Chapter 16

Fragile

"Hello, Lia." Lucian purred.

Sariel bristled and froze. Her back was turned towards the brown-haired man. Her phone was lying on the bed in front of her. She stealthily turned the device on and called Elliott. She muted the line and turned on speakerphone.

"Are you leaving me, Lia?" Lucian purred again.

"I'm not with you, Luc, so yes, I am." Sariel spat.

"You seemed to enjoy my kisses last night." Lucian stated.

"You'd be mistaken. I nearly vomited. Typically someone doesn't kick you in the balls if they're enjoying your company." Sariel fired back.

"I'm impressed by how strong you've gotten. You were too easy to break when we were younger." Lucian stated proudly.

"What in the hell are you doing in my room, Lucian? I don't have anything for you. You burned that bridge." Sariel viciously spat out.

"Lia, I know you still love me. Come home with me." Lucian purred.

Sariel closed her eyes and prayed Elliott or someone would come to her rescue. She turned in place and slowly deposited her phone in her back pocket. She yelped when she opened her eyes and saw Lucian standing within arm's reach of her.

"Get away from me!" Sariel screamed.

"Lia, that's no way to treat me." Lucian frowned.

"Like you have a fucking clue as to how to treat people!" Sariel roared.

A whistle from the doorway drew their attention for the time being. Sariel smiled happily when she saw Leon, Chris, and Elliott. She froze when Lucian whirled around her and held a syringe to her neck.

"Take a step closer and Lia goes to sleep for a while." Lucian coldly spoke.

Sariel's gray eyes went wide as she stared in horror at her friends and lover. She winced when she felt the tip of the needle prick her skin. Tears flowed down her cheeks. She tried to swallow the growing lump in her throat and failed.

"L-L-Luc, d-don't do this." Sariel stammered.

"Tell them to leave, Lia. If they leave, I won't give you the injection." Lucian demanded.

"Lucian, we aren't going anywhere." Leon fired back.

Sariel cried out as the needle pressed deeper into her neck. She slammed her eyes shut and started sobbing. Fear was starting to overwhelm her.

"Will she simply sleep or will the injection kill her? You don't know what's in the syringe. Are you willing to risk her life for the sake of your bravado?" Lucian taunted.

"Rinn." Elliott whimpered.

"Chris, promise me you'll make them leave." Sariel begged.

"Lia, damn it, don't do this!" Leon roared.

"Chris, promise me! Make them leave. Promise me you won't follow us." Sariel sobbed heavily.

"Rinn, I can't lose you." Elliott cried out.

"Ellie, trust me. I'll find my way back to you, I promise. Don't let the farm die. I love you, Elliott McCoy." Sariel whimpered out as she spoke.

"I love you too Sariel Shade." Elliott replied warmly.

Lucian shoved Sariel forward and marched her past the three men. He continued marching her forwards as they neared one of the many elevators in the hotel. The entered the mechanical lift and Lucian pressed the button for the lobby.

As the doors slid shut, Sariel made the decision to fight for her life. She wouldn't jeopardize Leon, Chris, or Elliott, however, she was willing to sacrifice herself to stop Lucian once and for all. Lucian shoved her forward again and Sariel drew a strong breath into her lungs.

"Evynne, open the doors." Sariel called out.

Her mother lifted her head and scowled at Lucian when she saw the pair standing before her. She glanced towards her daughter's raptor-like gaze and saw her wink ever so slightly. She immediately pressed the button below the counter that activated the magnetic locks on the doors and silently alerted the police.

Moments passed as Lucian silently realized he was trapped. He grabbed Sariel by the arm and forcefully dragged her towards one of the walls. He pressed a knife to her lower back and growled when Elliott, Chris, and Leon caught up to them.

"Crane, you still okay?" Leon called out softly.

"I've been better, Dragon." Sariel answered.

"Shut up, Lia!" Lucian yelled as he slapped her.

Sariel recoiled in pain and whimpered. She cowered in fear of being hit again. Her heart froze when she felt Lucian grab the syringe. She drew a small breath into her lungs and steeled herself for the inevitable.

Lucian sank the syringe deeper into her neck and emptied the chamber's contents. He knew in a few moments Sariel would pass out and she'd be his for the taking. The sickening smile that spread on his face chilled everyone in the room.

"What in the fuck did you just inject her with?" Evynne roared from behind the desk.

"Flunitrazepam. Enough to render her unconscious in a few moments." Lucian icily answered.

Sariel reached up and ripped the syringe from her neck. She wheeled around and punched Lucian square in his face. Her vision wavered slightly and she forced herself to focus. She growled and launched another impressive strike towards Lucian. As she whirled around, preparing to strike him a third time, she felt his knife sink into her right side.

The pain was blinding. She stumbled backward and fell onto her back. Breathing burned as she struggled to draw oxygen into her sedated lungs. Everything felt infinitely far away from her. Her eyes fluttered closed and she barely felt hands pressing onto her.

She swore she heard a gunshot, but she wasn't certain of anything anymore. She could barely hear voices around her and she struggled to stay awake. She felt someone press their lips to hers and breathe into her mouth. Sariel was perfectly sure she could be dead and she'd recognize that kiss.

"Ellie?" Sariel whimpered.

"Shh, Rinn, you're okay. Try to conserve your energy." Elliott whispered softly.

"Sleepy. Really sleepy." Sariel murmured.

"That's the Rohypnol, Crane. Can you open your eyes for us?" Leon warmly asked.

"Too heavy. I feel like I'm floating. Am I dead?" Sariel murmured again.

"No, darling, you're alive. Wounded, but very much alive." Elliott shakily stated.

The cry of emergency response sirens wailed through the air. Sariel shivered in the blast of air as the large doors opened and paramedics rushed to her side. She vaguely heard them ask the men to move and tried to smile when they all three denied the request.

"Ellie?" Sariel cried.

"I'm here darling." Elliott answered softly.

She felt his fingers thread through hers and squeeze her hand gently. She recoiled as a penlight was flashed in her eyes. A prick on her arm sent a shockwave of fear through her until she registered it was an IV starting.

"What's your name, miss?" A female paramedic asked.

"Sariel Lia Shade." Sariel answered weakly.

"Alright Sariel, we're going to get you to a hospital. You're safe now. Can you try and remember what happened?" The paramedic asked.

"Syringe… neck… knife." Sariel choked out.

"We're taking her to Forest Oaks." A Male voice stated.

"I'm sorry, only one of you can ride with us." The female paramedic stated.

"Elliott, go with her. We can take my car, I'll drive. Can we follow you?" Evynne asked.

"Yes, of course. Hurry though. They've loaded the body into another ambulance." The male voice answered.

"Body? Am I dead?" Sariel murmured.

"Not if we can help it, Sariel." The female voice called out.

"I'm scared." Sariel felt tears fall on her face.

"Rinn, my darling, I'll be right here the whole time. I love you." Elliott whispered to her.

"I love you too, Ellie." Sariel replied.

She felt like she was being lifted and moved. As the paramedics loaded the stretcher into the back of the ambulance Sariel finally succumbed to sleep. The male Paramedic climbed in the back with her and Elliott as the female hopped in the front and began the drive to Forest Oaks.

Elliott sat in solidarity in the back of the ambulance. His mind kept replaying what had happened over and over again. Leon's aim was true and the bullet he fired directly towards Lucian's heart stopped the threat once and for all. He wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to forget that memory, nor was a part of him sure he wanted to. He was greatly happy Sariel would no longer be tormented by Lucian.

"Forest Oaks, this is Bus number 43. Female patient, age 24, a single stab wound to right thoracic cavity. Patient has been dosed with Flunitrazepam. We are en route, ETA 4 minutes." The female paramedic called out.

"Copy 43. We'll have a team on standby in the ambulance bay. We've got Romazicon on hand." A mechanical-sounding male voice spoke.

Elliott stared at Sariel as the EMT monitored her carefully. They'd stabilized the small knife that was lodged in her side. From what Elliott had overheard, her prognosis was good. Her lungs were clear and she was breathing on her own. Her blood pressure was slightly low, but that was to be expected.

He held her left hand in both of his. The growing lump in his throat threatened his bravado. It was killing him to see Sariel so wounded and hurt. He glanced out the rear window of the ambulance and smiled when he saw Evynne's bright green car following them.

The drive to the hospital was over nearly as quickly as it had started. The Paramedics exited the ambulance and quickly pulled Sariel's stretcher free. Elliott slid out behind her and ran with her inside.

A young male doctor fell into step beside them and began monitoring Sariel's condition. The paramedics transferred her care to the waiting team and Elliott followed as they wheeled her into the Emergency Room. Hastened orders were delivered and exchanged. In the flurry of everything happening, Elliott was struggling to keep up.

"Sir, can you tell us what happened to her?" A nurse asked.

"Her ex-fiance administered a syringe of Rohypnol to her. She struggled to get away from him and he stabbed her in the process." Elliott stated.

"Is she allergic to anything?" The nurse asked.

"No. Her blood type is AB+." Elliott answered.

"Do you know if she's ever had a reaction to a blood transfusion before?" The nurse asked softly.

"No, she hasn't. What's happening?" Elliott answered.

"We've gotten her stabilized and are getting her into surgery. From there she's being admitted. She'll be in room 204. It's a private room, per the request of the local police." The nurse responded.

"Remington?" Leon's voice called out above the confusion.

"Trauma Room One!" Elliott yelled back.

Leon, Chris, and Evynne dashed into the room just in time to see Sariel wheeled away to surgery. In ten short minutes, her life had changed drastically. A nurse ushered them all outside and escorted them to the waiting room near Sariel's operating room.

Elliott fell to his knees and was caught by Leon. He slumped forward and felt his stony exterior break as his heart shattered. Fear, doubt, and anger overwhelmed him.

"Hey, it's okay, Elliott. Rinn's a fighter. She'll get through this." Leon stated amicably.

Elliott moved into a chair and started idly wringing his hands. He became acutely aware of everyone's presence and resigned himself to sitting in solitude. He slipped his phone from his pocket and realized he had Sariel's blood on his hands.

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and started furiously rubbing at the red stains. Fresh warm tears flowed down his cheeks. He felt warm hands wrap around his and he looked up to see Evynne in front of him.

"It's… hers." Elliott painfully whimpered.

"Okay, let's get you to a bathroom and clean you up." Evynne stated sweetly.

She gently tugged on his arms and pulled him to his feet. He was quite taller than she was, but in this moment he seemed child-like. Evynne took his hand in hers and quietly led him down the hallway towards a bathroom.

Elliott shoved past her and bolted into a stall. He violently heaved the contents of the day's meals into the ceramic bowl. He wiped a small amount of spittle from his face and flushed the toilet. When he exited the stall, Evynne was quick to hand him wet paper towels.

He scrubbed his hands clean until they were a furious shade of pink. He splashed cold water on his face and stared in the mirror. His bright green eyes were dull and dark and the scowl on his face wounded him. He was subtlety aware of the fact Evynne had departed. He smiled weakly when Evynne returned and produced a small toothbrush and toothpaste for him.

He brushed his teeth, begging for the taste of vomit to get out of his mouth. He pulled Evynne into a tight hug and held her for a finally released her and the pair made their way back to the waiting room.

"Leon! What happened?!" Lilly's voice echoed in the small room.

"Lucian surprised her. She was trying to pack her stuff and he got into the room. She called Elliott, who was hanging out with Chris and I. She's smart, I'm proud of her. She muted the line so we heard everything.

"We ran to her room and found Lucian still there. He pressed a hypodermic syringe to her neck and threatened to inject her with the contents if we tried to interfere. She made the decision to leave with Lucian.

"We followed behind them and Rinn alerted Evynne to what was going on. She locked the place down and called the Police. Lucian figured out he was trapped and took it out on Rinn because she was the closest to him.

"He injected the syringe into her neck. He fucking roofied her, Lilly. Rinn retaliated and attacked him. Unfortunately, he had a knife on her, and he stabbed her. Punctured her right thoracic area, just under her armpit.

"Lucian is dead. Rinn is in surgery now. We're waiting at the hospital." Leon painfully recounted.

"He's dead? Are you sure?" Lilly asked.

"Unless he found a way to survive a double-tap to the heart, yes, I'm sure. I shot him." Leon growled out.

"Are you guys all okay?" Lilly asked gently.

"Elliott's not doing well. We're all hanging in there though." Leon answered.

"Should Red and I head home? I think we can catch a flight soon." Lilly stated sadly.

"No, Lilly. You and Audrey deserve your honeymoon. I'll make sure to keep you updated on Sariel's condition." Elliott replied.

"Ell, I'm positive she'll make it through this. Keep your chin up, okay? Rinn would be beside herself if she knew you were devastated." Lilly called out softly.

"I want to believe she will, but I'm struggling with that. Thank you for your kindness, Lilly." Elliott returned.

"Red and I are jet-lagged, so we're going to crash. If anything changes, call us, okay? I love you guys, give Rinn my love." Lilly stated.

"We love you too. Get some rest." Leon called out.

Elliott affixed his gaze to the large analog clock on the wall. The incessant ticking of the clock was driving him insane. Minutes shifted into hours as the group waited for an update. He was nursing a bottle of water Peter had purchased for him. Leon and Chris had managed to convince Elliott to eat a protein bar and keep himself fueled and hydrated.

The solemness was disturbed by a doctor wearing pale blue scrubs. She was wearing a Beauty and the Beast themed scrub hat, and that brightened Elliott's spirits. She made her way over to the group rather quickly.

"Hi, I'm Doctor Serenity Cahn. Are you all here for Sariel Shade?" Serenity's voice was sweet, like spring flowers.

"Yes, we are. I'm her mother. Is she…?" Evynne's voice cracked.

"She's fine. We were able to safely remove the knife and close the wound. There was minimal damage to her right lung. We were able to repair that. She got lucky. The knife angled upwards, instead of going straight in. She'll be unable to use her arm for a while until the wound heals. She's been prescribed Romazicon, which is an antidote for benzodiazepine overdose. She's in recovery now, I can take one of you back if you'd like." Serenity exuded peacefulness to the group as she spoke.

"Elliott, go ahead." Evynne and Leon spoke at the same time.

"If you'll follow me, please, I'll take you to see her." Serenity spoke softly.

Elliott followed the slender woman as she lead him through the hallways and corridors normally forbidden to anyone but staff. They rounded a corner and Serenity pressed her ID badge to a card reader. The expansive double doors swung open and Elliott was greeted by soft lighting and peaceful music.

He saw Sariel resting in bed before him and sprinted to her side. He immediately laced their fingers together and stroked her cheek softly. Tears slipped down his cheeks and he focused on her soft, rhythmic breathing.

Her right arm was bound in a sling around her shoulder. She stirred slightly and Elliott's breath caught in his chest. He started to cry out for a nurse and was startled when one appeared at the foot of Sariel's bed.

"Hey, honey. She's coming to, be gentle with her, she's been through a lot. I'm Miranda, just holler if you need anything." The pleasantly rotund woman stated.

Sariel's bright gray eyes opened slightly. She panicked when she realized she couldn't move her right arm. She was in a tremendous amount of pain. She whimpered when she tried to speak and found her voice was ragged and foreign.

"Rinn?" Elliott asked softly.

Her eyes opened fully and she turned towards the intruding sound. When her eyes met Elliott's she smiled brilliantly. She squeezed his hand and pulled their hands to her mouth and kissed his softly.

"Hi, Ellie." Sariel choked out.

"Hi, darling." Elliott replied lovingly.

"Everything hurts." Sariel whimpered.

"Shh, try not to speak. Miranda!" Elliott yelled out.

Miranda came running over and smiled brightly at Sariel. She set about checking everything on her and grabbed a fresh, warmed blanket for her. She tucked the warm fabric around Sariel and brought a soft washcloth to her eyes. She gently wiped the ointment free from Sariel's eyes.

"Hi, honey. My name's Miranda, I'm your recovery nurse. Can you tell me your name?" Miranda asked sweetly.

"Sariel Lia Shade." Sariel coughed as she spoke.

"Good, honey. How are you feeling?" Miranda asked gently.

"Like hell. Everything hurts." Sariel whimpered out.

"Okay, sugar, I'll give you some more pain medication and get you some water for your throat." Miranda stated.

"Thank you." Sariel whimpered again.

"I love you. So very much, Sariel." Elliott stated happily.

"I love you too, Elliott. With my whole heart." Sariel replied.

Miranda reappeared and gave Sariel a small dose of Demerol. She handed Elliott a small bottle of water and a bendy straw to help Sariel drink. She took her vitals and was pleased with the results. She waved goodbye to the pair and departed once again.

"Elliott, what happened? I can't remember what happened." Sariel cried out.

"Shh, it's okay. What can you remember?" Elliott asked.

"Lucian came to my hotel room. I'd left the door unlocked in case you came by. He knocked and I told him to come in because I thought it was you, or Leon, or Chris. I called you, hoping you'd come and rescue me, or could get to Leon and Chris. You showed up and Lucian threatened to inject me. We went to the lobby… and I can't remember what happened next." Sariel sobbed as she spoke.

"Darling, it's alright. You're safe. You're at Forest Oaks Hospital. Lucian injected you with Rohypnol. He roofied you. You tried to fight him off and he stabbed you. You hit the floor and Lucian lunged towards you. Leon shot and killed him." Elliott admitted.

"Am I okay? Why can't I move my arm?" Sariel whimpered.

"You are perfect, my love. Your arm is bound in a sling for the present moment. Once your wound heals, you'll be free to use your arm. The knife went in just under your right armpit." Elliott answered.

"Leon! Is he okay? Did they arrest him? Oh god!" Sariel cried again.

"Rinn, please, look at me." Elliott commanded softly.

Sariel obliged and focused her steely gaze on Elliott's radiant seafoam green eyes. He smoothed her dark red hair from her face and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. He wiped the tears from her face with the pad of his thumb.

"Leon is here. When they move you to your room, I'll make sure he comes and sees you. There are enough witnesses to corroborate his version of the events. He acted in self-defense for you. It was either that, or Lucian might have killed you." Elliott swallowed his last statement painfully.

"Miranda?" Sariel cried out.

A few moments ticked by and Miranda appeared at Sariel's bedside once more. The African woman smiled brightly and lovingly stroked Sariel's leg through the blankets. She turned her attention to the young girl.

"How can I help you, sweetie?" Miranda asked gently.

"I'm still in a great deal of pain." Sariel lamented softly.

"Okay, sugar. I'll get you fixed right up. They've gotten your room ready, so after this, we're sending you upstairs. Would your friend here like to walk with you?" Miranda asked gently.

"Boyfriend. He's my boyfriend. I really hope he'll walk with me." Sariel admitted bashfully.

"My love, I can imagine no place I'd rather be. I would be honored to escort you to your hospital room." Elliott countered.

Miranda giggled and marched off. She returned a moment later with another syringe full of pain relief. She expertly delivered the medicine to Sariel's IV and smiled when Sariel seemed to respond after a few more moments.

"How's that feel, sugar?" Miranda asked sweetly.

"Better. A lot better. Thank you." Sariel replied warmly.

A porter arrived and ran through all the questions they asked, to discern the identity of the patient. Pleased with Sariel's answers, the young man unlocked Sariel's bed and began wheeling her from the recovery ward. He expertly navigated the halls and happily rolled Sariel to the 2nd floor, via transport elevator. He pushed her bed towards the nurse's station and dropped her paperwork off.

The nurse on call followed them into the room and began checking all of Sariel's vitals. Pleased with everything she saw, she wrote her name and some information down on a dry-erase board in the room. She departed and pulled the door shut behind her.

Elliott immediately pulled his phone from his pocket and called Leon. He smiled when the phone call connected and Sariel perked up when she heard her friend's voice. He turned on speakerphone and handed the device to Sariel.

"Leon?" Sariel asked quietly.

"Rinn! Baby! Holy fuck am I happy to hear your voice." Leon exclaimed.

"Thank you." Sariel stated.

"For what?" Leon countered.

"You know what for, Leon Michael. Thank you. I can't ever thank you enough." Sariel retorted.

"I love you, Sariel. I'm so sorry I didn't stop him before you got hurt. I was scared I'd hit you if I missed." Leon admitted.

"Oh, hush. I need a big brother hug. And a Chris hug. And a mom hug. And a dad hug. I need a lot of hugs, okay?" Sariel pouted.

"We're all on our way up, Rinn. See you in a moment." Leon happily stated.

Sariel ended the call and handed the phone back to Elliott. She looped her left arm around his waist and pulled him closer to the bed. She grabbed his tie and pulled his head to hers and kissed him passionately.

"Gross, Rinn! Get a room!" Leon called out as he entered her room.

Sariel laughed warmly and broke the kiss with Elliott. She pouted when he moved away from her, but smiled once again when Leon wrapped her in a tight hug. She yelped in pain when he squeezed a tad too tight.

"Fuck! Sorry! Sorry!" Leon yelped as he loosened his grip on his surrogate sister.

"I love you, Le-le. You're the best big brother a girl could ever ask for." Sariel smiled sweetly as she spoke.

As the hours waned on, the nurse came back in to inform them visiting hours were over. Elliott was allowed to stay in the room with Sariel. There was a small chair in the room that could unfold into a twin-sized bed. Sariel fell asleep easily and Elliott curled up on the small bed. It wasn't as comfortable as his bed, but it was close to Sariel and that was all that mattered.