Title: Desperate Measures
Chapter 2 – Desperate Measures
A/N: Hey thanks everyone so much for the great reviews for chapter 1. I hope you all like this chapter just as much!
While Greg talks to Holleran, Ed pulls his phone, steps back a few feet and with Wordy still at his side, calls Tom, Donna's Team Three team leader. "Tom…it's Ed. What happened?"
"Hell if I know Ed. We were routine patrolling in Chinatown...nothing major. Minding our business when all of a sudden two black SUV's pull up, four guys get out and arrest Donna, they wouldn't let me come and told us nothing. Man she was pissed and rightfully so. Ed what's going on? Where is she?"
"It's a big mixup that the bo…Greg is working on right now," Ed looks over at Greg who was still embroiled in a heated discussion with Holleran.
"The arrest yesterday of Ida Logan…you think this has something to do with it? Could we have been respon…"
"Tom neither of you did anything wrong, this is all a misunderstanding," Ed tries to assure him as he looks over at Wordy, who's eyes mirror his best friends silent panic.
"Okay we're on our way back to home base now. Be there in a bit."
Ed turns to Wordy, his stomach wanting to bring up the small lunch he had a few hours earlier. He rubs his face and then just shakes his head.
"Ida Logan did this."
"Ed, think about it. Donna's citizenship? She'd have to…"
"Damn it Wordy you said it yourself yesterday that she has a few judges on her payroll and we both know very well, as much as we do hate to admit this, that the courts are full of crooked judges and lawyers."
"I know but...Ed, this would take…"
"She did this. I'm going down there."
"Eddie, hold on," Greg calls out.
"Boss, Ida Logan did this and…"
"Okay we don't know for sure but…"
"Donna's probably wondering what is going on, maybe scared and definitely angry and will need…a friend," Ed interjects; Greg instantly picking up on the desperate pleading in his team leads tone and facial expression. "Someone has to tell her what's going on, Tom said they told her nothing and no one's talked to her since. Boss you'd do it for me."
"Go. As soon as I get this worked out with Holleran I'll call."
"I'm coming with you," Wordy pipes up as he snatches the keys and hurries after Ed toward the elevator. "This has to be a misunderstanding. They probably have the wrong person…" Wordy's voice stops as Ed's phone beeps. "What?"
"The email that Holleran sent to Greg. Damn it sure looks official," Ed groans as he curses under his breath. "Ida Logan did this to get back at the SRU. Donna worked the case and had the last laugh yesterday; this is Ida's revenge."
"Guess she never got on that plane."
"She didn't strike me as the kind of woman to just tuck tail and run."
"Why not just take her out?"
"Here at home? If Ida's still here, she knows she'd be asking for a lot more trouble with a direct hit on Donna. Get her sent back to…damn back to France," Ed huffs as he reads the rest of the forged memo. "Wordy this…this can't be happening. Even if Donna is to get on a plane and get over there, I'm sure it'll be a trap and she'll be…" he stops, his mind not actually allowing his lips to utter the word dead. He knows that would lend Ida Logan the last final laugh. "I won't allow this to happen Wordy, I won't."
"Okay we're here…need me to come in?"
"No, wait for Greg and just call if there is anything urgent."
Ed slowly heads toward the front doors to Immigration, flashing his badge and asking for directions to where the holding cells are at. Damn you Ida Logan, Ed's mind curses as he nears the area where deportees were being held for immediate departure out of the country. This can't be happening…this is just a joke right? Ed pushes his way into the main area and then walks up to the clerk's desk, swallowing hard and feeling his body temperature starting to rise. "Donna Sabine?"
The clerk calls her name and Ed turns to watch Donna approach, dressed in what looks like a prison outfit and easily telling that she was a mixture of tears and anger about to burst.
"Ed, I tried to call but told I wasn't allowed…what the hell is going on?" She asks in utter frustration.
Ed looks at the guard still holding her arm and frowns. "Can I please have a few minutes?"
"You have twenty-four hours and then she'll be deported."
"What? Where to?"
"France."
Donna looks at Ed in sheer bewilderment as the clerk releases her arm and then gently guides her toward a small table, giving her a brief hug before both of them sit down.
"What's going on Ed? What is this about? Deported?"
"Greg got a call from Holleran and apparently your citizenship has been revoked and you are being deported as an illegal citizen."
"This is a joke right? Ed you can't be serious."
"He got a memo that said your birth certificate is a fake and that your parents came here illegally and never applied for citizenship."
"This is preposterous," Donna shakes her head and looks away before turning back to Ed with an expression of disbelief. "What the hell is going on? Are you serious about all this?"
"I wish I was lying. Donna, I think it's a ploy by Ida Logan to get you out of the country and away from the team and…"
"Kill me?"
"Did you see this morning's paper?"
"Media…" she shakes her head and then looks back at Ed with a strained expression. "Kill me? Get me alone…on foreign soil without my team and…seriously?"
"They'd chalk it up to you being a tourist in the wrong place at the wrong time and that would be it."
"Ed this can't be, she can't have the last laugh like this."
"Trust me Donna she won't, I promise," Ed assures her with a strained expression, his heart racing at painful speeds.
"Okay let's say this is the work of Ida Logan, to what gain? Just to kill me? And how could she just up and do this? Ed this isn't something you can just do without the proper…"
"Means…which when it comes to money and crooked friends we both know she has plenty of. Now Spike is looking into the computer stuff right now," Ed replies. "I am guessing she paid off the right judge and as to why? Donna if she has your citizenship revoked then besides taking you out of the picture and blaming your death on some lame accident, every case you ever worked with your name on it…that relates to her or anyone else…"
"Becomes inadmissible and she and her clan walk free. Damn bitch," Donna curses, drawing a small strained smile to Ed's lips. "She can't get away with this."
"She won't. She has obviously paid off the right people so we are going to have to find an honest judge and get this all undone. Let me call Greg and get a status update."
"Okay."
"Donna I'm so sorry about all this," Ed offers weakly as his hand reaches out and squeezes hers. "I'd ask how you are but…"
"Pissed off and wanting to get my hands on her. I don't know whether to laugh or cry and am not a fan of either," Donna grits her teeth. "But I um…well I'm also kinda worried she'll make this stick," Donna ends in a tormented tone, her expression telling Ed that although she wasn't about to voice it out loud, she was scared as well.
"Never," Ed shakes his head, swallowing at the same time. "She won't win. Let me talk to Greg and see what's up. I'll be back soon okay? I promise."
"Hurry."
Ed gives her one more tormented half smile before he gets up and heads for the front doors, his fingers already dialing Greg's number.
"Boss, it's me," what's going on?"
"Spike just found some of the documents and whoever Ida paid to do this and cover their tracks was a pro. Everything looks legit except for the date which proves it was tampered with overnight. But this is gonna take a few days at least to sort out and undo. How's Donna?"
"She's angry, confused and scared and rightfully so. Boss, she only has twenty-four hours," Ed's voice explains in desperation. "If she gets on that plane we both know she's not coming back alive. Ida Logan gets here there or she's waiting or has someone waiting and Donna's just another tourist killed in a mugging. I can't let that happen."
"Okay Eddie let me work on something else. But if you have any ideas to buy us some time I'm open. I'll see what Spike can do and get back to you. Just hang tough."
"Yeah that'll be easy," Ed retorts in sarcasm as he nears the office of the Immigration judge but pauses just before exiting as he overhears a conversation that starts the wheels in his head moving – but in a direction he hadn't expected or planned on.
"Here is the Marriage License. We get married and she gets to stay right?"
"Yes," the Judge Wilson Newsom replies with a firm nod. "She gets to stay and apply for her Canadian Citizenship. Here are the details and the sanctions. Now those two men will escort you to City Hall where a marriage will be performed right now to ensure that this isn't an escape tactic. Then you'll both have to…"
Ed looks at the judges name, having remembered that it was Judge Leo Farnsworth on the memo that Holleran sent to Greg, hears the conversation and soon a very unconfentional idea starts to take root in his mind; feeding him ideas before he can refuse. I'll marry Donna to keep here in the country. The impromptu marriage will keep her here long enough for Spike to figure out what Ida's computer wizard did, reverse these phony charges and everything will be back to normal. Its either this or attempt a jail break, Ed reasons. And if I do that Donna will kill me for sure.
"Damn you Logan," Ed grumbles under his breath as he pulls his phone and calls Greg to explain his idea. "Boss? I think I might have an idea on how to um…well stall for some time. But…"
"But what?"
"But it's um…it's a bit out in left field. Okay here it is…" Ed quickly rambles off his idea, his heart rate elevated and mind wonder just what the hell he was actually saying.
"Eddie you sure you want to do this? I mean I know you and Donna are…friends…"
"Boss I don't know what'll happen, but I do know we are running out of time and options," Ed sighs. What the hell am I doing? Am I really going to marry Donna? Even just temporarily?
"Eddie…"
"The judge on the memo was Leo Farnsworth and he's off duty today. Have Spike check and see if Judge George Newsom is associated with Logan in any way. I overheard him tell a couple what I just told you. Now if we wait, Farnsworth will be back tomorrow and Donna will have a few hours only and all this will be moot; you said Spike will need a few days to reverse everything. Boss I can't let her be deported. She's as good as dead if that happens we both know that. I have tried to come up with something else and short of a jail break which I know neither you nor Donna would allow this is it. If it'll take Spike a few days then this can work. Only we have to know right? Can you see another way around this?"
"Actually at the moment I can't," Greg sighs heavily. "And that would mean all her cases would be moot, this way at least they'll just be on hold pending an internal investigation, which we could work on getting everything back to normal."
"And at least she'd still be here in the country," Ed reasons in haste. "This way we can work on getting her citizenship reinstated and really put Ida Logan out of commission. She'd do it for me."
"You sure?"
"Boss…I hafta do this."
Greg hears the pleading tone in Ed's voice and feels his own heart start to beat painfully. What else could they do? Donna was as good as dead if she got on that plane and he knows, mostly from observation that Ed and Donna did have something growing between them. Just how far along it was that wasn't his place to determine since they weren't on the same team. They were now out of options and this was it. It was unconventional but it was legal.
"Okay tell Wordy, use him as your witness if you have to and I'll prep the team, hers and ours. They need to know the truth and the um…band-aid solution that fixed this. It might seem sudden but if we explain why then it'll make sense. Let me worry about the team."
"And Ida Logan?"
"Well there will be no doubt when she hears her plan has backfired that you my friend will have earned some high powered heat. But let's worry about this first. Help Donna…I'll talk to Holleran and the teams and we'll go from there."
"Okay then," Ed hangs up and then hurries for the outside SUV, gets into the front passenger seat and looks over at Wordy with a stone faced expression.
"So what happened?" Wordy wonders.
"I um…need to go to city hall."
"Right now? Why?"
"I'm getting married," Ed replies and Wordy's jaw literally opens.
"Ha ha funny. So what did…okay, hold on…what?" Wordy asks in shock as he turns the engine. "Ed, are you serious? What happened in there? What do you mean married?"
"Spike found out that Ida Logan is behind all this...we we believe that but have no proof - yet. But it makes sense. The IP address that Spike traced goes back to a safehouse that she used last and Farnsworth is a friend. When I talked to Greg he agrees that it's an attempt to get Donna out of the country on phony charges and then um…take her out – for good. Wordy I can't let that happen."
"Okay but married?"
"Immigration judge…crooked I might add…Leo Farnsworth gave her twenty-four hours, those of which she has to spend inside the holding cell. But if I marry her…"
"And you being a legal Canadian citizen…"
"Then I buy her a temporary reprieve, she stays in the country and Spike can find the real documents and get this whole thing undone."
"Wow not even a first date and married already," Wordy lightly teases.
"You know how many get married just for a permanent residency card?"
"Okay it kinda makes sense. What does Donna think of all this."
"She um…doesn't know."
"Seriously? And you're just gonna spring it on her?"
"Time is ticking and…yeah I know she's gonna be pissed but what else is there? I can't break the law to get her out of jail and this is…yeah okay rushed and maybe extreme but its legal and with an honest judge sitting today it can actually work."
Wordy looks at the semi-panicked expression on his best friends face and then shrugs. But as Ed's expression turns into one of uncertainty Wordy's quick to call him on it. "What?"
"Talk me out of this…tell me it's a joke and this isn't happening."
"She has twenty-four hours. Can Spike fix it by then?"
"Boss said a few days at the most."
"Okay then…let's get that license."
"Wordy…"
"Go Ed before you talk yourself out of this. I got your back no matter what."
Ed gets out of the SUV and hurries toward the clerk's office, getting directions to where he can buy a marriage license and what time a civil ceremony could be held today.
"Thanks," Ed replies as he takes the document and holds it in his hands as he slowly heads back to the SUV and gets in. He looks at Wordy and then shakes his head. "Tell me this is all just a nightmare."
"It is for Donna," Wordy reminds him as he starts up the SUV and heads back to their previous destination. He glances over at Ed, whose eyes are transfixed on the piece of paper in his hands. "It's a quick fix and you can probably just go about your daily business like nothing has changed," Wordy suggests, not realizing his words were farthest from the truth.
"Yeah you're probably right," Ed tries to convince himself as he prepares to go and see Donna again. "Wish me luck."
"Oh, you're gonna need it," Wordy replies seriously as he watches Ed get out and then calls Greg.
Ed heads back into the Immigration holding area, his heart rate once again picking up as his brain tries to rationalize what he was about to do. He'd get the jump on Ida and if the papers were filed by the honest judge and city hall tonight, Donna would be able to stay and the phony deportation charge would be overturned in favor of permanent residency card proceedings; which in a few days would all be moot once everything was restablished. He watches Donna approach and for a split second considers tearing up the paper and telling her they were just gonna make a run for it.
"Ed, you found something?"
"I um…I did," Ed nods with a small swallow. "You are being released."
"How?"
"A loophole of my own. Well kind of a borrowed idea."
"What is…"
"Donna Sabine!"
"Ed?"
"It's gonna be okay…"
"Just tell me what is going on."
"We're um…getting married."
"What?" Donna asks stopping just short of the clerk's desk and looking at him in utter surprise, the clerk arching his brows at Ed. "Are you joking?"
"Not exactly the reaction I was hoping for," he deadpans as he takes her aside. "Sorry."
"No it's just…are you serious about this? Married?"
"I am. I talked to the boss and there isn't at least not in the time frame she's given us, which is what I'm sure Ida Logan was counting on. But by you marrying a Canadian Citizen you'll be able to stay here and apply for…"
"I am a Canadian cit…"
"Okay but until Spike gets this all sorted out you're not; at least in the eyes of the law. Donna this is the only way to…"
"Ed, I can't let you marry me out of pity."
"I can't let you be deported either. And it's not pity. Look I get your angry and probably a bit scared, I am too. We're friends…maybe more but…I can't let you get on that plane. I do and you're dead and we both know that. We'll get Logan for this, I promise you but this is the only way right now to buy us some time."
"Like right now?"
"It has to be now while Judge Newsom is still on duty; we don't know who's next. Spike confirmed he has no ties whatsoever with the Logan's so it has to be now. He clears you for this, we go and um and get married, the certificate is filed today and your deportation is overturned. But it has to be before six PM, this thing has restrictions."
"What about a jail break?" Donna lightly quips.
"I actually thought about that but I figured you'd kick my ass."
"You're right I would have," she retorts in haste.
"Okay so you sign the form, we file it and nothing else changes, except on paper. You can stay in your apartment and…"
"And the team?"
"Greg told Tom and my guys but said it was temporary and that it wasn't to be made public. Please Donna, this isn't pity; it's one friend helping another. I don't see another option. I wish I did. I didn't want us to be well…forced into anything, but time is against us and this is legal."
Donna looks at the mix of torment and anxiety on his handsome face and feels her stomach also tighten. He was putting himself out on a huge limb for her, in effect going head to head with a ruthless and devious enemy with no thought to himself; only to keep her from ultimately getting killed. How could she say no? It was such a huge sacrifice and she knows that if it were anyone else she might actually say no.
"And I would do it for you," she adds softly and he feels his inner anxiety lessen. "But you know when Ida finds out you did this then…"
"Yeah the boss said the same thing. Donna right now, let's worry about this first."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"I will marry you and help you bring down Ida Logan. Let's make this work."
"Okay, be right back."
Donna is told to go and change, disappearing back into the holding area, while Ed heads for the Judges desk to file the appropriate paperwork, Judge George Newsom already having gotten a call from Norm Holleran, saying the marriage was legit and has his backing and full support.
Am I really doing this, Ed's mind asks in a panic as he watches the judge filling out the paperwork and then listens to instructions on the fact that they'd be officially escorted to city hall where two of the Immigration guards would witness the marriage and then the documentation would be filed, making the marriage of Ed Lane and Donna Sabine legal in the province of Ontario. Ed texts Wordy and quickly tells him he'll contact him after all the marriage paperwork is taken care of. Adding that Immigration was sending two of its own officials along to ensure that Ed wasn't just using this as an escape tactic to take her somewhere else in the country to elude the officials or get on another plane and head south.
Is this really happening? Donna's mind also races in wonder as she hands her temporary uniform back to the female guard and then heads for the clerk's desk to sign her part of the paperwork, looking over at Ed and offering him a weak smile. Ida…just wait until I get my hands on you!
"Ready?" Ed asks with a small hint of uncertainty as he extends his hand, wanting to offer at least an outward façade of the fact that he was romantically attached to the woman he was about to marry.
"Ready," Donna nods as her hand firmly clasps his and the head for the Immigration SUV, Ed telling Donna a few extra things Wordy had just found out. The ride to City Hall was spent in silence, the two of them in the backseat still trying to convince themselves this was really happening. However as they near City Hall, both are told that employment sanctions would also be coming, something that wasn't expected, welcomed or given time to discuss or debate.
"Suddenly I'm nervous," Ed whispers as they near the office of the Justice of the Peace.
"If it makes you feel any better, so am I," Donna quips. "Guess I should have picked a dress out right?" She mentions lightly, bringing a small smile to Ed's face.
"I think you look great," he utters in an undertone and she rewards him with a nervous smile as they wait their turn. "And hey I didn't exactly wear a tux," he nods down to his full SRU gear.
"Well I think you know I always like the uniform on you," she lightly flirts and his face warms. But it wasn't long before the civic minister say something and both were snapped back to reality, awaiting their new destiny, partially written by a vengeful foe.
Finally it was time and they both stand before the court appointed minister with clasped hands. He starts into his standard speech, Ed looking over at Donna and wondering what on earth she must be thinking right now. Probably the same as me – what the hell am I doing, his mind groans inwardly.
"Do you Edward Tucker Lane take…" the minster's words break into Ed's thoughts, forcing his mind back to reality.
"I do," Ed answers after a small breath.
"And do you Donna Marie Sabine take…"
"I do," Donna looks at Ed and smiles warmly, her heart racing at top speed.
The rest of the words are offered and soon the minister was offering two gold wedding bands, both of them taken and then gently placed on the finger of the other. Ed looks down at Donna's hand and smiles before he gives it a squeeze. A modest kiss on the cheek before the minster states they are husband and wife. But before either can really appreciate what exactly happened, they are whisked away for more paperwork to be filled out, date and time stamped and filed. Ida Logan's plan – for the moment had backfired. Donna was staying in the country.
"The rest of the documents will be sent to you by courier this afternoon."
Ed nods in agreement and then both turn to leave, heading for the door with almost mechanical steps.
"Thank you," Donna tells Ed in a quiet tone.
"What?'
"Well I was so caught up in all this and wanting to get my hands on Ida Logan and ring her neck for all this that I forgot to say thank you for doing this. Ed really…thank you."
"You're welcome. Donna, I swear I'll make this up to you in some way. We will get to the bottom of this and then…"
"Be back to normal?"
"Yes," Ed replies weakly. "But you know people do get married for far less noble reasons," he adds when her faces turns a bit perplexed.
"Are you trying to make me feel better?"
"Is it working?"
"A little," she answers with a smile. "Ready?"
"Let's do this," Ed nods as he pushes the door open and they head toward Wordy and the waiting SUV. As they near their transport both were thinking the same set of frustrated questions: what just really happened? Was there another way around this? What will our teams think? Was this really going to work?
But the biggest question both were thinking was what would Ida Logan do when she finds out she had failed this round also?
A/N: Okay so with me so far? What do you think of Ed's last minute idea to keep Donna in the country? Will they actually get to live apart? Or in addition to trying to find a ruthless enemy now out to kill them both will they have to also survive each other? A forced living arrangement by a very by the book government official? Lots ahead so please review and stay tuned for more.
Oh and please remember – it's fiction and not real…if you wanna get picky on the technical stuff I googled it and that's what I came up with and of course mixed with fiction stuff so please just enjoy for fictional purposes. Thanks in advance!