Chapter Seventeen

Forget and Surrender

-oOo-

The hours seeped away as Chloe lay as uncomfortable as possible to remain awake. Her left side had begun to go numb as she lay propping her head up with her arm, but the monk was still sound asleep, only stirring once to get comfortable.

Chloe studied the monks face once more, seeing the lines of a hard life etched into it, but he was not without a sense of youthfulness, his skin was flawless and almost glowed in the soft moonlight that filtered into the room.

Fatigue was beginning to fall on Chloe, making her eye lids flutter and a yawn to crack, but she kept her eyes peeled on the monk, refusing to give him an opening to escape, he was too important to her, and to her case to drop her guard long enough for him to flee.

Chloe's head slowly began to droop, her limbs feeling heavier as time wore on and her mind ached and throbbed with the effort of keeping awake until finally her body won and she settled into a restless sleep without even realising.

The light was the first thing Chloe saw as consciousness slowly came back to her. Chloe never could remember having the first mornings light drain her bedroom in her little flat, but then in a wave, all the past few days rushed back to her as she sat up in bed. Frantically she checked on Silas and with surprise found him still curled in bed, deep asleep.

Relief flooded over Chloe, she couldn't believe she had fallen asleep. She scolded herself as she got out of bed and went about checking that her gun was still in her bag and the door was still locked. Surprised, Chloe returned to her bed and helped herself to a cereal bar from her bag. Silas was beginning to stir and brought his hands up to rub his eyes.

"Morning" Chloe said, throwing a cereal bar across the room landing on his chest. Silas dragged his body into a sitting position as he gratefully took the food and began unpeeling the wrapper.

A rather uncomfortable silence fell on the room as both occupants avoided each others eye as they ate their breakfast. Chloe had no idea what they would do for the next few hours, she had to call Aringarosa at four o'clock and make arrangements, but until then, she didn't want to be locked in this small room with Silas and she didn't want to take him outside in case he escaped.

Chloe made her mind up and decided to let them both take a walk, she felt they both needed the air and to slip back into some kind of reality, and she had her gun in her waistband and had the monks' hands tied behind his back, so she would be safe. Chloe stayed close, there arms touching continuously causing the monk to flush. They headed towards the local park and watched the children play and the parents watching them.

That's what I wanted, Chloe thought sadly, a family. But considering she was unable to look at a man she knew that would be impossible now. She looked sideways at Silas who was looking at the children in awe as if he had never seen one before. Chloe wondered if he had ever thought of have children at one point in his life, she was tempted to ask but figured it would be too personal and left it.

Once the silence became uncomfortable, Chloe ordered the monk to head back to the motel, the sky was beginning to darken and rain clouds were gathering around their heads.

Once they got back to their motel room, Silas lay out on his bed while Chloe sifted through her bag and brought out a sandwich for herself and one for the monk. Chloe turned the television on and both watched the news, which didn't show anything interesting, and the weather report was just as promising, it looked as though Paris was in for severe storms for the next few days. Already there was one brewing outside, Chloe was sure she heard thunder echoing from the foggy sky.

Gradually the thunder and lightening grew closer and closer, the windows and doors rattled and the rain hit the panes of glass like stones. Chloe looked about nervously as Silas' attention was still on the television. Then suddenly with a huge clap of thunder the television and the light above their beds went out with a snap.

Silas rolled over with a frown, Chloe got to her feet and looked out of the window, the storm was driving rain in every direction, trees waved a groaned in the wind and an emergency lighting system beeped into action sending a soft glow beaming into their room.

Silas got to his feet and smoothed his jumper down, "Perhaps I will use this time to wash," he said and without another word he walked into the bathroom. Chloe turned back to the window and studied the weather for a bit longer. It was almost as if the turmoil outside matched that in her heart. She was all conflicted and not just about the case, her confusing feelings towards the monk were still there and muddling with her head at the same time. Sighing she lay down on her bed and closed her eyes, listening to the soothing sounds of the water running next door, she pictured a naked Silas washing himself and instantly blushed and forced the image out of her mind.

"What's wrong with me?" she muttered to herself.

Rolling over she reached for her phone that was tucked in her bag and dialled for the hospital again. She didn't want to wait anymore to find out Aringarosa's answer and now was the perfect time with Silas out of the room.

Chloe tapped her foot nervously on the ground as the dial tone continued to ring in her ear, then the phone clicked and a tired voice came on the line.

"I though I might be hearing from you" said the Bishop. A bubble of guilt rose in Chloe's throat as she heard the fatigue and sadness in the man's voice, but it was his own fault she reminded herself.

"Have you made your decision?" she asked

"I will do anything for my Silas, you have my word I will co-operate Miss Blanc. But you must understand that this will not be easy nor safe. My life is now in great peril as is yours and Silas'"

"I understand, but we all get what we want if this works out and in the end, that's what matters, don't you agree?" Chloe asked.

The Bishop sighed on the other end of the line, "Fine, how do you wish to do this?" he asked.

"I want you to write a statement giving me all the names of the Bishops in the Council, I want you to sign it and use a carrier to bring it to the train station at Les Lilas, when I have read your confession and am happy with it I will release the monk" Chloe explained.

"I wish to be there to take Silas home myself," Aringarosa growled.

"Non, suspicions will rise if you leave the hospital. You will do as I say," said Chloe warningly.

Aringarosa sighed, "Fine, I will organise it straight away"

"Bon" Chloe smiled and closed her phone a huge wave of relief flooded over her. It was done, now all she needed to do was wait for the signed confession and all of this would be over.

The bathroom door opened and Silas walked out, rubbing his soggy hair. He looked at Chloe before checking that the television was still out, when it didn't turn back on he rolled over onto his bed and lay there with his eyes closed muttering a prayer under his breath.

Chloe lay on her own bed and sighed to herself, hoping that this time tomorrow, she would be free of this whole terrible nightmare.

Opposite, the monk shifted on his bed to face her, "Are we to stay here for another day?" he asked quietly.

Chloe glanced over at him, "Why are you interested?" she asked, occupying herself by retying her shoes.

"Even a captive has the right to know what will happen to him," Silas said darkly.

Chloe frowned. She was surprised to find how blurred the line between captor and captive had become over the last few days, but he was right.

"We stay here until tomorrow, and then I don't know," she explained simply. Silas obviously was not satisfied with this response and glared at her.

"Did you even have a plan after you kidnapped me?" he said.

Chloe glared back at him, annoyed at his sudden attitude. Had it been because he was angry with her for making him aroused the night before? It was a funny thought which almost caused a smirk to rise on her face. She had found a weakness of his and now she felt equal to him. Without his cilice, Silas was like every other hot-blooded male.

"I'm making it up as I go along. I don't make it a habit of kidnapping if you must know" Chloe replied and lay flat on her bed with another sigh. She was in no mood to be dragged into another argument; she needed to keep her thoughts together.

Silas lay on his side, studying the woman who lay before him. His eyes raked her face as if trying to find something there. Chloe averted her eyes uncomfortable with the way he was starring at her, it was calculated and it unnerved her.

"Can I help you?" she snapped suddenly.

Silas starred at her for a few more seconds before replying, "You will not kill me," he said simply.

Chloe raised an eyebrow and rested her head onto the palm of her hand, mirroring Silas's relaxed position, "Oh oui? And how did you come to that conclusion?"

"You may hate life and what it has done to you, but you still value it, even if those lives have been used to do…unspeakable things" he added glumly, obviously recalling his own questionable past.

"You're wrong" Chloe spat, "You think I would give a second thought about putting a bullet between the eyes of the man who raped me?"

Silas' eyes widened at realising he had insulted Chloe, "Killing him would not erase the pain he caused you" he added.

Chloe sat up and swung her legs off the bed, Silas followed suit and both glared at one another, "Non, it won't, but it's a start"

"He was a monster, but God will deal him his punishment"

Chloe jumped to her feet, Silas did the same, both clenching fists and sparks flying from their eyes.

"God?!" Chloe spat, "If there were a God, he would have stopped that man doing what he did to me!"

Silas opened his mouth to say something but shut it fast as if he had lost his train of thought.

"What?!" demanded Chloe, "Were you going to tell me that everything happens for a reason? That I was supposed to learn something from being raped? That feeling defiled and dirty is some part of a bigger plan for me? Tell me Silas, because if wishing to die every time I see the mark he left on me is what I have to look forward too for the rest of my life then maybe I should just hand you my gun and let you finish me off just like you tried to do in that cell" she breathed, her eyes swirling with tears.

Silas starred at her for a second, and then suddenly he lunged forward grabbing the handle of Chloe's gun and pulling it out of her waistband before Chloe had time to react.

Her blood ran cold as he levelled the pistol at her heart.

She looked up at Silas' face; his eyebrows were set in a firm frown, his mouth in a tight line and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the gun in front of him.

All of Chloe's limbs went cold as she starred down the barrel of her own gun, "So you're going to kill me?" she asked, not sure whether she cared or not.

Silas clicked the gun, sending a shiver down Chloe's spine.

"I should kill you" he muttered sadly, his eyes still boring in Chloe's, "I should kill you for taking me away from my patron, for taking away my cilice, for making me question my own faith, and…" he faltered, Chloe took a sharp intake of breath when she saw the raw emotion in his eyes and the way his hand shook. She knew he had no intention of killing her and it was becoming evident as to why.

"Silas?" Chloe asked, surprised at how soft and sympathetic her voice was and without another thought she took a step forward, closing the gap between her and the monk, the muzzle of the gun now grazing her collar bone, but she did not avert her eyes from Silas'.

The monk swallowed hard, "…and for…for making me…" he struggled, but with a sudden confidence he tossed the gun to the side, snaked his arms around Chloe and crushed his lips hungrily against hers.

Chloe's eyes flew open in surprise, but what she didn't expect was to return the kiss. All thought and sense left her mind as she revelled in the feel of his soft lips against hers and the powerful large hands threading through her hair as he held her tightly to his chest. Silas' kisses were inexperienced, either he had never kissed before or it had been a long time since he had allowed himself to kiss this way.

Then suddenly he thrust Chloe away from him, spinning right into the bathroom and toppling over on the hard floor. Painfully she looked up and saw Silas breathlessly starring down at her with sadness in his eyes.

"I am sorry" he spoke and before Chloe could get to her feet, he had slammed the bathroom door shut.

"Merde!" Chloe yelled, slamming her fists on the door and rattling the door knob, but it was no use, Silas had put something against the door to prevent it from swinging open. Fustrated tears leapt to her eyes at the foolishness of her actions. She had let her guard down for one second and now everything was ruined. Silas was gone, she could no longer hear him on the other side of the door and he would waste no time in running back to Paris to be with Aringarosa. Then of course the Bishop will retract his confession and Chloe would still be in the same mess.

With a sob she threw her weight against the door, suceeding in other brusiing her shoulder and fell to the ground in a mass of tears. She had failed and not only herself but Capitaine Fache and her own godfather. She had let them all down.

-oOo-

A/N: Ok people, I know some of you will be upset that I removed the sex scene, but I was never really happy with the end of this chapter and it took a very stern review from 'Rae-scars adorn me' to finally rewrite it. I'm really sorry to those who liked the original, but this rewrite works much better for me.