I don't own 24 etc.. This is for adults not for children!
Thanks for taking the time to read. I hope you like:)
It was more than clear to Jeff that he had interrupted Tony and Michelle. Tony still seemed to be in a really bad way. When he re-appeared and joined him in the kitchen without Michelle Jeff took the opportunity to try and talk to his brother.
"Tony, you are in bad shape. I'm really worried about you."
"I'm alright Jeff, I just haven't slept yet and I don't need to tell you how much I drank last night..."
"I get that Tony but I also know you went through hell with work before all this..."
Tony rubbed his face, "That's true. 24 hours of hell would be putting it nicely."
Jeff checked Michelle wasn't on her way out yet. "And what's going on with you and Michelle? Good sign she is here but how come you look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders? How is it going? Have you told her how you feel?"
Tony sighed and checked again for Michelle himself before responding. "Oh My God Jeff, I have no idea if I have just completely fucked everything up or not. I was an absolute fucking mess when she came and got me at the bar. I went from yelling at her to cracking on to her within seconds of each other. I mean she knows how much I want her but I haven't told her that I love her..." Tony bent down and groaned. "Aaarrgghh I feel like I couldn't have gotten it all more wrong..."
"But she is still here Tony so it can't be that bad..."
"Because I just begged her to stay so we could talk and work things out."
Jeff was already nearly finished his coffee. "Look, I'll go. I just wanted to see that you were ok but I don't want to get in the way of you guys when it sounds like you seriously need to be talking to her. I just don't get you Tony, you always have your shit together, know what you want and how to deal with things but when it comes to Michelle..."
"I'm a complete mess?"
Jeff smiled. "Yeah, something like that."
"Because I love her Jeff. I've never felt this way about anyone ever before in my life..." Tony stopped talking because Michelle wondered out into the kitchen.
"Hey." She smiled at them both.
Jeff smiled back at Michelle. "Thanks for picking up my little brother last night Michelle."
"Of course, I'm glad Tony called me." Michelle made sure to give Tony a look and smile as she spoke. He smiled back at her gratefully. "Where were you flying from Jeff?"
"Chicago. Just had some work there for a couple of days." He put down his coffee. "But look, I really should head home or my wife is going to be wondering where I have gotten too. It would be nice though for us all to get together for a meal so I can get to know you a bit better Michelle?"
Michelle nodded her head. "Sure, that sounds nice. It was nice to meet you; sorry I am a mess...that's what a couple days of no sleep will do for you!"
"Well, I tell you, I have no idea how you guys do what you do. I think running some financial accounts is stressful, I can't even begin to imagine what you guys go through. And it has been an absolute pleasure meeting you."
Michelle told him that she felt the same way back. As they headed for the door Jeff gave Michelle a quick hug and then one to Tony. "Call me later bro when you are up to it and we will organise that dinner."
Tony thanked Jeff again and then closed the door behind him. He looked at Michelle standing there in his sweatshirt which was about 3 sizes too big on her. She looked adorable. "Thanks for staying Chelle, my brother thinks you are great."
"He seems really nice. Can't believe how much you guys look like each other...and it's cute he called you his little brother like that..."
Tony laughed. "Yep, that's Jeff. Takes the big brother role very seriously. He is great though." They stayed staring at each other for a few seconds before Tony walked over to her. "Can I take another look at your back sweetheart?"
Michelle was going to say no but she softened her when he called her sweetheart. "Really, it's alright..."
Tony picked up her hands in his. "I feel physically ill knowing I hurt you..."
"Tony you didn't hurt me. It was the 2 of us you know..."
He smiled, "I know but still...please just let me see?"
She nodded her head. "Ok."
She pulled his top over her head. Then she was left with her shirt on. She felt nervous about just taking it off. Tony could tell she had become very nervous. He took her hand and led her over to the couch. He had her sit down and then he sat next to her. He started talking to her as he slowly undid the buttons to her shirt to help distract her and make her not feel so nervous. "I really am sorry we got interrupted. All I wanted to do was hold you sweetheart."
"I'm sorry I acted so sensitively before. I've never been in this position before and I guess I just kinda got emotional and freaked out."
He had her shirt undone now and so he helped her pull her arms out. "Trust me Chelle, I've never been in this position before either. I still can't get my head around what has happened over the last few hours, or how I have acted." Once the top was off, Michelle turned to the side so Tony could see her back.
He freaked out again seeing the bruises. He ran his hand ever so gently over them. "You must feel sore baby. You don't need to protect me from anything, please just tell me."
She sighed. "Alright it hurts. It didn't hurt at the time though, I only really started to feel it afterwards..."
"God, I'm sorry. I got very carried away..."
She turned back and faced him. "So did I Tony. That was pretty...
Tony hung onto her words waiting to hear how she was going to finish the sentence.
..Incredible."
He breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled. "That was the most amazing...I mean you, Chelle, you are just amazing."
He watched as she grinned from ear to ear and it made him feel really good. He almost felt like he was having a second chance with everything. "I wish there was something I could do for your back. Do you need any pain tablets or anything?"
"I'm ok, thank you, though. Just might have to steer clear of your bathroom counter for a little while."
He watched as her smile turned cheeky and he started to laugh. He couldn't believe how she could make him feel so happy with just a couple words and a look. She grabbed his sweatshirt and pulled in back on, making him feel a little disappointed. As tired and crappy as he felt just seeing Michelle like that made his whole body feel so alive.
She grabbed his hand. "Tony, how are you feeling?"
"Pretty good...considering I haven't slept in 2 days and I drank enough for 3 people last night."
"Maybe you should get some sleep now?"
He pulled her in close next to him on the couch. "What are my chances of you staying and having a nap with me?"
She looked into his eyes and could see how much he wanted her to stay. He was holding her tightly and by the tone of his voice she knew that he really wanted her there. "If you have something I can sleep in, then I'd like that."
Tony let out the breath he was holding and without even thinking about it leant forward and kissed her on the forehead. "Thank you. Come on, I'll even let you wear my favourite top!"
"Let me guess...a cubs t-shirt?"
He laughed. "Yes and it is a very special one."
They both changed and got washed up. Tony went to turn his phone off when he saw that there were a few text messages. He checked them quickly. They were from a couple of his friends reminding him about the game on tonight and that they had plans to meet up at a local bar to watch it. He had completely forgotten. He looked over at Michelle as she climbed into the bed and his first thought was that he didn't want to be apart from her, not even for a minute.
"What's up Tony?"
"Just some message from a couple friends reminding me that I had plans with them to watch the game tonight with them."
"How come you look so stressed out? Don't you want to watch it? You love watching..."
He lay down next to her, "It's you."
"Me?"
"I don't want to be apart from you right now Chelle."
Michelle's heart skipped a beat. He was so sweet and she loved how honest he was being with her. She rubbed his arm. "Do you want to watch the game though? I mean it's good for you to be doing things you enjoy at the moment."
"I want to watch the game but not as much as I want to spend time with you." He rolled and faced her. "Would you watch it with us?"
"I'll have to go home and change and stuff first but then if you want me to come with you then I will."
"Thanks sweetheart." He quickly wrote back that he would be there with Michelle and then turned his phone off. He rolled back into facing Michelle, "so how do you usually sleep?"
"Either on my stomach or on my side. You?"
"Perfect, I'm either on my back or my side."
Michelle sat up a little. "Can Iie with my head on your chest and with your arm around me?"
"I'd love that...come here." He pulled her down so that she had her head rested on his chest and his arm was around her. He kissed the top of her head. "Thanks for staying Chelle."
She yawned. "That's ok, I don't think I'd be able to sleep if I wasn't here with you."
Tony flashed back to her telling him last night that she had been at home wide awake when his message had come through. "Are you ok?"
"It's just when I was home last night trying to sleep, every time I closed my eyes I felt frightened. I couldn't stop all these images from work flashing through my mind. When I am with you, somehow, I feel better."
Tony kissed her again. "Me too baby, me too. I want you to wake me if you can't sleep or you need anything or even if you just need to talk, ok?"
"Same with you."
Within minutes they were both drifting off into a deep sleep. Just before she completely dozed off she mumbled, "I love it when you call me 'sweetheart'."
He was just about asleep but her comment made his heart race and his stomach do flips. He rubbed her back. "You are my sweetheart."
When Tony opened his eyes he realised that neither one of them had moved at all. He looked at his watch and saw it was 6pm. They had slept the entire day. He felt Michelle begin to stir a little; he tried to soak in just how good it felt having her in his arms. Within a few minutes she did a stretch and then lifted her head. Her hair was everywhere and half covering her face. He thought she was the most stunning woman in the world. She looked at him with eyes half open and smiled. "Hey."
He brushed her curls to the side. "Hey you."
She dropped her head back down onto his chest so she was facing him. "I slept good. How about you?"
"We didn't move the entire time Chelle, probably the best sleep I've had in years."
"What time is it?"
"Just after 6."
"What time do we have to be out?"
"7."
Michelle sat up in a flash. "Shit Tony. Shit...we are going to be late! We should have set an alarm! How come you are so calm?"
Tony laughed, "Because lying here with you in my arms is perfect and I'm more than happy to be late for that."
She grinned and then leaned down and kissed him softly on the lips. "You are so sweet. We have to get up though...we have to still go to my house."
"Ok, ok. Do you want me to just grab my clothes and then we can go to your house and get ready there?"
"Yup, sounds like a plan."
They had both forgotten that Tony's car was still at the bar from last night. They decided to leave it there and take Michelle's. She still looked half asleep though so Tony offered to drive. She was more than happy to take him up on his offer. They were both so aware that they hadn't discussed last night or anything that had happened. They both knew they had to but on the other hand just having a bit of time together felt so nice. They had been through so much and they knew that conversation was going to be a difficult one.
At Michelle's they literally had time to simply get ready and then rush out the door again. As they drove to the bar Michelle started to become nervous about meeting Tony's friends and hanging out with them. He looked over at her as he drove and took her hand. "You feeling a little nervous?"
Michelle looked at him with a little confusion. "How did you know?"
"I can read you pretty well by now...and I would be if I were you. I really appreciate you coming but the second you want to leave you just let me know, ok?"
Michelle nodded her head and then went back to looking out the window. In simple moments like these it was easy to forget who they were and what they did for a living. Tony's ability to assess a situation and a person was a lot better than the normal persons. After such an intense night it was nice to be spending time together like this. Tony had been nothing but gentle and beautiful to her all day. She knew he still felt everything that was sending him out of control last night but maybe today had helped him calm down a little, or at least realise that she wasn't going anywhere.
At the bar Tony introduced Michelle to his friends that were there before they found some chairs at a table. Realizing they were starving they ordered in a pile of food and some drinks. Michelle decided she was going to have a few drinks and try and relax a little about everything. Tony's friends seemed very nice and were making her feel like a part of the group. She could totally tell that Tony had spoken of her before because they all seemed to know a fair bit about her and she caught them giving Tony looks of encouragement more than a few times. That made her feel good and not so guilty for all the times she had ranted and raved about him to her friends.
Halfway through the night and after more drinks than she had intended to drink Michelle made her way to the bar. She was feeling pretty tipsy. So was Tony, at least though so far he seemed to be having a good night. She ordered another round for the table and stood waiting for it. Tony had told her he would go and get it but it seemed to be at a crucial moment in the game and she had told him to relax, she was more than ok to get the drinks.
As she stood there a man approached her and stood right up next to her in her personal space. She took a couple steps to the side but he just followed. "What's a pretty thing like you doing here all alone?"
"I'm not alone. I'm with that group over there." Michelle then tried to just stare straight ahead while she waited for the drinks. He didn't budge though.
Tony had watched Michelle the entire time she had left the table and gone to the bar. He wasn't surprised to see that within moments of her being alone some guy had gone over to her. He stood up so he could hear a little better of what was going on. Then he saw the man ran his hand down Michelle's arm and rest it on hers. Tony's heart became to pound and he immediately felt anxious, protective and worried. He started to make his way over. He watched as Michelle pulled out of the man's grip but the guy just didn't seem to be getting the point and tried again. Tony walked straight over and slid his arm around Michelle. He looked the man dead in the eyes, "What's going on here?"
The man didn't seem ruffled by Tony in the slightest. "And you would be?"
Tony looked at Michelle who seemed very uncomfortable and then back at the man. He tightened his grip on Michelle. "I would be her boyfriend, time for you to clear off." As soon as he said the word 'boyfriend' he looked at Michelle to see her reaction. It had just slipped out of his mouth. Although they certainly hadn't had any formal conversation about the topic, after last night the thought of any other man being close to Michelle made him feel sick. She didn't seem to even flinch at his comment and if anything seemed grateful for him coming to her rescue.
"She didn't mention nothing about any boyfriend."
Michelle wrapped her arm across Tony's waist. "I told you I wasn't here alone. Please just go away."
Their drinks arrived and Michelle picked them up. Tony kept his arm around her and helped her carry the other pitcher. They made their way back to their seats. As they sat down, Tony leaned into Michelle and whispered. "Was that ok? I'm sorry I didn't know what to do..."
"No, thank you. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. Thank you." She gave him a loving smile.
As much as that made Tony feel good, the more it amplified that he hadn't told Michelle how strongly he felt for her. He wanted to make his stance very clear to her before too much time went past. After the way they had been together last night he felt closer to her than he could imagine, he just needed her to know that this wasn't some fling, or casual feelings. That he was head over heels in love with her and wanted everything with her. He could see she was pretty tipsy and he wondered if now was the right time or if he should wait until it was just the 2 of them and they could talk it out properly. In the mean time he decided he could make it more than clear how he felt by his actions. He moved his chair over so it was right next to hers and put his arm around her. He leant over and kissed her on the side of the forehead. "Thanks for being here with me tonight."
"I'm having a good time. I'm glad you asked me to come. Ummm how are we going to get home though Tony? We have both had too much to drink."
He laughed. "We will call a cab. I guess tomorrow we are going to have to make a bit of a mission out of picking up both of our cars!"
They sat for another hour laughing and chatting. Tony was having the best night. He loved that Michelle was into baseball as well and seemed to be getting into the game just as much as the rest of them. He loved having her outside of work and seeing her in this environment. It was exactly how he had always pictured things would be with Michelle. She had such a fun cheeky side to her that he caught glimpses of at work but now outside of the office, she glowed. He knew she would be good for him – help him to lighten up a little and enjoy life again.
Michelle told Tony she had to go to the bathroom. As she stood up she leaned down and gave him a kiss on the lips. It caught them both by surprise a little and they took a moment to stare into one another's eyes. She looked a little nervous and to stop her feeling that way immediately he grabbed her and pulled her back down and kissed her again on the lips. This time when she stood back she smiled. He gave her a wink and watched as she made her way off to the restrooms.
After 5 minutes without her returning Tony become worried. He at first tried to rationalise that maybe she was fixing her hair or make-up or something but as another few minutes past he became more and more worried. He didn't want to scare her off by being over the top protective but by the time it reached past 10 minutes of her being gone he stood up to make his way to check on her.
As he did he heard and saw a woman run out of the rest rooms screaming for help. She was yelling that a woman was being attacked and needed help. Tony's heart dropped and he bolted straight into the woman's bathrooms. He heard most of his friends jump up and follow but everything seemed to be in a blur. He just knew it was Michelle, he knew it was going to be the guy from before and he knew he had to get to her now.
He pushed the door open to see the man all over Michelle. He had her backed up against the wall. She was punching and kicking him but he was overpowering her and punching her back. Tony could see her top had been ripped open and there was blood on her. He grabbed the man from behind and threw him with all his might away from Michelle. He then punched the man twice as hard as he could in the head until the guy went down. One of his friends ran to the guy and told Tony he would hold him, to go to Michelle.
Tony turned to Michelle. She was in a horrible state. She was crying, trying to cover herself up and at the same time almost doubled over in pain. He stood in front of her. "Sweetheart, it's me, you are ok. You are going to be ok." He tried to pull her into his arms but it was difficult as she was withering in pain and he wasn't sure where she was hurt and he didn't want to add to her injuries. She started to slide down the wall until she was on the ground. Tony yelled at whoever was behind him to call an ambulance. He bent down on the ground over her. "Look at me baby, look at me."
She looked up at him. She cried his name and he swore his heart broke on the spot. He started studying every bit of her to see where she was hurt. He could see welts, swelling and bruising forming on the side of her face, neck and arms. She had a cut on her arms that would need stitches. She was trying to pull her top over her to cover herself up but it was torn and not working. He pulled his jacket off, "sweetheart, want me to put this on you?"
She nodded her head. She tried to move, "My stomach..."
"Did he hit you in the stomach?"
She nodded her head. Tony hovered over her so that he was the only one that could really see her. He so gently moved her hands to the side so he could have a look. She let him. "I'm so sorry sweetheart, I'm so sorry. I didn't know how long to wait but I was worried about you..."
"It's not your fault Almeida. You saved me from him."
As much as he appreciated her words, it did nothing to soothe him. He had been worried about her and wished like hell he had just gone to check on her earlier. He looked at her stomach and could see some bruising forming on her ribs just under her bra line. "You are probably winded baby from the force of him hitting you. Just try and take some really deep breaths and it will subside." He got his jacket and laid it across the front of Michelle to cover her up. He could tell straight away she felt a little better for it. He stroked her hair and told her help was on its way.
Michelle's eyes started to go blurry. She held onto Tony's arm but she could tell she might be about to pass out. She tried to tell him. He leaned in closer to hear what she was saying but she didn't get it out in time before she passed out.
Tony watched as Michelle's eyes closed and her head slumped down to the side. "Holy fucking shit!" He put his hand under her head to prop it up a little and continued to say her name repeatedly. He turned around and asked where help was. He heard someone tell him the ambulance would be here any minute. He knew the longer she was out cold, the worse it was, so he tried everything he could to wake her up but she wasn't coming around. He got someone to pass him a wet towel and he ran that across her face and forehead but that didn't help either. He could feel his legs going weak but he kept telling himself to keep it together for Michelle. For all the things he had seen in his life, this was fast becoming one of the scariest. "Come on baby, I love you, wake up."
Within a minute or 2 EMT's had arrived and they basically pushed Tony out of the way to get closer to Michelle. The snapped something in front of her nose waking her up immediately. They then began to try asking her questions. They started with her name and she got that right, then they asked her what her job was, she responded that she played baseball. They looked over at Tony and he told them that she was a Federal agent. They asked her who the current president was and as she tried to answer he eyes started to close again and they couldn't get a response from her.
Once the EMT's knew that Tony and Michelle were Federal agents they seemed a lot more accommodating to allow Tony into both staying close to Michelle and helping them. The police had also arrived by this point and had handcuffed the man and were already asking witnesses for statements. Tony kept holding Michelle's hand as they worked on getting her to come around better. She wasn't completely passed out, just out of it. They put some oxygen on her and asked Tony if he knew what injuries she had. He told them what he knew but made it clear he really didn't know what else there was. As soon as Michelle came around a little bit more they decided it was time to get her onto a bed and into the ambulance. Tony helped them gently get Michelle so she was lying straight on the floor and then onto the bed. He didn't let go of her in one way or another for a second.
As they were wheeling Michelle out to the ambulance she turned to Tony and spoke in a very weak voice. "I'm sorry. I tried to get him off me."
"You did amazing sweetheart. I am so proud of you. Don't you apologise for anything. We will be at the hospital in no time and they will make you feel a lot better."
He couldn't believe she was apologising to him. They allowed him to travel in the ambulance with Michelle to the hospital. He couldn't really do much other than hold her hand and keep assuring her that she would be ok. The EMT went to remove the jacket and Michelle objected. "I just need to be able to see your injuries..."
"No."
Tony gave the EMT a look like 'let me handle this.' He leant over Michelle and spoke softly to her. "Baby, we will keep you covered, I promise but they can't help you if they can't see. I'm here, I'll hold you the whole time, and there is no one else around except us and these doctors."
She looked at him pleadingly, after what had just happened the idea of anyone looking at her or touching her felt like too much to handle. "I'll be ok...I'll just..."
"No, you are not ok Michelle. You need help. I am so sorry you are going through this but you have to let them do what they need to do. I'll stay with you the whole time, I promise you that you are in safe hands now."
Michelle looked at him, surprised by the tone of his voice and how assertive he was. She could hear the fear in his voice and look of desperation across his face. She didn't want to make him feel any worse than he already clearly did. She nodded her head and moved her arms to the side.
The paramedic thanked Tony and then began to check Michelle all over. He had given her some IV pain killers that were setting in and Tony could see she was beginning to calm down a little. During the drive to the hospital they basically just kept her stable, awake and the pain under control. Once they made it to the hospital Michelle was taken straight through and a doctor was in the room within a minute to see her.
The doctor began asking Michelle what had happened, where she was hurt, what she could remember. Tony watched as she became frustrated and upset. His brain was in over drive trying to think of anything he could possibly be doing to make her feel better. Michelle was doing her best to put on a strong face and convince everyone that she was ok. Tony wondered if that was the agent in her or that she was having trouble accepting what had happened. The doctor asked Tony to help Michelle get into a gown. She seemed more comfortable to let Tony help than anyone.
As Tony helped Michelle remove her clothes he got an incredible shock when he removed her skirt and saw that her underwear was ripped and only hanging on by a tread. She had blood on her thighs. He felt like he was going to vomit, how far did this guy get with her and exactly what had he done? It made Tony realise that the man must have attacked Michelle the moment she walked into the bathroom. The thought that the attack had gone on for over 10 minutes was horrifying. He hesitated at the sight, he didn't mean to but the words just dropped out of his mouth before he could stop them. "Chelle, what did he do..."
She shook her head. "Nothing, he didn't, I didn't let him...maybe you shouldn't be here Tony."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"No, I appreciate you saving me and bringing me here but I'll be ok from here. It's not your responsibility to..."
He cut her off. His voice rose in frustration. "Don't you dare try and block me out Michelle. What the hell do you mean it is not my responsibility?"
"I'm not and I don't want to upset you or get you angry. Just go!"
Tony couldn't believe she was saying all this. He understood that she was scared to death and it made him so angry he hadn't told Michelle exactly what she meant to him before. It scared him that she was trying to push him away. That hit a nerve – a deep insecurity that she would leave him. He pulled the gown over to cover her and then her reached back under and slightly tugged on the underwear pulling them straight off. "Yell at me all you want, try and push me away but I'm not going anywhere. This isn't about me being angry or upset, this is about you. And if you want to talk about responsibility...you are my mine. You are mine Chelle...do you get that? I'm not going anywhere!"
He couldn't believe he had just said that but he meant every word. He knew she hadn't heard him when he had said he loved her because she was passed out, it had just rolled off his tongue. He almost felt angry that she could possibly think after everything that had happened she wasn't everything to him. That he didn't consider he to be his girlfriend, even the word girlfriend seemed lame and in appropriate for what she meant to him. He was aware that she was staring at him in complete shock but he just kept moving forward. He got her settled back down and then he walked over to the doctor who was on the other side of the room. It made him feel sick but he told the doctor that her underwear had been ripped to the point he had barely had to touch them and they came off and that there was blood on her thighs. He hadn't seen a cut or anything but that clearly she needed to be checked out. The whole time he spoke he could feel a lump in his throat so big it made it hard to speak and he could feel his eyes were blurry from tears.
Over the next 5 hours it felt like a million things happened. The doctor sent a woman in to speak with Michelle and find out exactly what had been done to her. Michelle swore that although the man had ripped her underwear he hadn't gotten further than that because she had been kicking and punching him. The man had grabbed at her chest and pushed himself into her but mostly everything had been a wrestle between the two of them. She had been hit in the head quite a few times and had substantial bruising on the side of her head, cheek and chin. She had been winded and there were finger marks across her left breast and bruising on her ribs. She had needed 10 stitches to her arm and they had given her a lot of pain medication. Finally the doctor reported to Tony that although battered and bruised plus the wound to her arm she was going to be ok. She needed a lot of rest of the next couple days and was clearly going to be in pain but outside of that, she was alright. The doctor suggested Tony get Michelle to speak with someone about her ordeal and gave him a pile of numbers.
Michelle had been asking if she could go home. Finally the doctor granted her permission to be discharged as long as she was in the care of someone else and came back in within 48 hours to be checked again. She wasn't to be left alone.
They hadn't really had much of a chance to talk in the past few hours with everything that was happening. Tony hadn't left the room once and whenever he could he was either stroking her head or arm or holding her hand. He sat himself down next to her. "Ok, so you are allowed to leave, however you are not allowed to be on your own, they will only release you into someone else's care."
"But I live alone. I can call my brother or some friends..."
Tony was frustrated. "I've already told them you would be coming home with me."
"Tony I don't expect you to look after me. You asked me to come watch a baseball game with you; you didn't sign up for all this crap..."
He leaned over her. "Are you trying to push me away? Are you angry at me for this happening?"
"I'm not angry at you for this happening, it wasn't your fault."
"Do you regret being with me last night Michelle?"
She shook her head.
"No, say it."
She hesitated and that just set him off. "I knew it! You regret being with me. I knew once you had time to think about everything you would change your mind..."
"I never said that! Why are you so sure that I don't want you? I was the one that basically asked you out in the first place, remember?"
"Yeah but that was before a lot of things happened." He stopped and stared at her. She had tears streaming down her face and she looked completely confused. "Michelle, I know last night wasn't the most romantic way, I know it was really confusing and my behaviour was really out of line but surely...surely if anything, out of all of this you have realised how much I care about you, how much I want you. You literally turn me inside out, my heart races every time you look at me, and I feel weak in the legs when you touch me. I'll never forgive myself for what happened to you tonight. But you can't walk away from me, not without giving me a real chance to tell you how I feel and show you how good we can be together. Last night was the most intense, incredible experience of my life but it wasn't because I was drunk, it wasn't something that just 'happened' – it was something I've wanted since the day I met you and it was overwhelming how much more amazing it was to actually finally touch you, see you, feel you...it blew away all my fantasies about you. I don't know if you are trying to push me away because you are scared that last night was just a fling or something casual to me or if you wish it had just never happened...but I need to know."
Michelle held out her hand for him to take, which he did. "I don't know what to say...that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. I don't regret a single thing that has happened Tony. I feel the same way, being with you last night was amazing. I guess I have just been scared to death that you would change your mind. You were so angry last night, I've never seen you like that before and I just haven't known exactly what you want or even have been thinking. I've never ever done anything like I did last night and it made me feel very emotional and scared that I gave myself to you and you might walk away..."
"I love you Michelle, I am so deeply in love with you I can barely think straight. I'm not going anywhere."
Tears poured down her cheeks and he wiped them away with his thumb. "I love you Tony, I have for a long time. I need you and I want you."
"Will you give me a chance then? Stop pushing me away?"
"I promise I won't push you away."
Tony sighed in relief. "Come home with me then. Be with me, let me look after you."
"I'd really love that."
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