Title: Desperate Measures
Chapter 9 – The Aftermath of Armageddon
Ed's ears pick up a soft gasp from Donna, his eyes instantly diverting to the bloody mark on her sweater and then looking at her in concern. "You okay?"
"I am. But you look…Ed you need to get to the hospital."
"I'm fine. Not shot and no major cuts. Just a few bumps and bruises, no big deal."
"Ed it is a big deal."
"I'll check with one of the medics here. You need to get your shoulder checked out. By the way, Tom told me what happened with your apartment."
"Good way to change the subject," she lightly groans but don't further contest. "Ed about tonight..."
"Donna, listen…" Ed starts in haste.
"No, what I said was…"
"Hey you two okay?" Tom asks in concern as he and Wordy approach at the same time, neither realize the discussion they were just interrupting.
"We fared better than this place did," Donna groans as Greg finally is seen. "Downstairs look the same as up here?"
"For the most part," Greg sighs as he looks over as Spike with a big frown. "We need to ID the insider and see if he's among…the bodies or those that fled when backup arrived. Get on the security footage and see if you can find…anything."
"And Ida?" Donna inquires in haste.
"Let me find out if she got on that plane," Greg replies as he pulls his phone, calling Holleran to give him and update and then checking on Ida's whereabouts.
"At least we got a few of the top baddies out of the way."
"You need to go to the hospital – again," Tom reminds her looking at her shoulder.
"It's just a scratch," she huffs as they hear EMS approaching. "But Richard and Sam need to go."
"My wife is gonna be pissed," Richard groans.
"Hey maybe she'll buy you a nice cane," Tom teases.
"More like a wheelchair."
"You should get that stitched up," Ed gently reminds Donna as he takes her aside, Wordy watching with a worried expression. "I'll um…I think you need space tonight and so I can get a hot…"
"No, Ed listen to me," Donna shakes her head, her eyes wanting to instantly well at the tormented expression on his face. "I didn't mean what I said earlier."
"I'll stay with Wordy."
The first two medics arrive out of the elevator with a stretcher for Richard, Rachel coming up the stairs with Gary at her side, wanting to reconvene with the rest of the team before calling it a very long night.
"Jules just went with Sam to the hospital. He was hit in the side but is gonna be okay," Rachel assures them as the medics start to tend to Richard. "Seriously the same leg twice?"
"Don't even go there."
"Well if you finally get that handicapped sticker I'm borrowing it for boxing day shopping," Rachel quips and the rest of the team lightly laughs before Greg steps forward.
"Any news?"
"Waiting. Until then we keep busy."
"So clean up duty?" Gary wonders.
"For those of us left standing. We need to secure the weapons first before the cleaning crew arrives," Greg replies heavily as he looks at Ed and finishes jsut as his phone rings. The call was brief but the news important.
"Where is she?" Ed asks directly.
"So the plane that Ida had originally chartered is still in the hangar but Spike's friend was able to intercept another email transmission that had Ida going to another location and they checked and a plane with a flight plane to Dublin has taken off; we're waiting on security footage to see if Ida was on it."
"Well if she is, she can't reenter the country without any authority being flagged," Donna replies with a relieve sigh.
"Which means, Donna after your trying day I want you to go to the hospital, get stitched up; Ed I want you to go ho…"
"Boss I'm fine and can stay to help cle…"
"Ed," Wordy's hand rests on his shoulder. "We got this; go home and rest."
"That's an order my friend," Greg smiles kindly at Ed. "The restoration team has been called in but it looks like those of us left standing will work out of another department tomorrow and those of us not," Greg pauses as he looks from Ed, to Donna to Richard, "will rejoin us as soon as possible. This place should be at least mostly restored in a day or two; so over the weekend there will be lots of work done here. The rest as soon as possible. But we did win tonight, they lost major players and we are all going home with only minor scars. Good work team."
Donna watches Greg take his leave and head toward the small computer room that was mostly unscathed, to join Spike and see what else he could find and if Ida Logan had left any surprises behind. With her paperwork now in the works of being restored, it was just the emotional tie between her and Ed that has to be fixed and fast; before irreparable damage was left to fester.
"Sergeant Lane?" One of the medics mentions to her, getting her name from Richard who was now on his way down. "You should come with us now."
"Yeah…fine."
"Ed," she utters softly.
"We can um…talk later okay?"
"Sure."
Donna turns and looks at Ed and frowns before offering him a tense smile and nod and then following after the medic, her body all but depleted of adrenaline; the only somewhat comforting thought was hearing the name Lane referred to her.
"She'll see you at home," Wordy tells Ed gently.
"Wordy…"
"That's a kind no for you can't stay with us tonight," he smirks as they watch Tom, Gary and Rachel start to direct the other officers and restoration team on what to do next. "I'll stay here and help but you have a home to tend to."
"She doesn't want this."
"Funny, from where I was standing it looked like she did, you just didn't shut up long enough for her to say it."
"I'm a husband of technicality," Ed groans as he looks at the dried blood on his hand.
"But…still a husband," Wordy reminds him. "Go home and take care of your wife, that's your job now. I know you want this."
"I do but…"
"Again with the but's," Wordy smirks as he leans in closer, whispering another nugget into Ed's ear and then pulling back with a nod. "See you later."
Ed looks at his best friend, knowing inside that Wordy was right and he didn't really have much of a case to fall back on; her words were spoken rashly and she did try to take them back as soon as they were uttered; and he did want this to work so owed it to himself to try; actually he owed it to both of them.
"Okay see you tomorrow."
"Ed."
"Yeah?"
"See you Monday."
"Right. Monday."
Wordy watches Ed leave and then goes in search of Greg and Spike, telling them he'll help out as much as possible; having already called Shelly and told her he was okay, the team was fine but the barn needed some tending and then he'd be home.
XXXXXXXX
After getting checked over by the medics and getting his side rebandaged; thankful the stitching hadn't ripped, Ed tells himself that if by morning, the seeping wound was bad he'd go to the ER – now he just wants to get home, shower and rest. So with this police escort still at his side until Ida's whereabouts were confirmed, Ed heads for their apartment, his mind wondering what would happen now that all the technical reasons for them to be married have been amended. Her apartment was still somewhat salvageable and she has belongings she can take and build a new home with, his mind ponders sadly as he reaches the underground parking and heads inside. Would she do that?
He sits in the passenger seat; for a moment actually contemplating telling the officer he was going to a hotel, to allow Donna some space and privacy after the big fight. Ed…after nearly dying and losing you, trust me she doesn't want to be alone tonight – and neither do you, go make it work...go home to your wife, Wordy's parting whispered words resound loud and clear in his brain.
But something inside keeps him from going to a hotel; his heart finally winning over his head. So as they reach home, Ed offers a heavy sigh and slowly heads for the elevator, his eyes still nervously darting around and his gun ready just in case an ambush was waiting. He reaches their floor and nods to the other officer as he approaches, flashing his badge and showing his driver's license that his was indeed his home; the fresh officer stationed there until the following morning; the other going off shift.
Ed enters their quiet abode and stops in place, slowly looking around at the mess that had been made earlier in the day from the fight. He takes a step closer, but instantly his mind flashes images of the fight Donna had described to him earlier. He feels his fists tighten as he watches an image of Donna being tackled to the floor and the hitman on top of her; her hand grabbing the gun and taking him down and then struggling to get up.
He feels his eyes water once more; his mind speeding ahead to when he found her in the laundry room, nearly losing her in his arms and quickly shaking the image free. I don't want us to end this way…I don't want to lose her after all this, his mind confesses as he heads into the living room, pushing aside his own pain from the trying day's events and then starting to clean up. Will she believe me that I still want us to continue?
However about an hour later, Ed looks at the clock and feels his entire frame sag. Maybe she doesn't want this…maybe she's not coming home tonight.
XXXXXXXX
"Okay so just rest up and we'll see you in a few days," Donna tells Richard as they wait for his wife to come to the ER to get him and take him home to rest.
"I hope you and Ed just take the day to rest tomorrow," Richard reminds her as she looks at her watch and then back outside, her heart starting to beat heavily in her chest.
"Richard we um…"
"Take a lickin' and keep on tickin'?" Richard retorts with a small smile. "Course we all do, you taught us that well. But I know you two will be fine." Richard's wife arrives just as Donna agrees with his statement and she offers both a hug and tells him she'll see him as soon as he's completely healed. Sam and Jules having already gone home to rest as well.
"Where are you?"
"I want to go to a hotel and just give us some space after today," Donna admits to Tom on the phone. "Everyone gone home now?"
"Spike and Greg are just finishing up a few things on Ida but the barn is on secure lockdown and the cleanup has started. And why a hotel? After today you want to be alone?"
"Tom, I told Ed he was my husband on paper only."
"Ouch what did he do to deserve that?"
"That's just it…nothing really. I was angry and he was overly concerned and…"
"And you were overly concerned as well and yeah…gee you two aren't the same at all."
"Funny," Donna deadpans.
"I can't tell you what to do but I do know that you two are in love and this was a minor oversight."
"Minor? After everything he did for me? Tom, he willingly put a target on his back and I inferred that it meant nothing to me."
"So go say sorry and have some great make-up sex."
"You did not just say that," Donna smirks as her police escort pulls up to the entrance of the ER.
"I know you're smiling."
"Okay I gotta go."
"Say goodnight to Ed for me."
Donna merely shakes her head as she shoves her phone into her purse and heads toward the waiting cruiser, her heart rate slightly jumping as she gives the officer the address to her previous apartment, wanting to survey the damage before heading for her current home. Oh Ed…I just can't give up on us….
But Tom had tossed out the word love. Was he right? Was it that easy to see? Do I love Ed? The answer was readily forthcoming and it was the truth – she does it was plain to see and it was that love for him that wanted to keep him almost at bay to keep him safe. But while the notion might have been noble the words stung and were less than perfect. I hafta make amends, she reasons correctly.
The ride to her apartment is spent in silence as she replays the past few hours events in her head; being tricked by Ida, nearly losing her life, Ed saving her life and then her words spoken in heated frustration; all that followed by a very tense showdown at the barn with them thankfully emerging victorious but not without some very proven battle scars and a few very close calls.
Donna reaches her apartment and quickly goes to see the landlord, wanting to get an idea what was done and if she could go into her apartment. After being told she could, she heads back upstairs, ducking under the yellow tape blocking the charred door and then gingerly steps into a singed solitary apartment she used to call home. It seemed too lonely to her…nothing that was them. But is there is an us? She ponders as she heads toward the bedroom. The smell of smoke had permeated most things in the living room and kitchen area, plus with the sprinklers, water damage was also a consideration.
She grabs a warped picture of herself with her parents and shoves it into her purse, pulling her phone and quickly dialing her insurance company and leaving a message. "What a mess," she groans as she looks at the areas where there was actually salvageable items; telling herself she'd come back tomorrow and see what could be done. "And then…I don't know…" her voice trails off as she pulls a few items from her closet, stuffs them into a small overnight bag and then heads back to the waiting officer and then outside – heading for home? Home…how that word had come to mean so much to her in the past week. Now it was in danger of becoming one of the worst words possible to contemplate by her own doing.
They reach the apartment and Donna says goodnight to the officer and then heads inside, the outside officers still posted; and nods to the one at their door, a little extra overnight insurance. She slowly enters the apartment and then stops to listen – wanting to know where Ed was, or if he was even here before proceeding.
She hears the shower and for a brief second her lips automatically curl upward as she pictures his perfect naked body under the hot streams of water. However, as she's quickly reminded of their tense discussion a sad expression starts to haunt her features and the smile instantly evaporates.
Donna takes a step into the apartment but then stops. The living room and kitchen were all back to normal, even the busted pictures were devoid of glass but put back into place; he had put everything back to the way it was; he had cleaned. After all he had endure tonight he came home and restored it to the way it was before Ida's goons nearly destroyed it. Ed did all this? For us?
She instantly feels her eyes well and hangs her head just as the bathroom door opens, her head shooting back up just as he emerges with only a towel around his waist, her fingers quickly brushing away fresh tears.
"Ed," she softly makes herself known.
"Hey. I didn't hear you come in."
"Sorry I uh…I can wait…" she stammers, her eyes lingering a bit longer than expected on his partially naked frame as he remains fixed in place in the hallway.
"I cleaned up…a little. Are you hungry?" Ed asks in concern as he nears her.
"No but thank you…for cleaning and stuff. I really do appreciate it."
"Well um…I live here too right?"
"Right."
"Look I can go to a hotel tonight if you want um…space."
"You? If anyone should be in a hotel it's me," Donna frowns as her eyes inspect the darkened spot on his cheek, bruised residue from his fight to the death with Liam; and then slowly move downward, the light dusting of dark hair not doing a very good job of hiding the rest of the fight's damage.
"Are you okay?" She inquires, her eyes resting on the fresh bandage on his side. "You really shoulda gone to the hospital."
"I was checked over by one of the medics and everything's okay. I'm just tired and sore…and I um…should dress. Shower's clear if…you want it," Ed mumbles as he turns to leave. Donna quickly takes his hand and pulls him back, wrapping her arms around him and holding him close, her ear resting atop his now rapidly beating heart, his hand tenderly stroking her back as her eyes water further.
She pulls back and looks at him with a serious expression, quickly swallowing back fluid emotion so she can say her piece without breaking down. "I need to say this without being interrupted."
"Okay," Ed replies softly, both his mind and heart racing that she'd now tell him for good that it was indeed over.
"What I said earlier was unfair and as soon as I said it I didn't mean it. I was angry and frustrated and you were being concerned."
"Overly?"
"Perhaps. But I never had anyone want to worry about me before like you do now…Ed I don't know how to handle some things and that's one of them. I am used to taking care of me; looking out for me; being with me. But hearing you so adamant about protecting me…it just forced old habits to kick in and that was wrong – Ed it was wrong. I too wanted to keep you safe and…and it just didn't come out right. But I am tired of being alone and taking care of only me; I want to be with you and I'm not ready to give up on us just yet."
"Are you sure?"
"I am. I just need practice at all this being a wife stuff."
"Because if you're not…"
"Ed I am."
"Because I understand if…"
"I love you," she confesses with a soft whisper as her hand snakes behind his head and draws his lips to hers for a brief but searing kiss before pulling back with a tender smile.
"Y-you do?" Ed asks with some confusion, drawing a small smirk and nod from her in haste.
"I do…and I was scared and I reacted in the worst way possible, especially after everything you did. And I didn't just tell you that out of guilt or pity...I mean it. I do love you."
"For the record," Ed replies with his own frown. "I love you too; that's why I did all that," he warmly confesses in truth.
"I'm happy to hear that," she answers warmly as he kisses the top of her forehead and looks at her again with seriousness.
"I'm not ready to give up on us either," he confesses in sincerity. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have pulled out the I'm your husband so you have to listen to me threat…that wasn't fair. I just wanted you to be safe."
"And thanks to you I'm alive," she reminds him with a warm tone.
"Guess we both need practice; never had a wife before so am not used to being a husband. Wordy scolded me on the listen to your husband line."
"Yeah…that was a tough one," she lightly groans.
"But coming back to the apartment finding it the way I did and then seeing you in the laundry room and feeling you gasping for air like that…Donna I thought I was gonna lose you and facing that once already today I just didn't want to face it again. I'm used to giving orders to the team and…and it wasn't fair but…but I don't want to be alone any longer either; I want to be with you. I do love you."
"Quite the pair huh."
"I'm just glad we both want this."
"We do. And maybe now with all this over we can get back to what really matters."
"Yeah what's that?"
"Getting to know each other better," she slightly smirks. "You still owe me that date."
"And dinner…good thing my wife is a patient woman."
"She's got good reason to be; her husband is a patient man. I need a shower," she whispers as they linger in the dimly lit room for a big longer. "And you need rest. Are you hungry?"
"Not really. You?"
"I doubt my stomach could handle anything but some water right now."
"Wordy told me about your apartment, sorry."
"Think if I find Ida in Belfast I can send her the bill?"
"Don't see why not," Ed shrugs as he looks at her with a small frown. "Do we know she's actually there?"
"I got this…" Donna pulls her phone and shows the text she had gotten from Greg just before entering their apartment.
'Donna…tell Ed. We were sent confirmed footage of Ida getting onto that plane and leaving for Belfast. Looks like it really is over. I want you both to take tomorrow off and then enjoy the weekend. Greg'
"It's really over," Ed utter with a small sigh of relief, his hand giving her uninjured shoulder a small squeeze. "Go shower and I'll change."
"Okay."
Donna regrettably pulls away from Ed's strong and comforting grasp and slowly heads for the bathroom, wanting to just shower and literally collapse in bed after one of the most physically exhausting days – possibly ever since she joined the SRU. She numbly enters the bathroom, the last few bits of adrenaline slowly dissipating as she turns on the hot water and starts to undress; surrendering herself to the liquid comfort.
She hadn't expected to confess her love for Ed under these tense circumstances but why not? Did a confession of love really need a planned romantic setting? The perfect moment? A Hallmark Card? She felt that love for him growing deeper and deeper for the past few days and just let her brain utter the words dictated by her heart when it was time; it wasn't planned; it wasn't rehearsed – it was heartfelt, it was the truth. But he had responded in kind and that was all in truth she really needed after a day like today. I'm in love with an amazing man that loves me back, her mind contentedly ponders. I really don't need anything else.
Ed changes into a pair of sweatpants and tee and then heads back into the living room, spying the small bag she had brought from her apartment, the distinct pungent smell of smoke clinging to the few items she had brought. He feels his mood sink a bit lower as he thinks about all the material things she had worked so hard to accumulate for herself that was now all taken away by one vengeful act. But she's alive and loves you and you're together, his brain correctly reminds him; in the end that's all that really mattered to him. He feels a tender smile play upon his lips as he dwells on her confession of love, it was heartfelt, tender and offered at the right time – what he needed so desperately to hear; his confession in return not really needing much in the way of prodding to give back to her – he wanted to say it since almost day one, just held back for fear of scaring her away or not getting the same in return.
But now with Ida out of the country and Donna getting her citizenship and all her credentials restored, she was right, it was time to focus on what really mattered – them and getting to know each other better. Not realizing that he has an audience, Ed's right hand starts to fondle the sturdy band of gold; his heart starting to settle.
"Looks good on you," her soft voice is heard, prying his eyes away from the ring to rest on her freshly showered and ready for bed frame.
"I know," he confesses lightly as he looks at her with a concerned expression. "You…"
"I know…I'm ready to collapse," she confesses in haste. "Do I look that terrible?"
"You look beautiful."
"Liar," she smirks.
"Okay fine, you look tired, but I know I look the same so why don't we call it a night."
"Does this mean we can actually sleep in tomorrow?"
"It means no crazy work out in the morning," Ed gently teases as she nears him, her fresh scent instantly tempting his tired brain.
"Ah you liked it."
"I liked watching it," he smirks as they slowly climb into bed, Ed's face displaying a wince as he eases himself down.
"You know you really should have gotten an x-ray after all that."
"It was just a fight. How's the shoulder?"
"Stop changing the subject," she replies with a frown. "It was an intense fight."
"I'm okay…really I'm fine. How's the shoulder?"
"Fine," Donna resigns as she rests her head on the pillow and looks at him with a sleepy expression. "Am almost afraid to believe it's really over, with Ida I mean."
"It is. Lets both believe that," Ed whispers as he leans in closer and plants a soft kiss on her lips, forcing her smile to grow. Her fingers rest on his rough cheek, forcing her eyes to close for a few seconds before slowly opening once more.
"Goodnight," she whispers for the last time, before the lights are turned off and the overly exhausted couple is quickly whisked away into a world of a few happy dreams and lots of tormented nightmares.
XXXXXXXX
Donna awakens the next morning, slowly opening her eyes and slightly stretching. She rubs her eyes to get the sleep fully from them and then casually glances over to where her husband is sleeping. But as soon as she gazes upon him, she's met with a bloody mess, his eyes haunted and lifeless, his face twisted into pain; her ear picking up a noise and then looks up to see Liam hovering over Ed's body with a large knife, dripping with fresh blood.
"Told you Mrs. Lane…you'll never beat us! You die next!" He laughs before he plunges the knife into her for the death stroke.
"OH GOD NO!" Donna shouts, her mind instantly forcing the horrible images to fade, her body bolting upright in bed, her heart racing at top speed.
"Donna?" Ed asks in haste as he turns on the light and looks at the panicked expression on her flushed face. "What is it? What happened?"
"Night…mare," she gasps as she reaches out and gingerly touches him to make sure he's real. "I saw…damn it was so real," she groans as she closes her eyes a few seconds, willing the pounding in her head to subside. "I saw Liam…he had killed you and…then me."
"He's dead," Ed assures her as his hand tenderly strokes her semi-damp back. "I think we were sharing the same nightmare," he mentions as she slowly eases back into bed, a panicked expression still etched on her face. "What?"
"I'm just wondering if Greg and Spike ID'd all the bodies. Greg said he thought there might have been an insider but…"
"But we can find out later," Ed interrupts.
"Ed…"
"It's only 2am…we can't call either of them right now; not after all we've been through. We all just need to rest okay."
Donna arranges herself into Ed's grasp, her fingers absently stroking his bare arms, the tips teasing the smooth under part of his arm and forcing his lips to curl into a soft smile. But as he feels her tense in his grasp his smile becomes a wondering frown. "Everything okay?"
"That was a tough image to shake. Doesn't help that I saw what she did to Farnsworth," Donna huffs. "She is pure evil."
"But she's finished. She can't reenter the country without notifying any authority and…"
"She eluded the authority for takeoff," Donna counters.
"Something you can be sure they won't let happen again."
"Unless she has her own well paid pilots, which I think she does."
"She's gone…lets concentrate on that."
"Okay...concentrate on that," Donna utters in the darkness.
"And us," Ed reminds her and her face finally softens into a loving smile.
"And us," she repeats with a soft whisper as Ed turns off the small bedside and they settle back in for the remainder of the night.
A/N: okay so I wasn't sure when to insert the I love you's but I don't always feel a formal romantic setting has to be the way and I hope you were all okay with this. Soooooooooo think Ida is really gone for good? Or does she have one more trick up her well tailored sleeve? Hope you liked them making amends b/c hey they are adults and I would personally think instead of just sulking like two teens they could talk it through and come to the same understanding (well at least I wanted them to haha) so would love your thoughts as always so please review before you go and thanks so much in advance!
PS: Hope you all liked the last update of Eye for an Eye - yes Alice is slowly getting back in the writing mood after last week's devestating news.