kate hurriedly came to the front. "Let me see."
Trading places with Kyle, she tentatively moved her head around the wall to take a look. A stranger was standing at the passcode panel, punching in the entrance code. The panel emitted a beeping sound and the glass door clicked open.
Calm as he may, the tall man pulled the door open to enter the building. He never turned around the entire time so Kate wasn't able to see his face. But she had met that man several times before, enough for her to recognize who he was from his distinctive stature, even from behind. Her eyes drew to a slit and she cursed under her breath.
Kyle was understandably puzzled. "Ma'am?"
"Everyone, stand down," Kate ordered her firearms team. "He's a friendly. Do not leave your post until I give you the word."
"Ma'am, wait—"
Ignoring the AFO Sergeant, Kate walked briskly yet quietly towards the main entrance. Somehow, the man could feel her presence behind him and he quickly turned around. His eyes widened in surprise when he recognized her. He reversed directions and stepped back outside the glass door.
"Kate?"
"Hello, Shane."
"What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm visiting my mistress," he glibly responded with a straight face.
"That's bullshit." Kate totally didn't buy it. She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a gimlet stare. "Really, Shane, why are you here?"
Major Shane Arnott, a covert operative attached to MI5, raised his eyes to the heaven and sighed. "Sorry, Kate. I'm on op. And it's highly classified."
"Well, as it happens, I'm on op too. Maybe we should start sharing information so we don't get our signals crossed."
Shane glanced behind her. He saw no sign of her cavalry for they were carefully hidden, but he could sense that they were close by.
"Alright. But I need to make this quick." He conceded, pulling her aside deep into the shadows so they could converse more privately.
"Look, Kate. I've just been assigned on a rescue mission."
"To rescue who?"
"A Russian woman who is a CHIS as well as our sleeper agent. She has been feeding us info about a certain oligarch. We just found out that her cover is now blown and there is a plot to abduct her. I'm here to take her to a safe house."
Kate's eyes narrowed. "Is her name Svetlana Smirnova? If it does, we're on a same mission then."
He frowned. "That's her name, yes. But how exactly is your case related to her?"
"During our surveillance op just hours ago, we overheard a conversation between a police DCC and an OCG who deals with Russian weapons including explosive devices. Svetlana's name suddenly came up. From what they were saying, we figured out that they suspected her of being a spy."
"Which indeed she is. That's why I'm here, to get her to safety. But how did you know where she lives? Svetlana is not even her real name. In fact, she registered to this flat on a different name as cover."
"We were able to listen when the OCG nominal placed a phone call to her, in the pretext of asking her about the venue for some business meeting that would happen later today. We believe they were just determining her current whereabouts. We traced that call and it led us here. We realize that she is in danger, so we aim to take her into our protective custody."
"Sorry, Kate. She's mine."
"Shane, that's not—"
Kate's words were cut off when the radio clipped to her vest buzzed into life, "Control to Alpha Charlie 3-7."
Sighing, she responded, "3-7, Control. Go ahead."
"A patrol unit has reported a suspicious dark van speeding off via the rear access of your target location. Advice on further action, 3-7."
Turning to look wide-eyed at Shane, Kate asked the despatcher of the control center, "When was this?"
"The report came in not more than two minutes ago. We understood that you were in the immediate vicinity, so this info is being patched directly to you."
"Do they have eyes on the vehicle?"
"Negative. The van is moving at too high speed that the patrol unit lost sight of it at the intersection of Baker Street and Thames Lane."
She felt like cursing to the high heaven. "Control, send out patrol units to search for that van. It is highly suspected that it has been involved in an abduction."
"Received, 3-7."
Shane stared at Kate. "I don't like the sound of that."
"Yeah. I think we're already too late," Kate told him before she spoke into her com link, "6-4, TFC. Do you copy?"
"6-4, copy."
"Kyle, we need two AFOs at the other side of the building right now. Check the parameter for any abnormalities. The rest of you, with me."
"Understood, ma'am."
As the AFO Sergeant gave orders to his team before he materialized himself with two of his members, Kate turned back to Shane who was seething with fury.
"I can't believe this," he hissed with utter disgust. "They are way ahead of us. Our intel is fucking obsolete!"
As Kyle and his two officers quickly approached, Kate made a brief introduction. "Sergeant Kyle Ferringham, meet Major Shane Arnott, an officer with a government security agency."
Kyle had yanked up his safety google, and now he stared at Shane in wonder. "Arnott? As in…?"
"Yes, I'm Steve Arnott's older brother." Shane briskly nodded to confirm it. He then rushed back towards the main entrance, punching codes into the passcode panel. "I still need to check Natalya's flat to be sure."
"Wait, what?" Kate hastily grabbed his arm. "Natalya?"
Shane winced at his slip. "That's her other cover name, the one she uses daily as a front."
Suddenly, she had a bad feeling in her stomach. "Natalya Petrenko?"
"Yes." Shane scowled back at her. "How do you know that?"
"Steve is dating her."
Shane's face drained of all colors. "What?"
"He never told you?"
"I haven't talked to my brother in a month."
"Shane…" Kate said, already turning white. "Steve went out with Natalya last night."
After a full heartbeat, Shane cursed out loud, "Shit!"
His face grim like a thundercloud, the MI5 agent yanked open the glass door and slipped inside. Without waiting for the elevator, he went to the stairwell and ran up the stairs, well ahead of Kate and the three AFOs.
Upon reaching the fourth floor, Shane slowed down as he approached the unit number 402. He could tell from the broken hinge and the scuff marks on the door that it had been kicked open from the outside.
Signaling for Kate's team to stay in stealth mode, Shane then cautiously pushed open the door before stepping inside. The living room was empty, still looking neat and tidy.
There were three other doors leading to two bedrooms and a closet. Using hand signals, Kate sent the AFOs to check the kitchen, the closet, and the closed bedroom. She and Shane went to the bedroom which had its door standing open.
After exchanging a brief glance between them, Kate and Shane went to stand on each side of the doorway and carefully turned their head to look inside. It looked to be the main bedroom, and it was in a mess as if a big fight had taken place. Entering the room, they saw the pillows strewn on the floor, the tangled bed sheets, and the broken lamp. The nightstand had been overturned. There was even a broken piece of glass on the floor, covered with blood.
They simultaneously looked towards the bathroom when they both noticed the sound of the shower running and water dripping. Throwing caution to the wind, Shane and Kate rushed towards it and shoved open the door wider.
"Oh my God…Jesus, no!" Kate cried out, almost collapsing to her knees from great shock.
They had found Steve.
Shane instantly moved into action. He bent over the bathtub and scooped his brother's naked body out of the blood-tinged water before lying him full length on the cold bathroom floor.
Kate went to kneel at Steve's other side. "Is he breathing?"
Calm and composed, Shane made a quick check on his brother's vitals. "No, he's not. And I found no pulse. That is a serious cut on his left wrist, Kate. You need to stop the bleeding. He has lost too much blood already. Initiating CPR."
Shane gently tilted his brother's head back, lifting Steve's chin slightly to open the airway. And then he began the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Kate had leapt to her feet to grab the bathrobe hanging behind the door. She then yelled at the AFOs to call for the ambulance before ordering them to secure the area and request for backup. Returning to Steve's side, she yanked out the bathrobe belt. Placing a hand towel onto his still bleeding wrist, Kate wrapped the belt over and over around it. There was also a bleeding cut on his right eyebrow, but it had to wait as there was another matter of the utmost importance.
Kate watched with growing apprehension as Shane alternated between breathing into his brother's mouth and doing the chest compressions. It had been over two minutes, but Steve still did not show any signs of response.
"I'll do the compressions," Kate quickly said, placing her interlocked fingers on Steve's sternum. Panting slightly, Shane nodded and waited until Kate had done 30 compressions before he covered his brother's mouth with his and breathed. In perfect rhythm, they worked together to resuscitate the younger Arnott.
Three minutes later, when Steve still remained unresponsive, Shane's cool features began to crack.
"Damn it, Steve…" he brokenly pleaded, "Don't do this to me…"
"Shane…" Kate was already weeping. She had stopped the compressions as she was too blinded by tears.
Shane suddenly took a deep breath to regain his composure, somehow finding a new resolve. "No, Kate. We continue. Keep going until the EMTs arrive."
"Yeah, okay. Got it." Wiping the tears off her cheek, Kate started the compressions again before Shane resumed the mouth-to-mouth. And they repeated the procedure nonstop, refusing to give up on the person they both loved.
It took two more minutes but it felt like almost an eternity later when Steve finally broke up coughing and gagging and gasping for air. Shane quickly rolled his brother onto his side to help him breathe easier.
"Oh, thank God…" Kate exclaimed in great relief. She reached down to affectionately stroke the back of her partner's head. "Steve…You're going to be alright, mate. Just breathe."
Shane leaned closer to peer at his brother who still had his eyes closed. "Stevie? Can you hear me? Open your eyes, Shortlegs. You need to stay awake, or I'll tell Mom you were the one who broke her favorite crystal ballerina figurine when we were kids."
Slowly, Steve's eyes fluttered open. He glared back at his brother. "Piss…off..."
Shane smiled. "Welcome back, Stevie."
Soon afterwards, Steve's face crumpled. He rolled himself into a ball and—due to either shock or trauma—started to shake uncontrollably. "Natalya…They…they took her…"
Kate quickly wrapped the bathrobe around her partner. When Steve continued to tremble, Shane gathered his brother into his arms and held him close to give him warmth.
"Who took her, Stevie?" Shane asked.
"Don't know…some Russian goons…" Steve kept muttering. "Why? Why did they take her?"
"How many were they?"
"Th…three…big guys…like gorillas…I couldn't stop them…"
"I'm sure you've done everything you could, mate," Kate said, trying to sooth him.
Steve shook his head. "I didn't do enough."
"Steve…"
"And what the fuck is she sorry for?"
"What are you talking about?"
Steve looked up at his brother. "As they took her away, Natalya cried out to me. She…she told me she was sorry. Why did she say that?"
Sending Kate a knowing glance, Shane tightened his hold on his brother and said, "Stevie, there's something you need to know."
The EMTs suddenly chose that moment to arrive at the scene. Shane reluctantly handed his brother over into their care, but Steve grabbed hold of his shirt and wouldn't let go.
"Shane! What is it? What were you trying to tell me?"
Gently prying away Steve's grip, Shane gave him a reassuring gaze. "Later, okay? You need medical attention now."
"But Natalya…"
"We'll find her."
Steve felt extremely frustrated. First Natalya, and now his own brother. What have everyone been keeping from him?
But he had lost what remained of his strength, and so he didn't put up much of a fight when the paramedics began to fuss over him. An oxygen mask was slipped over his face, and then he was lifted onto a stretcher. Seconds later, they were wheeling him out of the flat towards the elevator.
Shane was left alone with Kate in the bathroom. Together, they stared at the broken mirror over the sink and the blood-tinged water in the bathtub. Somebody had already turned off the shower. The white marble floor at their feet was smeared with Steve's blood.
With a slight moan, Shane looked down at his unsteady hands. Kate reached up to squeeze his arm.
"You alright?"
"I almost lost him," he said with a shake of his head. When he looked straight at her, he amended, "We almost lost him. Again."
She nodded. "So what are you going to tell Steve about Natalya, or Svetlana, or whatever her real name is?"
"The truth," he grimly responded. "The whole truth and nothing but the truth. But I need to report it in first. Someone's head is going to roll for this, and it better not be mine."
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: The story is not over yet. Stay tuned for the next chapter.
"I'm a single bloke and I got a normal private life." – DS Steve Arnott.
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* ABBREVIATIONS:
AC - Anti Corruption
AFO - Authorized Firearm Officer
CHIS - Covert Human Intelligence Sources
CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
DCC - Deputy Chief Constable
DI - Detective Inspector
DS - Detective Sergeant
OCG - Organized Crime Group
RTC - Road traffic collision
TFC - Tactical Firearms Commander