Evey Hammond looked behind. Parliament. Stunned by the image she beheld, she stared for a while in the pouring rain. More lightning illuminated the ruins as if marking it, condemning it as hell on earth.

Wiping the water from her face and eyes, she observed her surroundings. The frigid air wheezed into her body, and her chest ached. What was in that place? Was I dreaming? Evey wondered if what she had experienced in that horrid place was the effect of the smoke that poisoned her body, and caused delusions. Her head pounded, her body was sore, and nausea threatened for a release. She needed to get to a hospital. V would know what to do.

Out of the mud, Evey stumbled as she tried to walk; the pain in her ankle reminded her of her injury.

Victoria Street's flashing lights and curfew seemed trivial in comparison to the abyss that she just came from. Determined to get home, she ran as best she could through the deserted streets of London keeping her mind focused on the prize waiting at the end. It wouldn't be long before she reached Victoria Station at this rate, and her heart jumped at the prospect of seeing V. There was no one on the streets, no one, and that suited her just fine as she slipped past Scotland Yard, which appeared deserted now as well.

The rain stopped. Evey stopped running, and ducked into the shadow of a porch overhang. If she stayed motionless for too long, the cold would sink into her bones, so she took a moment to look around and catch her breath.

Dripping water ran into gutters and made clanking noises all around her. She looked at the ground, then at her clothing or lack thereof. No shoes. The bra and panties scarcely covered anything, and the silk bathrobe seemed useless now saturated with rain. She laughed; glad to be rid of the plague of fear and death she experienced.

At the end of Victoria, Evey stopped short and almost fell forward.

The SSU military cut off the station entrances. Men in camouflage with guns shouted orders and there was a small vehicle close by as they assembled. Evey got the impression that they found something, and were preparing for a search and seizure. Not a good sign. She wondered if they had found the location of the Shadow Gallery.

Evey decided to make her way back to her small flat just outside of Paddington Station. It was the only place she could think of. At least she could put some clothing on and get warm. She wouldn't need to stay long…

The journey through Hyde Park was unnerving and she kept looking over her shoulder. The darkness made the trees appear as if they were extending long limbs across the pathway, reaching out for innocent prey. Her heart thumped in her chest and the sharp pain in her ankle traveled up her leg. Evey came to a halt.

Strong hands grabbed her. They covered her mouth and wrapped around her arms as she struggled for freedom from the clutches of her assailant.

"Evey, it's me!" A male voice said.

She fought to get away from the hold as he pulled her behind a tree on to the grass. She felt the arms release as she kicked and flailed and finally hit him in the groin.

"Argh!" He yelled out. Dominic doubled over and clutched his stomach.

"Bloody hell." He winced.

"You!" Evey cried. She attempted to comfort him, but she hovered, feeling awkward. "Are you alright?"

"What is it with you, anyway?" He shot her a glare.

"Well, you shouldn't have snuck up on me like that!"

"Will you keep your voice down!" He yelled, although he was probably just frustrated at her for kicking him in the groin.

"Oh, I …I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

The detective attempted to stand up straight. "Oh, I think I'll live." He said with annoyance as he tried to fix his unruly hair.

"How long have you been following me?" He looked a mess of sweat and filth.

"I don't think we should stay here," he said, as he looked around.

"What happened?"

"Shh. Let's go." He grabbed her hand and dragged her behind him. He walked too fast. They climbed the small fence that encircled the park, and looked both ways as they crossed the open road. He pulled her into a small alley tucked away on a side street. A trashcan with its lid left half-open gave off an odor.

He checked the place out, and then turned to Evey. "You alright?" He whispered.

Evey bent at the knees and faced the ground. "I…I think I'm gonna be sick-

"Yea, what the hell were you doing at the Parliament ruins? I saw you coming out of there."

"You saw me? You were following me since then?"

"There's carbon monoxide coming out of there! What were you doing in all that rubble?" He put a hand out to steady her and looked at her face to check her eyes in the little available light. His eyebrows came together in concern. His handsome face appeared ashen with circles around his eyes, or maybe it was a trick of the light. A large red wound marred his forehead and drew attention like a beacon.

"And what are you wearing?" He asked as he raised an eyebrow. Desire flashed across his face and disappeared.

"Ugh, it's a long story." She couldn't go there, she just couldn't.

"Is that for him?"

Evey stayed quiet.

"Blasted woman! I know he's still alive! I saw him. He saved my arse the other night." Dominic put his hands on this waist and checked outside the alley entrance again for their safety. "Where is he?"

"I don't know."

He took in a long sigh and put his head down, closing his eyes trying to think things through.

"What about you? What happened to your head?" She went to touch his injury.

"Please. Don't touch it," He moved away from her turning around.

"What's wrong? What is it?"

"I think." The pain on his forehead was nothing compared to what he felt inside, and now she perceived, he was trying to hide it. He spoke with fullness in his chest and his voice cracked. "Aw Christ! I think they killed him."

Evey could hear torment in his words. His hand stroked the top of his head as he faced her. He looked beyond her, eyes filled with tears as they focused at something else.

Evey moved closer, taking his hands in hers.

"Hey." She got his attention. "Killed who?" She understood who "they" meant.

He looked down. "The Chief. Chief Inspector Finch." His eyes squeezed shut and the agony on his face revealed how much he cared for the inspector.

"No." Her stomach dropped. That nice man. His face.

She put her head down in an effort to try to conceal her own pain, and waited for the proper moment for her next question. "How? How do you know he got killed?"

"When I was being questioned, I heard a gunshot. I knew. I knew it was him." He frowned as if he tried to hold back the notion of him being gone. He swallowed hard. "I could feel it," His grief escalated. "Then they just let me go." He whispered.

Evey stared at him with her mouth agape. "Wait. Are you saying they captured you and let you go?"

"Yea. Small favors right?"

Evey's heart stammered as the information struck her. "Oh my God!" Her eyes widened in terror.

"What? What is it?"

"Wait, wait. Stop, stop, stop! Pull up your sleeves--"

"What?" He looked at her as if she was insane.

"Pull up your sleeves! God dammit!" She shouted, and already moved to do the task herself.

His right forearm had bruise and a tiny incision mark.

"Oh shit!" She dropped his hand, and panicked. Evey backed away.

"What? What the hell is it? What'd they do to me?" Dominic studied his arm while moving toward her. "Hey! Evey don't leave!"

"You!" She put her hands up. "You stay away from me, please don't come near me." She said with dread. Tears streamed down her face. "I…I'm sorry! I can't." She wanted so badly to help him. She could see his desperation. His large brown eyes pleaded in the darkness.

"Evey!" Dominic shouted as he grabbed hold of her arms.

"No, no! Please let me go!" She cried.

"Evey, I'm not gonna hurt you." His voice calmed. "Evey!" He tried to get her attention long enough to reason with her. "Evey, look at me."

Evey stopped and looked into his face. The intensity of his eyes sharpened and his hands squeezed her arms, tight.

Tighter… and then… painfully tight.

"Wha!" She looked at both of his hands. "Let go of me!" Then, Evey peered into his face. His expression distorted in pain. His hands gripped her and his fingers dug into her flesh.

She saw his eyes roll into his head and flutter. She screamed.

He let go. Putting his hands on either side of his head, he knelt on the ground. Evey grasped his shirt and the weight of his body almost pulled her on top of him. He contorted, and yelled out in agony. Dominic collapsed face down on the pavement. Evey bent, and tried to pull him back over--

Bright daylight. It flooded the small area.

Her head lifted. And oh, sunshine bathed the brick wall in front of her.

A booming heartbeat stifled all sound that slowed her every move.

Evey twisted and shielded her face with her arm. The SSU bore down on her. Their massive figures silhouetted the blinding light like black storm clouds that gathered in a clear sky. The unmistakable metallic sound of soldiers lifting their weapons cut the silence in unison-

"NO!" She screamed. Somewhere in Hyde Park, a group of birds took off in flight.

A smothering sensation and white. Then everything went black.