Chapter Fifteen

A Woman Scorned

-oOo-

The train journey grew instantly uncomfortable after their brief conversation. She didn't know what to say that wouldn't offend him or give him ammo to tease her later on. Instead her eyes often drifted dozingly to the window at the passing buildings until finally they burst out into clear open fields.

Chloe recalled childhood memories of visiting farms on school trips, she enjoyed feeding the horses and the goats, and she had wanted to be a farmer when she grew up. Of course that plan didn't work out; Jerome had convinced her that a farmer didn't earn a lot of money. That didn't matter at first to Chloe, she just wanted to be around animals and have the fresh air, but as she grew older and had to learn to support herself more and more, it wasn't about working for fun, it was working to survive. But it wasn't as if she hated her job, she had always been interested in psychology, and her interest in the force grew as she spent time with Jerome looking over his shoulder as he worked on his cases. She remembered sitting beside him in his office under the light of the one desk lamp. She recalled the creases in her godfather's brow and the pen he tapped irritably against his teeth. She figured she had just been thrust into the job just as she had been thrust into this case, she never really chose anything in her life she only went down the realistic path, the one in which she was expected to go.

Chloe leaned her head against the window of the train, in the corner of her eye she could just see Silas starring at her, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. She wondered what he was thinking about. Did he even think like her? Or maybe he was trying to calculate an escape route. She was surprised that he had not tried to attack her yet, he was quite able to, even if she did have the gun to hand. He was strong and almost twice her size, so why did he wait? Perhaps he was bidding his time, waiting for the perfect moment.

But then maybe he wasn't. Maybe he wanted to find out who the Council were as well. It must have been frustrating doing the bidding for someone you have never met or spoken to. Maybe his own curiosity kept him with her.

But she was still no closer to identifying the Council's leader then when she had started. She would have to call Aringarosa as soon as they arrived at Les Lilas to make her demands. Of course a nagging voice was warning her that she was risking a lot by trusting the Bishop would help her in exchange for getting his monk back. But she had to trust that there was some goodness in that man, even if he did use her. Perhaps in the quiet of the train's carriage, she could worm more information out of the monk, she checked her watch and saw that they had another thirty minutes to go.

"Does the name Horus mean anything to you, Silas?" she asked.

The monk's eyes snapped from the floor to her own eyes. They were bleary from fatigue and his body was hunched over, "I don't know that name?" he replied.

For some reason, Chloe believed him, "Do you think he might have come into contact with Aringarosa. Did your patron meet a lot with other Bishops?"

"Everyday" he replied, "but he never shared with me the details and I never enquired" he added, ending the conversation. Chloe rubbed her forehead, she wanted nothing more then to curl up with a book and a glass of wine, but that seemed miles away now. And something was still bothering her.

"Why do you believe the Bishop wouldn't go to such lengths to protect Opus Dei?"

Silas sat up straight, "Because I know he is a good man, he is incapable of hurting anyone"

"Even if the future of Opus Dei was in danger?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as Silas frowned.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"I'm not surprised Aringarosa didn't tell you" she replied

"Tell me what?" the anger rose in the monks voice as he gripped the edges of his seat.

"In the report Capitaine Fache gave to me, Aringarosa attended a meeting with Vatican officials almost two weeks ago. Teabing gave only one statement before his murder which made the Bishop one of our top suspects"

"I cannot believe anything you could say would shake my loyalty from the Bishop" Silas mumbled stubbornly.

"Well it might" she said, leaning forward so the monk could hear every word she was about to say, "The Pope was going to withdraw his support of Opus Dei in six months" she explained. She watched as Silas' features turned even paler and his eyes widened.

"Impossible" he murmured.

"Not at all. With that in his favour, Teabing contacted Aringarosa after the meeting to make a deal to help protect the future of Opus Dei in exchange for your services and, of course, for a hell of a lot of money. Teabing wins either way, he gets the money and the chance to find the Holy Grail, meanwhile Aringarosa keeps Opus Dei in the Pope's favour by using the Grail as leverage" she added.

"Why would he not of told me any of this?" he asked feebly.

"Would you have? If he'd told you that the denomination he stood for and groomed you for was in danger, would you have trusted him? Could you have followed his every command if in six months Opus Dei would no longer carry the support of the most Holiest man in the world?" she asked.

"I-I don't…" he faltered, lost in thought.

"So you see, Aringarosa had everything to lose by standing aside as the reputation of Opus Dei was destroyed. You've been with him for a long time, Silas; surely you know that he would do anything for the things he loves" she explained. Silas looked at her.

"He thought I was dead, why did you allow him to believe that?" he asked, his voice etched with pain.

"Fache told him. I didn't even know about any of this till a week ago" she replied defensively, "I can only guess Fache thought that if the Bishop believed he had nothing to lose, he would help him locate the Council members" she shrugged.

"How many times must I tell you that there is no Council, at least none that my patron would connect himself to" he grumbled.

"And would he tell you if he did? Just like he didn't tell you about the meeting with Vatican officials?" she asked, knowing she well and truly had him stumped.

Silas starred at his hands in his lap, "I just cannot believe he would knowingly be a part of something so evil"

Chloe kept quiet as Silas tried to come with terms with what she had just told him. She had expected him to stubbornly refuse to accept the truth, but for some reason he was willing to take her word more seriously then he probably would on their first meeting. It surprised her but also confused her as well.

Luckily for both of them, Chloe's mobile began to ring. She held it to her ear and could hear herself sigh with relief when she recognised her godfather's voice.

"Oh thank God, Jerome! I was beginning to get worried" she said, painfully aware that Silas was watching her intently. She felt oddly guilty as well for not giving her godfather much thought since that morning, but she knew, deep down he could look out for himself.

"I'm sorry, petit poisson, I'm afraid it's bedlam here at the office. There's an internal investigation into Fache's involvement in the Opus Dei case. They've turned his office inside out, I don't know if they've found him yet"

"Well they'll have no luck finding him at home. The Council's hired thugs tore that place apart like mine, but he's safe. They don't know about me yet do they?" she said, biting her lip.

"Non, they've been checking into everyone here, but I convinced them you were on holiday for a while. You are safe aren't you, Chloe?" he asked.

"Of course, I'm leaving the city for a while, but it should all be over soon, Jerome"

"Good, just stay safe" he said, his concern made Chloe smile, she noted a hint of something flash behind Silas' eyes. She wasn't convinced it was either anger or frustration, but it was definitely something.

"Alright, I'd better go, but just look after yourself and if it's safe, call me" she instructed.

"Of course, take care, Chloe" and he hung up. Chloe sadly put the phone back in her bag, the train's brakes jolting her back to reality. It looked like their stop had come.

"A friend?" Silas asked. Chloe starred at him, aware of that suspicious glint in his eye again.

"Yes" she replied, not willing to go into detail about Jerome, it could place him in danger, despite Silas's unusual co-operation.

"Is he a police-officer?" he asked. Chloe frowned, unsure of where this was going. She didn't know why he cared.

"Yes" she replied again, looking out of the window.

"Do you love him? Is that why you fear for him so much?" he asked, almost uncomfortably. Chloe frowned inwardly, curious to see where this went.

"Of course" she replied honestly. Silas seemed to slouch more.

"It's hard to be away from the ones you love, especially when you know them to be in danger" he replied, rubbing his palms together nervously.

"I know" she replied, feeling the train slowing down, "he's all I've got"

"I know that feeling, but it is different to be in love with someone rather then love them as family" he replied. Chloe did frown at this.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"Your lover? The police officer?" he answered, frowning as Chloe chuckled when she realised he thought Jerome was her boyfriend.

"The man on the phone is my godfather" she said and was surprised to see something like relief in the monk's eyes. Ignoring the gesture, she got to her feet and grabbed her bag as the train stopped. She waved her hand to get him to do the same.

"Hands in front" she instructed. Silas glared at her, but complied. Chloe pulled the tape out of her bag and wound it discreetly around his wrists. Together, with Silas leading, they both left the train and into the delightfully quiet train station. Chloe asked an attendant as to where the nearest motel was; luckily it was only ten minutes by foot as all of Chloe's cash had been spent back in Paris. She hurried alongside the monk, her fist wrapped around his sleeve; Silas didn't even bother to recoil from her grip as he breezed alongside her with his long strides.

Both were left panting when they reached the motel. It was pleasant looking from the outside. There was a garden, which you had to walk across to get to the reception, the grass was thick and rich green, rose bushes lined the pavement and there was a cherub fountain on either side on the path. The building itself was a long stretch of concrete painted a fair yellow. Each door was painted white with a different species of flower carved into the wood just below the room number. Chloe entered the reception followed by the monk and saw a singular woman leaning across a fancy mahogany desk surrounded by vases of flowers and candles. Chloe smiled as the woman saw them and ran a hand through her thick bushy hair.

"And how can I help you, dear?" she chirped.

"We're looking for a room, we don't know how long we'll be staying yet so we might need to reserve it for a week at the most" Chloe smiled.

"Okay" the woman said, turning her attention to the computer screen in front of her and began furiously typing away at the keyboard, "Well you're in luck, we only have one room left" she looked between Chloe and Silas, "I'm afraid it only has two single beds, but I'm sure you could push the two tog-"

"That sounds fine" Chloe interrupted, feeling Silas fidget uneasily beside her.

Chloe gave her name and credit card before taking the key and leading Silas out of the building to their motel room.

"Why did you let her believe we're together?" Silas asked as Chloe dragged him along behind her. Chloe refused to look at him, instead her eyes roved over the numbers on the doors.

"It's less complicated. No questions. I'm sorry to smudge your celibate reputation," she added sarcastically stopping outside the room numbered 'eleven'. Chloe pushed the door open and found themselves in a bright, airy room that was only big enough to fit the two single beds with a bedside table each, a small sofa pushed up against the wall and a chest of drawers which had a small television perched on top. Another door led into the modest bathroom complete with a tub and showerhead, a toilet and sink with an overhead cabinet. The motel owned it's own convenience store and eating area so no kitchen was required within each room.

Silas perched himself on the end of one of the beds. Chloe threw her things on the other one and felt her stomach rumbling terribly. She realised she hadn't eaten for most of the day and she noticed how pale Silas looked too.

"I'm going to get us something to eat, any preferences?" she asked, shifting through her things and pulling out her purse and her handgun. Silas eyed it and shook his head, "I'll be back in a few minutes, don't try anything" she warned and left the room making sure to lock it behind her.

Chloe found the small cafeteria and brought them both sandwiches, a cup of coffee and a piece of fruit. Nervously she unlocked the motel door and slowly opened it, her hand on her gun. Silas had moved from the end of the bed and was now sitting facing the television. He was watching the weather report and was rapt, not even noticing Chloe enter the room. She quietly closed the door behind her and dropped the bag on the bed. Silas looked peaceful and content as he consumed himself with the television, Chloe was starting to get used to these rapid changes Silas' mood seemed to experience, one minute he could deadly and intimidating and then the next he could look as innocent as a child

Silas seemed to sense her there and turned to face her.

"Getting comfortable?" she asked and threw him a sandwich still in its wrapping. He reached out and caught it with his bound hands. Chloe grabbed her penknife from her bag and ripped through the tape as she began to unwrap her own cheese sandwich.

They both sat there on their beds eating in silence, the quiet was ringing in Chloe's ears, but what was she supposed to say to the man she had kidnapped off the streets, the man who knew her most intimate secret and the man who gave her strange and confusing feelings every time he grew closer.

"I must shower" Silas said as he finished his sandwich.

Chloe nodded and watched as he walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. She needed a shower too, the whole day on the train made her feel in need of a bit of refreshment. As she threw her rubbish in the bin, Chloe spotted her phone resting beside her. She checked the bathroom door and heard the water start.

Snatching the phone up Chloe dialled the directory service, which put her through to the Hopitaux de Paris. Chloe was greeted by the chirping voice of one of the receptionist who was more then happy to put her through to the Bishop's room.

"Bishop Manual Aringarosa" came a graveling reply.

"Bishop" Chloe began, her nerves a jumble since this was her first ransom demand, "I think I have something that belongs to you," she said, forcing herself to sound confident and mocking.

"Who is this?" the voice demanded.

"Someone who's had to resort to extreme measures to get your attention"

"What? B…I don't…" he stammered, "Oh! I know who you are! That policewoman. How dare you threaten me!" he roared down the phone.

"I dare because my life is in shambles since I took this case and if you had co-operated with me in the first place, I wouldn't be holding a gun to your precious Silas' head!" she barked back. She was met with a wall of silence and then the Bishops voice became instantly softer.

"Silas. You kidnapped a monk? Have you no shame?!"

"He's a murderer, don't think I wouldn't think twice about putting a bullet between his eyes" she replied, thought distantly aware that she probably would have to make that decision sooner or later.

"But you're a police officer!" the Bishop spluttered, "You are forbidden to kill an unarmed man"

"Have you not been listening to me, Bishop? Or have your goons not told you how they tore my place apart, how they tried to run me off the road and forced my Capitaine to go into hiding? I'm being hunted and you think I give a damn about ethics?" she hissed.

"Goons? What are you talking about?" Aringarosa asked desperately.

"I'm not a complete idiot, Bishop. The Council sent them after me and whether or not it was under your orders or someone else's, you hold the key to shutting them down. Now it's up to you to decide which is more important. Silas or your Council"

There was another pregnant pause. Chloe felt her heart race as she prayed he would choose Silas, she didn't want to kill him, despite how desperate she was. Killing was never a solution, in all her years in the DCPJ she had never pulled her gun on anyone, and she didn't intend to start now.

"Why would you do this? To my Silas?" Bishop Aringarosa asked sadly.

"Hell hath no fury, Aringarosa. You used me and now I'm going to return the favour" she snapped, suddenly aware that Silas had now turned off the shower in the bathroom, "I'll contact you again in twenty-four hours, you'd better have made your decision" and with that she hung up.

-oOo-

QueenieMeanie - Hey thanks, one of my other reviewers said exactly the same thing. I wanted this story to be original so did the reverse! Glad it's being received very well by you all!

fabala4077 - It's actually incredibly difficult to develop it without making it seem too unrealistic. Chloe is intolerate of religion whereas Silas is sensitive and very protective of God and Bishop Aringarosa. But as we move along, both seemingly find those pet hates dimming which will eventually bring them together...or will it?

Mish - I thought that too about Les Lilas, I just wanted to see who else would notice, so ta-da! it was only you! Well done. I had an excellent Christmas, thank you, lots of food and with my family all together, it was wonderful. I hope you had a good one too.

Bodo - I can only assume that your mouth waters every time you watch Paul Bettany as Silas. He is rather yummy and plays Silas to a tee!

Bob - Thanks for your reviews for both this fic and 'Because of Changes', very inspirational! Yes I have always wanted to be a writer, I started writing seriously when I was in Year 3! Which would have made me 7ish for those who aren't accustomed to the English grading system. The only problem with fan fics is that you have to work with characters that already exist, you can't always add things to them and their lives are normally all mapped out, that's why I'm working on my own novel coz it'll be all my own invention! Keep reading and reviewing!

phoenixrisingGhostLoveScore - well if you liked the last chappie you'll like this one. Obviously the expression on Silas' face when Chloe took that call from Jerome was jelousy. Our little monk is growing fond of his captor, maybe stockholm syndrome? or maybe not, stay tuned!

A/N : Hey peeps, this is my first chapter of 2007! Yippee. Happy New Year to you all. With my love.