Hi there! So, I think this will be the next to last chapter. I think the next chapter will be an epilogue of sorts. Thanks to all the people who have read and reviewed. As always, I don't own anything. Enjoy!
Italics = Gillian's thoughts
I'm shot! He shot me! It's funny; I don't feel any foreign objects in my body. But I heard the gun go off. I also heard some glass break. I can feel the tiny shards all over my body. I still have my eyes closed. Maybe if I play dead, he won't come up and finish me off. Should I dare look up? I hear people outside. It's not Michael's voice, it's someone else. I thought we were secluded. I wonder who would be here at this time. Maybe they will come in and rescue me. Okay, I am going to peek ever-so-slightly and see what is going on. Gillian looked through her frightened fingers to see Michael's dead body on the ground. She gasped in horror. Then she looked down at her own body. "I didn't get shot. But who shot Michael?"
There were sounds of heavy feet running towards the cabin. She quickly crawled to a shadow in a small corner. The men with the heavy boots kicked down the door. They came in with guns drawn, waiting for someone to catch their attention. The leader yelled, "FBI, put your weapons down and your hands up. We have a warrant to search your house." He saw Michael's body and kicked the gun out of the area. Then the agents walked all over the house, searching for other people. They did not notice Gillian in the corner. The leaders told the radio, "This is ring leader to Reynolds, come in Reynolds."
Reynolds said, "Here, ring leader. Is the coast clear?"
The agent said, "Copy that, Agent Reynolds, coast is clear. Target has been terminated, repeat target has been terminated. There is still no sign of the woman. We will continue the search."
Then the leader held his radio receiver out of his ear from the person shouting. "HOW THE BLOODY HELL CAN THEY NOT FIND HER? SHE WAS RIGHT THERE WHEN THE BLOKE FIRED THE KILL SHOT. THEY MUST HAVE MISSED HER. I AM GOING IN THERE MYSELF AND DON'T YOU BLOODY STOP ME!"
The agent put his receiver back in his ear and said, "Agent Reynolds, place is secure. Your party may join in on the search. Ring leader out."
Gillian was too scared to come out of her hiding. Why should I trust these people? He was able to get to them in the FBI building itself. I will only come out when I see Cal or Ben. Even then I have to make sure that it is the 'real' Cal, not some imposter. A tear sprung out from her eye.
Right on cue, Cal and Ben walked in. Cal looked like he was seething from the mouth when he made a beeline to the team leader. "How the hell can you lose a woman, a very attractive woman for that matter, that you just saw a minute ago?" Cal eyed him to make sure he wasn't lying.
The agent step back and looked at Ben. He nodded and the agent said, "Well sir, the shot must have frightened her. We are searching the surrounding woods."
Cal just nodded and looked around as if Gillian was going to pop out at any second. Ben stared into the shadow of a corner. He thought he heard something from there, like someone crying. He looked over to the window where they last saw her. He looked down and saw a trail of broken glass and blood leading to the corner. He grabbed Cal by the elbow and dragged him into the kitchen.
When they walked through the swinging doors, Cal forced his arm out of Ben's grasp and said in a threatening voice, "You better not be stopping me from finding her. Are you on their side? Are you working against the FBI?" He watched Ben carefully.
Ben started to get angry, "What the hell man? How could you ask me such a stupid question? I am not working against the FBI or you. I am on your side," he pointed a finger in Cal's face. "And don't you ever forget that."
Cal held up his hands in mock surrender, "Sorry, chap, I just had to ask to make sure. You took me away abruptly, what was I supposed to think."
Ben sat down on a stool, shaking his head. "The reason I brought you in here is to tell you that I found Gillian but," Ben grabbed Cal before he could stomp out into the living room. "But, she is hiding. She is very scared to come out. She probably thinks that we are working for this Michael character. You heard him over the phone. He is a basket case; planning this for months, having this revenge against you and then calling her Chloe and asking her to run away with him. I don't know the psychology term but he has got her head so jumbled up that she is scared to come out."
Cal didn't say anything; he just looked down, chewing his lip in thought. Ben continued, "Now I think the only one capable of getting her to come out is you. It is obvious that she trusts and cares about you a lot. I brought you in here to calm you down. You came through that door seething at the mouth ready to kill someone. She doesn't need that; she needs… she needs…" Ben stopped to think of an appropriate word. "She needs gentleness."
Cal thought for a second and then nodded. He wordlessly walked out of the kitchen, with Ben following close behind. Ben whispered where Gillian was and left out of the back door to continue the 'search'. Cal put his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. He said to no one, "You know, it is not your fault, none of this is your fault. I take the blame for some of it. I was a right foul git when I was young. I didn't have anyone to hold me back. I guess that all changed after my mum died." He paused for a moment and went right on. "I thought, treating her like that was the coolest thing in the world, someone pining away for me. I look back now and I am ashamed of how I treated her. I would never want anyone to treat Emily or you like that. I accept what Michael said about me, about murdering her, but I never would have done it to you. Yes, I messed up by going to that stupid pub and kissing that woman, but I am a flawed man. I am not one of those guys from your bloody romance novels, and nor would try and be like them. I think you know I am a faulty man, why else would you stick by me all these years. I love you Gillian and I would do anything to have you back." He stopped rocking on his feet and shook his head.
Gillian was in the corner, frozen by what Cal said. She pushed back her tears and quietly said, "You didn't murder her. You hurt her but you didn't put a gun to her head. She could've gotten help. You are not responsible, just like how you are not responsible for your mother's death." She still didn't move from her spot.
Cal smiled a small smile and said, "Luv, I don't think this is the place or time to talk about my mum."
Gillian lightly shook her head, "You said that you love me. What's funny is that I was going to tell you that after my appointment with Dr. Simmons, but I got a little side-tracked." She smiled for the first time in a couple hours. "How come you are always the one to beat me to the finish line when it comes to things that need to be said?"
Cal walked over to the corner and bent down. "Well, Luv, I am a very outspoken person, to say the least. I just say what you want to say. Come on out, Luv, I promised Emily that I would give you a big hug when we found you."
Gillian was a little hesitant, "Is it safe?"
Cal frowned at her cautiousness, "As safe as it will ever be. All the bad people trying to hurt you are either dead or behind bars." He held out his hand and waited patiently.
In his voice, he sounds so sure of himself. I hate to leave my safe little corner but I have to come out sometime, right? Plus, I really have to use the restroom. With a shaky hand, she grabbed Cal's hand. He helped pulled her out and onto her feet. She looked up at him and whispered, "Thank you, for not giving up on me. It's going to take me some time to get this close to you again."
He grabbed her cheek and said, "I have no problem waiting. You haven't lost me yet. Come on; let's get you to the ambulance."
She stopped him from moving and said, "Seriously Cal, I can't…"
He put his arm around her shoulder and gently said, "It is only a couple feet away, you can do it. I am right here with you."
She stopped him again, "No Cal, you don't understand. I can't go to the ambulance yet. I have to use the potty really badly. I haven't gone since this afternoon." She looked down in embarrassment.
Cal smiled, "It's okay, I think the loo is down here."
So, what did you think! Please review! Thanks!
A/N: Rereading Cal's monologue, I imagine him to be stumbling through it, like it is hard for him to say those things. I guess that is why it seems so mixed up. I guess I needed to say that just to clear it in my own head. LOL!
