A/N: Thank you for all your support. Now things will get much much deeper between Miley and Theo. And thus the climatic rising…
Warning: This chapter as well as the next one will contain very mature adult content. Reader Discretion is strongly advised.
Consider yourself warned.
FBI National Academy
Behavioral Science Graduate Course Lecture Continued
Part 5
"However, the captor is not immune from the effects of the same familiarity complex that can grip the hostage. In a situation where the captor is affecting the hostage, let us never forget that for the exception of too few people, the captor is also human. He can succumb to what we know as Lima Syndrome. Based on the Lima siege hostage crisis in 1996, this syndrome, the players reverse positions. The captor becomes all too sympathetic to the needs of his hostage. This can easily occur if the captor or hostage is in constant contact and in a way in service of the hostage. He views the hostage as less of a means to an end, but rather as an end itself, and therefore loses sight of what the hostage is there for by redefining what the hostage means to him. The hostage can offer comfort to the captor, who is under stress at that moment and even beyond the scope of the ordeal. Yet very rarely does the hostage see this as the opportunity it is, as she is probably already in the most advanced stages of Stockholm Syndrome.
Theo's Flashback:
"I thought you were dead!" exclaimed Miley.
"I thought you were dead!" I replied.
Then after 'leaping' into each other's arms…a pause…
"Are you ok…did they hurt you?"
"No…No…" Miley said shaking her head…
Then Theo looks up.
"Hi" I greeted playfully.
Miley just gave a heart melting smile in response and hugged me tighter while resting her head on my shoulder.
I loved how warm I felt. This was what was missing...the frigid coldness which had lingered while I was dying was only now alleviated.
This was what was missing in my life…
The funny thing was it was Miley who fidgeted to try to silently tell me that I could let go…
But I don't, and I won't.
Not just yet…
Theo just continues in the embrace…
End Flashback.
Theo's phone rings, knocking him out of the flashback.
Theo looked beside him. In the passenger seat of the car, Miley was still working on finishing off dinner.
Theo's POV:
We were still in Houston and in the spirit of giving Miley healthy food for a change, I got both of us Chinese take-out and we were eating it in the car while parked nearby a park.
I look at Miley, and she nodded in understanding as I exited the car.
"Yeah?" I picked up.
"Theo, this' Tom…glad to see you still with us…how's Miley?"
I look back inside…
"She's good," I replied.
"Alright, now Theo…about what you gave us…Iris…"
"Yeah?" I asked with eager anticipation.
"You said that Iris was the codename for whoever's hiring the hits on Miley, well we finally got good news…since you said the name Iris was connected to 'states', so we checked that out and got a location…"
"Yeah and…?" I prodded on.
"Iris is a state flower…of Tennessee," Tom continued, "while tracking servers we're definitely certain that the hiring had to have come from someone there."
It hit me. Tennessee was Miley's home state…
"So how do you wanna play this…?" Tom asked me.
Just has he had asked that, something ingenious just hit me hard…
"Hello…hello?"
"Tom, I got an idea!"
"Go ahead" Tom replied also excited because I was.
"Tom, we have to get outta Houston…"
"And go where?" Tom asked.
"Don't you remember? The last safe house and drop off point…"
"…and in the last place anyone would look for Miley…" I added on.
"You're a genius!" Tom told me.
"No, you're a genius!" I hollered back into the phone yet not really happy, "You picked it in the first place."
The conversation wrapped up and suddenly gets grim…
"Are you sure, you wanna do this?" Tom asks knowingly.
"Tom, Miley and I are being threatened wherever we go…and this has to stop…"
"What are you going to do?" Tom asked me knowing there had to be more.
"What do you think? We don't have any real assets there, I gotta do this all by myself" I respond.
Dead silence.
"Alright Theo, I know you know the risks, so…here's where you go from there…"
Ten minutes later…
I get back into the car now happy that Miley's with me again.
I catch Miley staring at me…
I look back at her…
"What?" I ask.
"You're smiling," Miley said sweetly as a smile grew bigger and bigger.
My face dropped.
"No I wasn't…" I try and look away.
"You were…" Miley went on.
"No, I'm…really wasn't" I insist chuckling trying to brush her off.
"You were, outside, you were smiling…don't deny it…"
No matter how hard I try I can't retort to try to get Miley to stop…
"And in here, you were smiling too" Miley said smiling at me.
"No I wasn't," I tried again.
"You know you were…and so do I," Miley said in a sing song voice.
Then Miley finished it, or more accurately finished Theo off.
"Teddy, since we met, I've never seen you smile before. I couldn't imagine the pain you had to go through during your days but… 'Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good'," Miley yawned quoting the Bible.
Miley's quote had taken me by complete surprise.
At that time Miley's and Theo's eyes not only met, but seemed to embrace each other.
Yet I was the one who couldn't look away.
Nashville Metropolitan Airport
Nashville, Tennessee
Day 5 of 7 of the Ransom Time Limit (the day after Miley's 'ruses')
November 23, 2011 (Miley's birthday...you'll see why this' important)
7:21 a.m. (Local Time)
The massive turbines of the many planes taking off and landing was enough to blow the ear drums of anyone unlucky enough to be caught up in the middle of it without ear protection. Yet what made this airport different than almost any other airport in the country was the fact that it doubled as a military air base as well.
You'd think after the events of 9/11 that it would be hard to get on-board a registered plane with a woman that you kidnapped. Yet despite all the hype about security and screening, before I knew it I was on a Marine Corps transport plane, bypassing all the usual security measures and landing in the 'Volunteer state' without a hitch.
Understandably, Miley was so exhausted that she had slept through the car ride and had slept onboard the plane (an amazing feat considering a transport plane was not designed for comfort). I had to wake Miley up to get her to walk into the plane in Houston, but I had no such luck in Nashville. She was dead tired. Since I had to get Miley off the plane and into another car, I improvised, adapted, and overcame.
Thanks to his family, all this time Theo was dressed completely in his actual Marine service uniform (the green three piece office dress suit) with all his badges and ribbons. Miley was a different story, yet again.
As soon as the plane parked, the main cargo hatch opened.
At that moment an awaiting military officer ordered a squad of Marines into the plane. One by one they came out. The first guy with a duffel bag. A second guy with a duffel bag. A third guy with a duffel bag…
And last but certainly not least Theo. Proving he did 'overcome' he walked out…
…while carrying Miley Stewart in his arms, as if he was carrying his new bride to the threshold of his house after the honeymoon.
And the Marines watching him thought this for good reason. Theo had gone to the trouble of putting on an actual bride's veil and head piece on top of Miley's head, sending out a clear message that he was indeed just a Marine carrying his overtired bride.
Very amused the Marines started cheering him on. After all he really was one of their own…
(Wolf whistles and playful cheering could be heard)
For someone as humble as Theo was, this was a particularly entertaining way to watch Theo be greeted. So long as you weren't Theo that is.
And since Theo really did have feelings for Miley, the pains that he took not to blush was enormous.
Theo loaded her into the awaiting SUV and saluted the Lt. Colonel who awaited both of them.
"Must've been a great honeymoon eh? The wife's exausted, must've given her a hell of a several nights huh?"
Theo relented. The colonel knew that wasn't the case at all. He didn't know exactly what the case really was but just felt like giving Theo a hard time. Theo's sense of deference and respect for the commandant and the corps had made him wisely resist the urge to respond to the superior officer.
"Yes, sir there was," Theo responded using his all to not show flinching, while he very discreetly gives the colonel a thick envelope, consisting of a bribe.
"Thank you, sir"
"No, thank you, Lance Corporal Tan," the colonel replied.
And with that Theo got in and drove off.
Thankfully, military salaries haven't risen for nearly two decades, making this possible for officers like the Lt. Colonel to be bribed like this…
And with that Theo drove off into the new day.
A simple yet large homestead farm ranch
Crowley Corners, Tennessee
9:20 a.m.
Miley's POV:
I wake up feeling extraordinarily refreshed and very comfortable. And the rest of my body slowly, but surely begins to move again, I am struck with the how familiar this place was to me. I'm in a room where I can actually see around me the furniture and the shelves and know what there for. I smell the hardwood floors and the aroma of the air, so very distinct…
I gasp and my eyes water…tears of joy…
I'm home…
Home?
As I get up and almost frantically look around, I realize…
I'm home…I'm home, I'm home, I'm home, I'm home!
I can't believe it, I don't believe it.
I must be dreaming…I just…
Miley pinches herself and realizes she wasn't.
Miley's ecstatic. She can't help herself. She's giddy and so excited about the fact that she was back in her old place. All the furniture, everything was exactly the way it was too many years ago.
Almost skipping through the hallways, like a child on Christmas morning she made sure as she made her way through the hallways she opened every single door to give a quick peer inside. The closets, bedrooms, den, bathroom…all the same, exactly the same…
By the time she reached the end of the hallway, she was on the floor laughing in joy and satisfaction…
Yet she looked up as she heard footsteps, Theo was at the other end of the hall, carrying a tray with a bowl of cereal.
He caught her reaction as she was going down and was very amused to say the least. He was happy that she was happy. And that certainly made his day.
Theo puts down the tray.
"Uh, breakfast, if you want it…"
What I did next was something I couldn't help myself with…
I ran towards Teddy. Not caring about the shock and hesitation on his face, I practically jumped into his arms and…
When she reached his arms, instead of burying her head into Theo's shoulder when she got to him…
She leaned in…
And Theo leaned in as well…
And…
"Wait!"
It was as if someone had thrown the switch on the hands of time itself and halted the constellations in the sky. To both Miley, this was a violation of all natural order in the universe.
Miley was stunned. Her eyes were closed and ready for something that would have come natural to any other couple who had been together through half as much as they had.
But Theo stopped himself and Miley from leaning in any further.
There only lips were an inch apart, before Miley slowly but very sadly had to pull away.
At first, Miley couldn't believe it…what had seemed so inevitable was stopped.
"Miley…"
Miley's heart ached more now than ever before.
Miley's pleading eyes begged for an explanation.
"Miley, we can't…"
"But… why?" I asked so very softly.
"We…we just can't," Teddy responded.
I look up in disbelief and see something that touches me even more…
Teddy's eyes full of regret. He wanted this as much as I did.
I feel him put me back down on my feet. Along with my feet, my whole being is brought back to earth.
Miley sighs in understanding…
"Oh…okay Teddy….I understand…" I sigh, dejected, about to turn and walk away.
I did indeed understand. I really did. I knew that soon enough, Teddy and I would have to go our separate way. Yet this does absolutely nothing to soothe my soul.
"Miley…"
I turn to face him.
"You like it?"
At pause at first, then realize he's talking about the house.
"How'd you get this…" I started.
"We leaned on the bank that put a lean on this place. By pure fluke, we had many strings at that bank, and pulled many to get this place. Great luck huh?…"
Then it dawned on me…
"The last place anyone will look" I said.
Theo nodded.
"All the furnishings were part of the original deal, so this house is a home, I guess…"
Miley and Theo look at each other and then…
"This' my home, Teddy," I finished for him, "you want me to give you a tour?"
I saw Teddy's face brighten up as he nodded.
Four Hours, two showers, two changes of clothes, and a guided tour later
"Ow!"
Miley bursts out laughing…
"Teddy…you have to be careful... the oil's hot…
Miley's POV:
Theo's actually thankful for that really childish mistake because it made Miley laugh.
"Okay, now Ted, we're now going to do the catfish…"
Theo follows Miley for as long as I could before her, now captivating, eyes catch him.
It was my idea to teach me how to cook some native Tennessee dishes and much to my surprise I could tell he really was enjoying doing this very much. Fried Catfish…sounds good. My resolve does nothing to help me, I really want to show him how much he means to be…
"…and then you take the piece…Teddy?"
Miley looks up…
"Ye..yeah…go on, go on…" Teddy tries to tell me.
Miley looks up and then lowers her head and sighs.
Bulls—t, he can't do it. I know Teddy feels something for me.
I just need someone. Strong, smart, yet sensitive to help me through all this. Getting over Jake, getting my life back together. You're a guy who can protect me…I love the way you're so down to earth and that you can scrap with other guys to defend me…and always do.
While you need a nurturer to take care of you…and don't deny it.
Else you'd be having cold beef-a-roni out of a can instead of a Catfish lunch.
Oh hun, as funny as this sounds, you're discipline, self control, and machismo only tells me you need me more, and only makes me want you to need me more.
All those times, we saw each other, hugged, held each other, opened up. That was real. I just know it. A girl can tell.
Miley was right. Theo was for real when he did all those things.
Maybe if you weren't so intent on showing me that I wasn't right for you would I not determined to go after you more (Girls are complex creatures and don't always have to make sense)
(A/N: no offense).
Yet, it was exactly that. The fact that Theo made it clear that he didn't want her allowed for Miley to see the very best of Theo, because he wasn't trying to constantly impress her or impress on her what kind of a man he was. He just let it out inadvertently and naturally. Unfortunately, Miley only liked him more because of it.
Did Teddy make complete sense? Sure. Will he be right all along? Yep. Will I accept it and move on? Not even close.
Maybe I'm just lonely. But really I think that I just need him. Only him.
He's proven, not the least of which…he never exploited me in any way whatsoever…and all the times I really needed him…he was such a sweetheart.
That point on, Miley stopped thinking and help Theo. Many times, Miley's brushed her hand with Teddy's, very passive yet very clear signals were being sent, and most of all Theo always tried to avert his gazes at Miley when she turned to him to check, all of which was too late and was seen by Miley already.
After Dinner…
In the living room, Miley and Theo ended up on the floor together. No, not for that reason, but Theo was showing Miley something.
Miley's POV:
"Okay, Miley, this' the simplest thing to use…" he began
"Are you sure? This is an AK-47."
"Which is exactly the reason why this will be the first firearm I'll let you use."
Now a part of Theo was wondering whether or not I still have any of my marbles left, but Theo feels as if he has to get Miley focused on other things…
"An AK-47 rifle is the so easy to use that even an uneducated child can use it…and they (child soldiers) do"
Theo's POV:
Yet now in hindsight, is see that it's not such a great idea. Using the AK-47 that was, until know, packed in the trunk of my SUV meant that Miley and I are even closer together than we were when we were cooking (to the point where I can actually smell Miley), and we're on the floor lying down with me on top of her?…OH crap, I really shouldn't have done this. What was I thinking?
Oh bother, it's too late now.
And sure enough a mere ten minutes later, Theo was finished and Miley knew how to use and AK-47 (It really is very simple to learn). Yet there was another good reason that he would have done this. If Miley had to defend herself in the future, she'd know how. I mean, usually that wouldn't be a realistic threat, but tell that to Miley and Theo after all they went through.
Later that evening- 6:32 p.m.
Theo walks up the stairs into Miley's room…
I really shouldn't yell from kitchen since the house's really big, so I sprint up to ask Miley what she wants for dinner.
Yet as I open the door and look inside I'm unprepared for what I see…
Nothing…
Miley's nowhere to be seen. And I cringe with panic…I'm almost out the door in fear until something holds me back…
I hear something and re-open the door.
And hear it come from the closet, and as I carefully reach for the closet door I hear a dreaded noise…
Sobbing…
I knock bracing for a harsh response.
"Come in," Miley squeaked.
I slowly open the door to have my suspicions confirmed.
Miley and Theo stare at each other, Miley's face is soaked with tears and she's shaking uncontrollably.
Theo knowing that he has to approach this with the caution of a bomb defuser.
Thinking of the best thing to say, I decide to figuratively cut the yellow wire and say…
"Is this about me?" I asked slowly.
Miley looked up with a bewildered look, as if I had said the stupidest thing in the world. Yet instead of lashing out…
"Oh, Theo," Miley lunged at me, breaking down in tears while embracing me for support.
And that I did.
"It's not you…not you at all…you're the best thing that happened to me…and you're right…right about everything…about not getting together…about not being able to be there…but…it…it's just" Miley sobbed.
"Just what?"
"I can't tell you?"
What?
Did she just say that?
"You can't tell me…" I asked with disbelief.
"It's…it's too hard…" Miley insisted.
Yet for some reason I feel as if I can't let this go, I look around as I hug and I see something that throws me back…
Right beside Miley, on the floor, lay a…
Black beaded rosary.
"No…"
"Teddy?"
I look at her not knowing what to say. Yet she follows my eyes and figures it out…
"No Teddy…I c…c….an't."
"Yes, you can!" I kept on going.
"But Teddy…"
"It's about the rosary…any rosary isn't it?"
Miley looks down in shame.
"Miley, look at me,"
No response…
"LOOK AT ME!" I yell.
Miley slowly does…
"Look into my eyes and tell me the truth…is it the rosary?"
A long pause, before Miley breaks down again. She couldn't bear to lie to Teddy anymore.
"Oh, Teddy it was horrible, just horrible…"
"What…what was…just calm down and tell me…" I went on.
Miley looked at me, then shook her head…
"I can't…he'll get"
I'm stunned and know we're getting progress.
"Who, who'll get you…" I ask with my anger sharply rising knowing what this could possibly be about.
"Him…he'll get me…he'll put me...again…"
Then I do the thing that'll help her the most…
"Miley…look at me…look at me"
Miley snaps at attention to me.
"Miley, I made a promise that I was going to always protect you. And after all this…all we've been through,you know you can believe in me. Well believe in me when I say that only you can help yourself. Whatever you were running from, stop…let me help you…" I yelled, almost in tears myself.
Miley looks at up at me and I see it yet again. The same look, the same type of mood, the same agony. The rosary at Gangland, the argument about her late mother…
Miley looks up and takes her time…
"Teddy, remember when I told you that I lost my mother when I was 10?"
"Yeah…you said a car accident…"
"And I said that it was because of me, remember…"
Theo thought that Miley was just exaggerating in her rage and was just trying to blame herself when she did that. But this must've been something deeper.
"What happened? How is it you're fault?"
Miley took a few deep breaths. Then suddenly regained composure to tell the whole story.
"Theo, I couldn't stop him…I just couldn't. When I was 10, I was too small. He just kept using me, when I was 6…"
"Who?" I prodded not going to like what I'm going to hear from now on.
"My teacher…my Fr…French teacher…he used to take me into his office and make…me do things…at first, he'd just cuddle…but soon after it just got worse, he'd make me do things…like kiss him… and hug him…and then he'd grope me…and then he'd make me touch him…you know his.…"
I just sank. This was what Miley had. Hardly able to contain my anger, I kept a straight yet sympathetic face and urged her to keep going.
"But one day, a few days after I had just turned 10, he grabbed me by the hair and pulled a pen knife on me…"
"He laid me over his desk and he…"
Miley was breaking up…
"Entered me… from behind…up my an…"
"Okay… okay…" I gasped and cringed, never knowing what hit me.
Then Miley spoke up and took Theo by surprise…
"The day I told Mom, she had freaked. She threw me into the car and I knew everything was going to be alright…she drove as fast as she could to the nearest police station….and that's when it happened…"
It all made sense to Theo now…
"The accident," I understood.
"She ran a red light and was hit by a tractor trailer…"
All I could do is move closer to show her that I was there. I couldn't hold her as her mental state would be too fragile for that at the moment.
A long pause later…
"Miley, didn't you tell you dad?"
Miley looked at me…
"I was too young…I couldn't get over the shock of what happened. And when I did…when I finally tried to talk about it, it was too late…I, I was too ashamed".
Theo understood. Miley's ten year old mind had equated the trauma of being the cause of her mother's death as well as seeing her mother die, with the abuse. That's the reason why she had kept it hidden for so long. A perfect storm of psychological trauma and traumatic event had kept all of this hidden. Until now.
"And the worst part was, when it did come up, everyone dismissed it as me being too young and equating it with 'psychological transference, or some other kind of bulls—t like that, so he got away with it…he stopped doing it to me…but I still can't help but thing that…others like me…"
Miley breaks down. She has a heart and can't bear to imagine that other's went through what she did. She blamed herself for not being able to make the adults in her life understand.
I pause before asking, "Miley, who was this teacher?"
Miley looked up, "His name was Steve… Steve Holland…PS 109…"
I remembered it…then Miley finished up.
"So you wonder why I hate the rosary…it's because, well he always hurt me…always…with his rosary in hand. Just like you, he's a devout…"
"Don't say that, he's not…he's not like me or us or anything…" I interrupted, "and it's not what the rosary represents. Us Catholics believe that mother is one of the biggest guardians of the little children. What Holland did was blasphemous."
I had to help her. I pick up the rosary…
"Miley, is this his?"
Miley nodded…
"It was the only thing that I was able to take from him since he took my…puppy"
"Puppy?" Theo asked, not understanding.
"My mother gave me a St. Bernard puppy beanie baby. She said that she first gave it to me when I first learned to walk and talk. And some time after the accident, I realized that Mr. Holland took it from me the day of the accident."
"And that's why I hate the rosary and that's why I was so eager to move to Malibu so soon after the accident. I could bury those feelings with another life."
Miley cringed but relaxed. She thought that she had let her Hannah life slip. Truth is that the reason that she performed as Hannah instead of herself was that it was the best way for her to forget all of this. Having to keep go to great lengths to keep this secret meant that she could hopefully forget about this one. But alas, it was too connected to a regular and holy object, the rosary, thus she couldn't forget, she could only hide.
"Miley, you're safe now…and no one will hurt you. I don't blame you and you should not blame yourself. I admit, first I was outraged that you so hated the rosary. But now I understand. And I will help you understand, even if it is the last thing that I do…"
Miley took these words and cherished them.
"Now, I have to step out for a short while, so I'm gonna need you…"
Miley understood.
"The basement only has one doorway in and out and it's locked from the outside," Miley offered.
I nodded.
"Take anything you want with you...no one knows we're here…"
Then Theo does the most surprising thing. As proof that Theo is suffering from Lima Syndrome, he does the unthinkable.
He gives Miley the AK-47 and gives her a full cartridge (30 bullets).
"Use this against anyone other than me…To show you it's me…I'll knock like this before I open the door."
Theo knocks a pattern on the table. Miley nods.
And as they move downstairs…Miley slowly begins to walk faster and faster. 'Faster' than she ever did before, as now, a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. And indeed it had.
Miley gave Theo another kiss on the cheek before descending to the basement with her AK-47.
Theo nor Miley saw the significance of what the AK-47 could do to either of them with regards to MILEY'S WHOLE ORDEAL. They really were that close.
And with that Theo quickly left the house and on his cell phone…
"Tom, this' Theo…I need you do something for me…I need you to find someone…yeah, it has something to do with Miley's attempted hits…"
That was a lie
"His name is Steve Holland…yeah…PS 109…yeah I can wait…"
And with that Theo went on his way in his SUV. He had to get dinner, but so much more as well.
What do you think of: The fact that Theo was now lying to get information for Miley's sake, not for the ransom job. And how unbelievable was it for Theo to give Miley an AK. And how much more is it for Miley not to think to use it...hmm maybe on Theo? Guess how deep they're in now? (Review for Comment)
A/N: So what do you think? I would like your feedback on especially the appropriateness of the beginning, the handling of the romance (PLEASE), and the overall progression.
But I would really appreciate it.
GFMarshall