About ten minutes later I finally leave, and I whisper to Christian that I'll be back very soon before placing a final kiss on this head. I'm not sure of the policy regarding staying with patients over night, but there is not a chance that they will pry me away from him later, even if that means I have to exercise a little bit of Christian Grey style control and threaten to buy the damn hospital.
As I walk back into where the family are waiting, I quickly try to wipe any remaining tears from my eyes to hide that I have been crying again. I want them to think that I can be strong, not only for Christian but also for the children if faced with these type of situations. Truth is however, right now I just feel completely weak and helpless.
I enter the room quietly and look at Grace.
"He's all yours now Grace." I try to force a smile and she looks at me sympathetically.
"Thankyou Ana", she says before she gives me a emotional hug. "It will get better you know Darling", she says as she strokes my hair. I don't think I could have been gifted with a nicer mother in law. I am so thankful.
As I sit down in the seat I have spent too much time in today Elliot and Mia both speak simultaneously.
"How is he?", "Is he okay?" I'm unsure how to respond. Yes he's okay as he's going to get better but no he's not okay, as he's covered in wires and has a machine helping him breathe. I take a deep breath.
"Hes.. Hes Christian." I reply and I know it sounds lame but I really don't know how to describe it. I think they get it as Mia smiles and Elliot nods in my direction.
"Taylor say's he need's to talk to you Ana, that its urgent." Elliot suddenly remembers breaking the silence.
"Oh, where is he?" I state quietly as a frown appears on my face and I wonder what this is all about.
"He's with that scary looking security guy in the room down the Hall." Mia answer and I assume she mean's Welch.
"Thank's" I nod as I get up and head towards the door, "Ill be back in a second." I say as I leave.
As I enter the required room I see Taylor and Welch waiting for me with a folder in his hand. They look very serious. Almost too serious. When did Welch even get here I wonder subconsciously.
"How's Mr Grey?" Taylor ask's but I'm pretty sure he's trying to be polite before he cuts to the chase.
"He'll get there." I reply, and let out a sigh. I really am exhausted, I feel like I have been away for days.
"If you would like to take a seat Mrs Grey, I think it would be for the best." Taylor suggests, and I feel myself becoming nervous. What is he possibly going to tell me.
"Is this about Christian and.." I trail off I can't bear to say it. I don't want to think about what could of happened.
"I'm afraid so Mrs Grey." Taylor nod's as he speaks and I feel frightened of what he's about to tell me.
Taylor reaches forward and takes my hand, looking at me cautiously in the eyes. "I need you to stay calm when I tell you this Ana. I'm sure Christian will go ape shit when he finds out I told you this information, but under the circumstances, I've taken the decision as his head of security and I think you should know." This is very much Taylor the Friend not Taylor the employee and I feel a pit in my stomach begin to form. I don't speak.
He pulls back and open's and envelope he is holding. As I see the first photo I don't understand what I am looking at. I take the photo from Taylor and look at it more closely. It's Christian, Me and the kids and it looks like it's been taken on a CCTV camera outside Grey Enterprises. At first glimpse it just appears to be a poor quality, slightly grainy photo of us. I'm so confused and my head hurts.
"Taylor?" I question, glancing up at him. He looks down and points to a figure in the background, just on the edge of the photo. I'm still confused it look's like it is just a normal man going about his daily routine.
"Who is that?" I question, I still don't understand what I am looking at.
He reaches into his lap so I can see the second photo in the pack. That's when I spot it. Or should I say spot him. The same man. This time It's just a photo of Christian and me from the CCTV, but its much later at night and Christian's playfully carrying me to the car waiting outside the front of the building. The picture is blurry but I can tell we are smiling and oblivious to that same figure lurking on the outskirts of the photo. This time the man seems to be chatting on his mobile phone, but i'm certain it's the same person.
Taylor takes the photo from the top and places it at the bottom of the pile. Much to my surprise a third photo becomes visiable and there he is again. I grab the photo's out of his hand and desperately race through them. Almost every photo includes Christian, sometimes he's on his own, sometimes he's with me and sometimes we are with the Children. There's photos from a whole host of locations, the club inside and out, the shops, Grey Enterprises, and my work. But one thing that doesn't change is that figure lurking into the background. He's always blending in talking on the phone, chatting to a passerby or carrying shopping. I feel the tear's start to fall as I stand up and launch the photo's on the floor. I feel like I'm loosing control and I try and take deep breaths before I become hysterical
"Taylor what the hell is this." I say, my hands visible shaking.
"Ana, you need to calm down." Taylor say's standing up and walking towards me.
"Calm down, how can I calm down, someone has been watching us Taylor, stalking us even, for god knows how long,... how can I calm down." I try and breathe slowly as the tears race down my cheeks.
"Mrs Grey we're doing everything we can to track this man down as we speak." Welch pipes up as he makes quick work of picking up the fallen photographs.
"What if he's here, Oh god what if he's going to try and get to Christian." I torture myself with my thought's and I just can't take this in as my hysterics continue.
"Mrs Grey, the area is secure, we've checked and double checked. This man is not here." Taylor assures me, grabbing hold of my arms gently to try and calm me down.
"What about the children, what if he tries to get to them. I have to call Gail and warn her." I try to break free of his hold to reach for my phone.
"Ana you have to calm down, don't worry I've called Gail, she's aware of the situation, the children are safe Ana." He states calmly and clearly as I struggle to calm my panic.
I force myself out of his hold and walk over to the other side of the room, putting my head in my hands. I just can't talk this in. Someone has been following us and watching us for what must have been weeks and they are trying to tell me to calm down.
"How long?" I utter, from my position on the other side of the room.
"Were not 100% sure Mrs Grey, but the first sighting was over six months ago." Oh my god I can't believe this, it gets worse. I bury my head in my knees as I try and breathe.
"Is it him, is he the one who tried to kill Christian?" I ask, I need to know if this is the man who tried to kill my husband.
"We are working with that assumption Mrs Grey." Welch states as formal as ever. I can't imagine how this could possibly get worse. The thought that some strange man, has been following us, has been so close to my children makes me feel physically sick.
"How could this have gone un-noticed for so long." I demand, I'm not angry at them particularly as I know its not their fault, I'm just angry with everything. How did I or even Christian not notice. My husband notices everything. He is always preoccupied with safety. How is this even possible, surely one of us would of noticed. It seems too ridiculous to even be real.
"He picked random times and places Mrs Grey, it wasn't a systematic thing and he always blended in, which is why we , or you never noticed him until now. It wasn't until we were trawling through the CCTV footage from the last few night's that we spotted him a couple of times and that's when it began to unravel." Taylor tries to explain, but I feel so angry.
I stand up and begin to pace, I think my head is going to explode. I wish Christian was here to protect me, I feel so alone right now.
"Ana?" Taylor says again in a softer voice. I look up and meet his eyes. "We need to ask you to do something for us," he states calmly and patiently.
"What" I snap.
"There's some photo's here that are a bit clearer, we need you to look at them and think hard if you recognize this man from anywhere at all, a friend, someone from work, anybody who could have the motive to do this," Taylor explains cautiously unaware how I am going to react.
"Okay." I reply sharply taking a deep breath. I don't want to even look at this pictures. They feel so sinister, like someone has been intruding on my life for the past six months, but I know I have to look. If I have any information to help lock this person away for the rest of their lives then I need to think. Taylor was right about one thing Christian is going to go ape shit when he finds out. This shit run's deeper than I could ever have imagined.
I sit back down where I was originally seated expectantly. Welch is holding a blown up version of a photo in his hand so I take it. I stare at the photo and cover the part in which my family is depicted with my other hand. I don't want to see us being watched by some stalker. I scrutinize this man, the picture is still not particularly good quality but I can sort of make out his face. I close my eyes and beg for my mind to remember him, but it's no good I don't know him.
"Taylor I don't know him." I say as I begin to cry, he gets up and wraps his arms around me.
"It's going to be okay Ana. We will find him." He whispers but his voice betrays him as it lacks the usual confidence.
"Who else knows about this." I suddenly think to ask.
"Well obviously all the security, Gail know's to some extent, and Carrick of course. He's going to explain the situation to Grace after she's been to see Christian.
I nod, I want to go back and see Christian, the only time I feel safe is when he's around.
An hour later and I am sat in the room with Elliot. Everyone has been to see Christian except Mia who is just on her way up now. Apparently once they move him to a private room, perhaps as early as tomorrow, depending on how he's doing, we can all visit him together. Not that I need to visit him as I intend to stay with him for as much time as physically possible.
I still can't get those images out of my head, I feel the need to look over my shoulder all the time, even though Taylor has assured me he is not here. The Grey's seem to have disappeared somewhere and I assume Carrick may be informing Grace of this new information that has come to light and i know she will be equally devastated.
Me and Elliot chat a bit, but neither of us are really in a talkative kind of mood which is unsurprising considering today. I think we are well and truly emotionally spent. Shortly after Mia return's I speed walk back to Christian's room. I hate the thought that he might be alone. Ever since Taylor told me the news I'm paranoid something might happen to him when I'm not there. It's not like he can defend himself at the moment and I don't want him to be put at risk for even one second. Taylor informed me that there is now extra security detail positioned outside his room and he safe but that doesn't make me feel any better. How can I ever feel safe again after what I have learnt today.
This time, even though I am prepared for what I will see, I still feel the air rush from my lungs as the sight that is my hurt husband.
I sit down in the chair that is still placed at the side of his bed and grab his hand.
"I've missed you baby." I whisper and I mean every word. I miss seeing his beautiful grey eyes, his delicious smile and I even miss my overprotective fifty, which is quite the achievement.
"I hope your not planning on sleeping for much longer Christian." I say softly.
"I need you more than ever right now. Taylor's told me some new's about who did this too you and I know I said I didn't want you get to involved and I still don't, but I need you to help me get my head around it. You're the only person who will understand Mr Grey."
I rest my head on the side of his bed and close my eyes. I slowly feel myself drift off to sleep as my dream's are turned into nightmare's as I am plagued by images of that blurry figure.
Thankyou so much for the reviews so far, i appreciate it. xxx