Chapter 12

After Ava had showered and eaten, her conditioned improved greatly. She was hungrier than she thought, scarfing down the large sandwich in minutes under JJ's watchful eye. The blonde was perched on a kitchen counter, trying to think of another way to help the younger woman.

"I think you should stay here." She announced suddenly. Ava lifted an eyebrow at her as she began to wash her plate in the sink. "You know, until you decide what to do."

"I've already decided what to do." Ava informed her, much to JJ's surprise. She hopped off the counter, eager to hear what Ava's plan was. "I'm selling the apartment. I can't live there anymore."

"I think that's a great idea." She said with a smile. "You need a fresh start." Ava had already referred to Kate as her 'ex-fiancée' so JJ didn't need to ask about that.

"Right." Ava nodded, gazing out the window momentarily.

"Well, while you're looking for a place, you can stay here." JJ insisted. "You shouldn't be forced to live in that place if you don't want to."

"JJ, I couldn't possibly-"

"Don't say 'intrude'." The blonde raised a hand and Ava chuckled.

"OK fine," the brunette thought, "I'll use 'impose' instead."

"You're not imposing or intruding." JJ pressed. "I'm offering. It's not like you'd be taking up space. You'd have a room and a bathroom all to yourself. Apparently Michael wouldn't stop talking about you on the drive to soccer practice, Henry is upset that he didn't get to meet you, and Will…quite frankly I could invite a group of Swedish, swimsuit models to stay over and he wouldn't even bat an eyelash."

"Male or female swimsuit models?" Ava raised an eyebrow in question.

"What does it matter to you? You'd have a ball either way." Ava struggled to not spit out the water she was drinking as she laughed.

"True," she nodded, "but I'm pretty sure that would make the difference for Will." Ava sighed as she had a slightly more serious thought. "I'm going to have to go back and get some stuff."

"I know." JJ was more than willing to drive her. She was also secretly hoping that Kate would have the nerve to still be there. "We can go whenever you're ready." Ava almost groaned as she stood, her head still pounding like a drum set.

"Alright, let's get this over with."

Ava wasn't going to lie to herself- she was nervous. Having JJ with her helped but she was still more than anxious to come face to face with Kate after what had transpired between them. JJ was almost giddy with excitement, undoubtedly because she wanted to wring the woman's neck, but Ava found herself making a mental list of the items she needed and exactly where they were. She wanted this "visit" to be as quick as possible. Looking down at herself, she realized that both she and JJ were wearing Penn State tees. There would be no doubt as to where she got it and if Kate noticed… Ava stopped herself. Why should she care what the woman thought anymore? In fact, it might even be fun to have her think that she had spent the night at JJ's for a more nefarious reason than the truth. Ava frowned, shocked at the pettiness that suddenly reared its ugly head.

"We're here." JJ told her, parking next to Ava's red Hyundai. Ava's gaze, however, was focused on the black Lexus on the other side of them. "Is that hers?" Ava nodded once. "Want me to key it?" Ava shot the blonde a look mixed with amusement and warning. JJ shrugged.

"Try not to strangle her." Ava said quietly as the two ascended the steps towards her apartment. JJ showed her three fingers, the sign of a Boy Scout's promise, and Ava shook her head as she sighed. As Ava turned the key, she could hear someone pacing on the other side of the door. Once the lock turned, however, the pacing stopped. She pushed the door open, half hoping that it would smack the woman on the other side, and locked eyes with her ex-fiancée.

"Ava-" Kate halted her approach the moment she realized that Ava wasn't alone. Whatever sweet nothing she was about to breath was gone and replaced with, "wow, you really didn't waste any time finding a replacement, did you?"

"Alright," JJ growled, "now I'm gonna shoot her." She stared down the woman that she, unfortunately, looked fairly similar to, and took in her horrified expression. Kate hadn't realized who she was until she saw the gun and badge on the other woman's hip.

"Are you kidding," Kate breathed, almost to herself, "this is her? Christ Ava, I know I fucked up but did you have to go crawling into the arms of a woman who looks like a more desperate version of me?"

"The only one who's going to be crawling in here is you." JJ spat back as she took a threatening step forward. The agent smirked as Kate took a step back.

"I don't see how whose arms I crawl to is any of your concern anymore." Ava said coolly. Kate's gaze softened as she returned it to the brunette.

"Ava," the taller blonde's breath hitched, "please, let's just talk about this. I know we can fix it if we just try."

"Talk?" Ava frowned. "You mean like the last time we talked?" Kate swallowed hard, her eyes landing on the cut marring Ava's lip. She reached out as if to stroke it but Ava was faster. She caught the woman's hand on its way to her face and squeezed it hard. Kate winced but made no move to remove it from her grasp.

"Please," she begged, tears already making an appearance in her azure gaze. Ava found herself annoyed at the sight that used to break her heart. "let's just talk about this…alone." Her icy glare shot towards JJ who was watching the exchange with crossed arms and an equally cold stare.

"JJ's my friend." Ava told her, releasing the hand, "She's my family. Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of her."

"You don't even know this woman." Kate cried. "She barely even knows you!" Ava simply stared, knowing that, to a certain extent, the sentence was true. "She doesn't know about the accident, or Roan, or Alex-" Ava's eyes flashed dangerously and she brought her face centimeters from Kate's.

"Don't you dare," Ava growled as Kate shrunk back, "say that name. I've held my temper long enough and you can't hide behind my affection for you anymore. I swear to God, if you ever bring him up again, everything you've ever done to me is going to seem like a papercut compared to what I'll do to you." Kate, and JJ for that matter, were shocked into silence at the rage and aggression behind the brunette's voice. Ava composed herself rather quickly and began to walk away in search of a bag. As she collected whatever items she deemed important enough to bring to JJ's, Kate followed her like a puppy without a leash.

"Ava, I'm sorry." She cried. "I'm sorry for everything! I never met for last night to go that far. I've never even thought about anyone else since I met you. Please, just stop and listen to me!"

"Listen to what?!" Ava turned on her heels, hair whipping behind her violently as Kate skidded to a stop to avoid running into her. "You want to tell me how it's my fault that you fucked someone else?! Or how about how it's my job's fault?! Or do you want to try to convince me that it was an accident, that you were drunk and that somehow, that makes it ok?! And I haven't even begun to touch on the fact that you assaulted me. Don't you understand? Looking at you, let alone the thought of forgiving or touching you again, makes me physically sick. When I told you to pack your shit and get out of my life, I meant it. You were the first person I let in after so long- the first person I allowed myself to fall for after the shitshow that was my previous relationship- and this is how you repay my trust in you?" Ava took a deep breath, making an effort to lower her voice for the sake of their neighbors. "You are a sad, manipulative, cruel, woman and the thing I regret most is that it took all of this for me to see that."

"Ava." Kate sobbed, obviously more than hurt by her words. Ava found herself almost smiling at the look in her eyes. It was a harsh thought but she didn't care. She wanted Kate to hurt, even if it would never compare to how much the blonde had hurt her.

"If I ever see you again," Ava enunciated clearly, "I'll shoot you myself." The threat was transparent, Kate inhaling a shaky breath as she realized just how much Ava now hated her. "Now, get out." Kate took a single step back, as if trying to comply but unable to get her legs to work. Eventually, she reached the door and, with a trembling hand, turned the knob. Only when Ava's voice sounded again, calling her name, did she stop, hope gleaming in her eyes as she looked back at the younger woman. "Don't forget to leave your key." Kate began to cry harder as she removed the ring from her purse and struggled with the clasp. She shot a watery glare at JJ once more before dropping the key onto the counter and seeing herself out. The two agents could still hear her crying as she slowly walked down the hall to the staircase. Only when it was finally silent, did JJ approach her friend, her eye catching a glimpse of pamphlets on adoption as she passed.

"Are you ok?" Ava seemed dazed as JJ placed each hand on her shoulders. "You were awesome, if it's any consolation." The brunette let out a single chuckle.

"Thanks." She said, suddenly shy as she realized JJ had heard everything that had transpired. She wondered how long it would take the blonde to ask her about who Roan and Alex were. "And yea, I'll be fine. I actually feel a lot better already."

"Good." JJ smiled widely. Helping the woman gather the rest of her things, biding their time to ensure that Kate wouldn't still be in the parking lot when they got there, the two eventually made their way to the door. Ava looked down at the key Kate had left and placed it in her pocket. She didn't fail to notice that the engagement ring she had left in the same spot last night was long gone. Let the woman sell it back for all she cared.

"Come on." Ava opened the door and walked out, eager to leave the apartment and all the memories it held behind. She couldn't wait to get rid of it and move into a new place. The two entered the parking lot, both looking around for Kate's car and saw nothing. Ava sighed in relief. She didn't want to have to follow through on the threat to shoot the blonde so soon. She placed the large purse and duffel bag she had filled in the backseat of JJ's car, offering the older woman a tightlipped smile as she closed the door. JJ returned it, about to get into the driver's seat, when a look of horror flashed in her eyes.

"Look out!" she yelled and Ava turned to see a large man running straight at her. She cried out as the bulldozer of a man barreled into her, slamming her against JJ's car hard. Her elbow smashed through the window and she felt blood begin to drip down her arm from the various small cuts.

"JJ!" she cried, her worry for the blonde rising with every second that she couldn't see her. The man pinned her smaller frame against the car as he reached into his pocket. Ava's eyes widened in fear as she tried to kick and punch at him in vain. Just as the man revealed a needle, Ava began to toss her head back and forth. She knew what it was, its contents familiar to her after being kidnapped four times.

"Ava!" JJ's strained voice called out and Ava could tell she was fighting off someone else. She strained her neck to get a look over the car to see a man, equally as large as the one subduing her, with his arm around JJ's neck in a chokehold. She was struggling, elbowing him hard in the gut and chest, but the lack of air was weakening her rapidly. Ava panicked, thrashing about in an attempt to free herself, only to feel the needle piercing her neck. She gasped, feeling the tranquilizer as it entered her veins and immediately dulling her senses. Ava did the only thing she could think of- she bit down hard on her attacker's hand. Her teeth sunk into flesh and she tasted blood. Unfortunately, it was too late. The man released her, howling in pain, but Ava's head was spinning and her vision was blurred. She fell to her knees, clawing at her neck as if she could remove the toxin with her nails, and glanced under the car to the other side only to see the still body of her friend. Ava looked up, taking in three silhouettes as her vision continued to fail her.

"Long time no see, Agent Thorne." The silky, accented voice was familiar but Ava simply didn't have the faculties to place it. The drug that ran through her system worked quickly and she heard, more than felt, her body collapse on the hard gravel. The last thing she saw was one of the men bending to pick her up, his figure turning into a blur as she lost her grip on consciousness.

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