Chapter 3

Lilly woke up around 7.30 am. Every bone in her body hurt and she was cold and looked probably miserable.

She climbed out of the dumpster, made sure no paper was left on her and prayed that the Ebony Tower was open. That one of the guys, Seth or Roman, were already there.

With shaky legs and a ducked head she walked inside…the doors were open! Almost weeping with relief she went to the elevators and pressed the button for the offices of Shield Inc.

When she stepped out the floor was busy already. Walking up to the front desk where a young and very pretty auburn haired woman ruled her little kingdom, she cleared her throat but nothing came out. The woman looked up at her and smiled reassuringly.

"Hi, I'm Claire. How can we help you?"

"I….need…to talk to your boss." Lilly pressed out. Her voice was hoarse and she was feeling sick all of a sudden.

"Which one? We have the big, responsible Samoan Boss, the ninja puppy Boss, or the dick Boss." Claire said.

Lilly just stared at her blankly. "I'll get you Seth. Come on."

She grabbed the other woman by the arm and walked with her to one of the meeting rooms.

Only now did she realize that the woman was shaking and her clothes were damp.

Sometimes women came in here looking for help from abusive husbands. Seth was usually the best one to talk to them. Or Roman. Never Dick…Dean. Damn it, she really had to stop calling him Dick Ambrose in her mind.

"Sit down. I will get you a coffee. Seth will be here any minute. Relax, nothing will happen to you here. I promise." She touched the shoulder of the blonde woman and left.

In the hallway she ran into Seth and Roman.

"We have a situation. A woman walked in here. Looking for any one of you guys. She looks shaken, is wet from last night's rain and her eyes dart around looking for danger behind every corner." Claire explained and Seth and Roman shared a look.

They opened the door to the meeting room and found a flinching Lilly there.

"Lilly." Roman said and turned to Claire.

"Get Ambrose in here asap. And get her some coffee and a towel." He ordered and Claire was already on her way as Roman and Seth entered the room.

Lilly was shaking now like a leaf, like the guy that was killed last night.

Roman pulled out a chair across from her and sat down really slowly not wanting to scare her anymore. She was not hurt, not that he could see anyways. But she was an emotional wreck and her eyes looked around wildly, like a trapped animal. Scared to death.

Seth got down in front of her and tried to get her attention without touching her.

"Hey Lilly. It's Seth. You are safe here. It's okay. Relax. Whatever it is, say it, we can help."

Lilly's blue eyes focused on his face. "Something happened last night…" she told him with a hoarse voice, not more than a whisper and Roman balled his hands into fists, thinking about WHAT had happened to her. He had one or two good ideas and if that would be true he would kill that son of a bitch himself.

"Something…"

Before she could add more the door burst open and a ranting Dean Ambrose walked in in street clothes. His two business partner wore their usual suits.

"What the hell man, there was no meeting…" his eyes fell on Lilly who shuddered when she saw him and moved away further from him, as much as her chair would allow it.

Dean might be an asshole but he knew someone in trouble when he saw one, and he knew that he scared the crap out of Lilly. He shut the door quietly and walked to the back of the room without anyone telling him to do it. The three founders of the Shield understood each other without words. Like it was clearly Seth who could come close to Lilly, Roman had to stay at a safe distance for now, and Dean had to become one of the shadows at the wall.

"Lilly. Look at me. No one will hurt you in here. Not as long as we are in this room with you. We will all give our lives protecting you." Seth saw her side glance at Ambrose. "Yes, even he will put his body on the line for you. Tell us what happened to you."

Again they were interrupted by a very quiet but very efficient Claire. She placed a cup of coffee in front of Lilly and put a towel over her shoulders. Then she was out again.

Lilly wrapped the towel like a protective blanket around herself and looked at Seth.

"I was with my car yesterday. It was late. I walked into the parking garage and there were two cops. They had a guy cornered, made him turn around to face them and then they killed him." She talked faster than normally just wanting to get everything off her chest.

Roman and Dean shared a look in the background. Crooked cops, assholes.

"I have everything on video. But they saw me. They chased me. I hid in a dumpster the whole night, came her. I thought that the police isn't safe. I couldn't tell who is safe…" A silent tear ran down her cheek and Seth brushed it away with his thumb.

"That was smart. It was good you came to us. You said you have everything on video. Can we have your phone?"

Lilly nodded, sniffing now and put her phone in Seth hands. He gave it to Roman who walked up to the TV in the room and opened a wall panel, where electronics were stored. He connected the phone to the TV and searched for the video.

"Can you look at it again?" Seth asked concerned and Lilly nodded.

So Roman hit Play and the three army veterans stared at the footage. It wasn't HD quality but it was good enough. Once Roman was done with it, it would be more than good.

They could see that this was not probable cause but murder. And the cops would hunt Lilly down to protect themselves. The way they talked about a circle suggested more crooked cops involved.

Dean looked grim. When he hated one thing it were cops who sold off to crime. He couldn't stand them. They were supposed to be the good guys and now a woman was sitting here, afraid for her life, afraid to be murdered by the police. Fucking great justice system they had. Sometimes he was glad that he worked outside the system every once in a while.

"Could you identify them?" Roman asked. "Yes, but they also can identify me. They probably have my name by now."

Dean shoved his phone into Romans line of sight. An APB was out for one Lilliana McFadden, wanted for the murder of Henry James.

Dean shoved his phone back in his pocket. They were hiding a murder suspect now. Not that he gave a damn. Seth looked at him questioningly and Dean nodded. They understood each other without words.

"Okay, here is what we will do. I will talk to my friend at the District Attorney's Office, Seth you will go talk to the Chief of Police that he has a problem in his ranks. And you Dean will get Lilly to a safe house."

Lilly looked at Seth and then at Dean.

"No police! And I want to stay here, or with Seth." She added not caring if she hurt Dean's feelings for voicing her fear of going with him.

"Lilly. The chief is an old friend. He has the highest rank and I promise you he is clean. You have to go with Dean because Dean and the Chief, they don't get along. Trust me. He will keep you safe and we will figure this out. Be brave just a little longer." Seth squeezed her shoulder encouragingly.

"I will keep you safe Lilly. I will give my life for you. I promise. You can count on me, I know how to do my job." Dean said from across the room.

Lilly studied him. His job. That was all he would do. "I can't even pay you." "Don't worry about that right now. Go with Dean. We will meet you two in 5 at the parking garage. We will leave together." Seth explained. His partners understood. A coy. In case they tracked her here.

Dean walked slowly over to Lilly and extended his hand to her. She didn't take it but followed him out after a last glance at Seth and Roman.

Seth and Roman exchanged a look. "Will we release the video to the press?" Seth asked Roman and he shrugged. "Talk to the Chief first. Maybe he wants to handle the situation differently. If he gives us no other option we can put a little heat on the police. But for now, let's try to work together on this."

Seth nodded. "But he better changes that APB to Alive or I hit the send button right in front of his eyes."

In his office Dean shut the door and walked past a fidgeting Lilly.

"Pull off your blouse." he told her and she gasped.

He didn't react and pulled a safety vest out of one of the cabinets.

"Put it on, I have to secure it. You can't wear it over your clothes or they go for the head immediately. And that is something we don't want. So it is either blouse off or bullet in the head, your choice." He placed the vest on the couch in front of Lilly and grabbed a couple of things from his desk and put them in a backpack.

He opened one of the looked drawers of his desk still ignoring Lilly.

Lilly looked at the vest. She didn't want to die, but she didn't want to stand there in only her bra in front of the meanest, coldest, vicious and scariest man she had ever seen. But she didn't want to die even more so she stripped off her jacket and her blouse and pulled the vest over her head. It pissed her of a little bit but that was good. Her fear subsided and she felt calmer. She was in good hands here. They would protect her.

Before she could even ty to secure the vest herself Dean was there, closing the velcros with minimal moves that told her that he had done this a thousand times already. What he probably never did before was brush his knuckles over her rib cage in the process. But he didn't even hesitate from the touch so she just closed her eyes and let it happen.

"Blouse can be put back on. I am done here in a minute."

He opened a wall panel and pulled out two burner cell phones, and gave one to Lilly.

"Press one and you have my cell. Press two and you have Claire. You can trust her."

Lilly nodded and put the cell in the pocket of her trousers.

"Okay, let's go. I put your stuff in the backpack." He explained when she looked at her discarded bag.

Dean walked with her to one of the private elevators in the back and rode with her down to the parking garage. Down there waited three black Escalades. Seth and Roman were already in their vehicles.

"I will call you in 2. Have results boys. This can get ugly really fast." Dean told them and they nodded.

To Lilly he said: "You go in the back and stay low. You move when I tell you. You don't ask questions." Lilly wanted to protest but Dean raised a hand. "Your life could depend on it. You have to trust me to keep you safe. Let's go."

After securing his cargo safely in the back they drove off together, all taking different routes.

Dean drove the car east. He checked the mirrors every now and then and relaxed after a bit.

"We are not being followed. Relax." He could feel the tension radiating off of Lilly with every fiber of his body.

After his comment the blonde woman took in a deep breath and calmed.

"Where are we going?" she asked and Dean was pleased that her voice was almost back to normal. Only a little stressed and strained but no longer panicked and hoarse like at the office.

"You will see. Listen, we will change vehicles in a little bit. Get ready, we only have like ten seconds to switch."

As Dean said that a black Honda motorcycle cut in before him carrying two passengers. The motorcycle blocked him and slowed him down driving from left to right and vice versa.

"What is that?" Lilly asked and a hint of panic was back in her voice as they neared a tunnel.

They drove in at a slow speed thanks to the motorcycle until Dean took the chance to get off the street at an emergency turnout.

The motorcycle stopped right in front of them.

"That's our new ride. Hurry Lilly." he ordered and grabbed his backpack and hopped out of the running car.

He helped Lilly out and pulled her towards the motorcycle by the arm. The rider pressed the helmet in Dean's hands and his copilot, a beautiful brunette put her helmet on Lilly's head.

"How long do you want to grow that beard Bryan? I can't believe Brie is okay with this." Dean told the shorter man in front of him.

"I am." the woman called Brie said and smiled.

Dean put his helmet on and opened the visor. "Give them a run for their money. "he instructed the couple and they both grinned. "Brie couldn't say no to a free ride to Martha's Vineyard." With that they walked to the car and Dean got on the motorcycle.

"Hop on doll." he ordered Lilly and she climbed on awkwardly. "Hold on tight." he instructed and gunned the engine of the motorcycle to get out of the tunnel quickly. Before they drove out he slowed a little, matching the speed they drove in with, his friend Bryan behind him. Once out he sped again, flipping Bryan off. Their clothes matched enough so no robot camera would catch the change only trained eyes would. But it was enough for now.

Dean drove to one of the not so nice parts of town and entered the parking space of a motel which offered rooms by the hour.

"Wait here, don't take the helmet off." he ordered Lilly and went inside to pay. The guy at the reception didn't even look up from his TV, only raised a hand to take the cash and press a key in Dean's hand. When he walked out Lilly's eyes were on him he could feel it even though she still wore the helmet.

"Tell me he didn't..."she said and her voice was muted by the protective gear over her head. Dean grinned. It was the first time she saw him grin, all the other times his face was either guarded, pissed or angry. For a while she thought he was incapable of any other expression especially when she was around. Then he always looked grim.

Dean had his helmet off already and could talk more easily.

"Jerking off? Yes he was. Well doll, welcome to your new home. "

He opened the door to room 15 and let her in. He closed the door behind them, locked it and drew the curtains in front of the window.

Next he checked the closet and the little bathroom.

"While you are in there wash your hands!" Lilly called out to him and really, a moment later she heard water running and Dean returned drying his hands on his jeans.

Lilly stood in the middle of the room still wearing the helmet.

"You can take that off doll." he said and put his backpack on the bed going through it.

Lilly took the helmet off and put it on the desk. By now she was running only on adrenaline and nerves and she wanted nothing more than some food, a shower and a set of new clothes.

Dean must have noticed her fatigue because after putting a handgun under the mattress he turned towards Lilly.

"Listen doll. I'll go and grab us some food and some clothes for you. While I am gone you open that door for no one. Not a living soul. Not even Seth or Roman. When someone is at the door you go into the bathroom, lock the door, climb in the tub and call me. I am only 3 minutes away alright? And you use this if you have to."

He put a small automatic weapon in her hands. "Click the safety off and fire in the general direction."

He noticed how she weighted the gun in her hand. She was interested but not petrified to have a gun in her hand.

"I was on a shooting range with one of my exes a couple of times. I think I can manage. Listen when you get me clothes...I will need some underwear as well."

She blushed and Dean tried his hardest to keep his poker face on. "Sure. You're a 36...B?"

Lilly nodded surprised. "Yes and a size 10 and M. Look, I know we didn't have the best start but...thank you."

Nodding thoughtfully Dean grabbed his backpack. "It's fine. We fight injustice doll. That's what we do. What is happening to you is a big injustice in my book. It's cool."

Lilly fell down on the back and watched him turn the lock on the front door when she remembered something. "Why do you keep calling me doll?"

Turning around with a smirk he said "Because you look like a freaking Barbie doll." and with that he left to quickly run the errands.

Dean returned 20 minutes later and found Lilly asleep on the bed. She needed rest but she also needed food and to get out of those damp clothes more.

"Wake up." he said loudly without much pretense and she jolted upright terrified until her eyes focused on him.

"Here. You need to eat and take a shower, change your clothes. You can sleep for an hour after that." He pressed a sandwich into her hand and a plastic bag.

Lilly carried everything into the bathroom and locked the door.

Hungrily she ate the sandwich with just four bites and emptied the plastic bag on the toilet seat. There was a blue jeans, a black t-shirt, black bra and panties as well as black socks. She couldn't keep her mouth shut so she called: "Is there a reason everything is black?"

The door was not solid or soundproof so Dean could hear her perfectly.

"The jeans are blue. You better match my style that way."

Lilly shook her head and grabbed the bottle of all in one shower gel and shampoo and took a quick shower. She tried her hardest not to look into the shower too much because it wasn't exactly clean and she hoped she didn't catch something here.

After the shower she felt a little more alive and she put on her new clothes, surprisingly everything fit well, he surely had a good eye and a good brain that he remembered everything. Leaving her hair to dry by itself she walked back into the room. Dean sat near the front window, watching the parking space below through a little gap.

He threw her another sandwich and she didn't even complain about the way he threw it at her she just tore through like the first one and grabbed one of the water bottles on the desk to drink the half of it in just one gulp.

"Don't you eat anything?" Lilly asked now because the trash can was empty except for her sandwich wrapper.

"I ate on the way. I am good. Sleep a bit."

He didn't even turn around towards her. Lilly sighed and plopped down on the bed again suddenly wide awake. She grabbed the remote and switched on the little TV. The volume was way up and suddenly loud moans filled the room. She had switched on a porno. Embarrassed she zapped forward but there was porn everywhere. She turned the TV off again quickly.

"This is a motel paid by the hour. You don't get any other entertainment here. Its better anyways you don't have to see the news." Dean commented still not looking at her. He was either taking his job very seriously or he didn't want to look at her. Period.

"Why? What is happening now? Give it to me straight Dean, it is my life after all."

Only now he turned on his chair and eyed her. "They put out an APB for you. You are wanted for the murder of that guy. We are taking care of this as we speak but it might take some time. Crooked cops work in groups and they need to find everyone involved. The Chief might not be able to call off the man hunt right away in order to find all the traitors. But he already switched the APB it to wanted alive so they will not gun you down. Which I wouldn't let happen anyways, so don't worry." He stopped and looked at her. "Where is your vest?" he asked annoyed now and got up and walked into the bathroom picking it up off the floor.

"This might save your life you should not throw it away so carelessly. Take it with you all the time." Lilly noticed the anger in his voice and how much he tried to contain it.

"Sorry it was just so uncomfortable. I will wear it. I promise."

She put it beside her on the bed.

"What will be the next move?"

"We will find out in an hour. Listen if you can't sleep at least close your eyes, calm down, get some rest. This isn't over Lilly, this is just getting started and you need every ounce of strength you have."

Lilly nodded, he gave it to her straight just like she asked. "Thank you Dean." she mumbled and put her head on the pillow and shut her eyes. Dean returned to his post and 5 minutes later she was asleep.