Chapter 24

"You are at once both the quiet and confusion of my heart." ~ Franz Kafka

One minute everything was fine.
The next chaos had erupted….

Ana wouldn't be able to say how it happened if she was asked. All she knew was that Christian had been above her, kissing her, and then he had leaned back and smile down at her, a wicked gleam in his grey eyes.
He had started to tickle her- to make her giggle she was sure.
Then Phillips was pulling him back- touching him in the no touch zone, causing Christian to swing out.
She had started screaming then.
For Christian to stop.
For Taylor to help.
For Phillips and Monroe to let a swinging Christian go and it only got worse…

As they stepped off the elevator, the Grey party heard Ana's screams and the men took off leaving the women to hurry after them.

The hospital room was in chaos, to say the least.
The police officers were trying to handcuff Christian as Taylor and Ana tried to calm him and get the police to let him go.

"What the hell is going on in here!" Carrick bellowed from the doorway as he stopped abruptly, while Sawyer and Flynn moved further into the room.

"Guy swung at me," Philips called over his shoulder. "Cool it Grey, I don't want to have to Taser you," he said as he put more pressure on his back.

"Keep touching him there and you're not going to have a choice," Flynn observed. "He has a fear of touch based on childhood trauma. You're currently touching one of his no touch zones."

"You his shrink or something?" Monroe wondered.

"Yep."

"Great, so how do we calm him down?"

"He's pretty far out of his head, Doc," Taylor said as he watched from near Ana's side.

"A word," Flynn said quickly as he looked over to a nearly hysterical Ana. "Ana look at me," he commanded but she kept her eyes on Christian, begging him to stop fighting. "He needs the word Ana, not stop," he commented, hoping he would get through to her.

Wide eyed, Ana looked at Flynn and then to Christian and called out the word "red," causing Christian to tense then look at her.

As the realization of what he had done and where he was washed over him, Christian went limp in the detective's hold and his eyes were down casted. "Let him go," Flynn told the officer. "He's not going to do anything to hurt anyone, right Christian?"

"I…" Christian swallowed convulsively as he looked sideways at Flynn. "What happened? What are you… Dad? Mom?" he asked growing more embarrassed as he caught sight of his parents in the doorway.

"The detective touched you on your back and you reacted." Flynn asked as he approached his friend and patient.

"I haven't…." Christian started in a panic.

"You more than likely weren't expecting it- didn't see him coming- and the stress of everything plus your probable lack of sleep are all factors in your reaction," Flynn explained as Monroe and Phillips stepped back cautiously. "You went into flight or fright…"

Christian closed his eyes and swallowed then turned slightly to look at Ana, who had tears streaming down her cheeks: "Oh, God baby, I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No… I didn't know how to get you to stop… I was scared for you, Christian. I didn't know how bad it could get…" she admitted as she reached out her arms for him. When he went to move into them, Phillips went to say something, but was stopped by a look from Flynn.

Christian carefully moved into Ana's arms and rested his head for a few moments at her chest, breathing deeply and trying to calm down. Ana started to do her own deep breathing to try to get her own emotions under control, and in doing so, found that Christian's breathing met hers. Kissing his head, she muttered calming accolades as Carrick, Grace, and Nula moved into the room. The Greys watched with concern and surprise at her calming effect, as Nula stood next to the door uncomfortably.

"I hate to break this up, but we did come here for a reason," Monroe mentioned after a few more moments of awkward silence.

Pulling away slowly from Ana's embrace, Christian stiffened slightly: "what do you want?"

"We have to ask you some questions," Phillips responded.

"Ana or Christian?" Carrick asked.

"Does it matter?"

"Only as to who will be in the room," Carrick responded evenly. "Also how long before you can talk to them.
I want Christian checked by Dr. Flynn before he answers any questions."

Monroe and Phillips shared a look and shrugged: "it's not a formal interview, but we do have questions for them both."

"Dad I'll answer them," Christian said stiffly.

"Christian, you aren't in a state to answer in a way that would fulfill you're and Ana's best interests…" Carrick protested.

"I'm fine!" Christian snapped. "I just overreacted to being touched on my back. Don't even know…" he exhaled. "If it gets them off my case- fugitively and literally, I'll be happy."

"Christian, please listen to your father," Grace pleaded.

"Mom, I know what I'm doing," Christian said as he looked over and took Ana's hand in his. "Are you up for this?"

Ana swallowed: "as long as I'm not alone…"

Christian nodded: "Sawyer take my mother and Nula to whatever hotel you've made arrangements for. Taylor will stay here for the time being…"

"No offense, sir, but he hasn't slept."

"Ana's CPO will be arriving to relieve me in a little while," Taylor told him.

"Which one?" Christian asked.

"Adam just texted that one was on their way," he told him.

"Copy that," Sawyer said.

"You don't actually think I'm going to just leave…" Grace protested.

"Mom…"

"No. I will be in the waiting room since I know that I can't be in here while you are being questioned," she told them. "In fact while you're all in here I'll just familiarize myself with Ana's case so I can make recommendations. I'll be in the waiting room," she finished before she turned on her heel and headed out.

"Sawyer…" Christian got out through gritted teeth.

Shaking his head, Sawyer moved to the door as he looked over to Nula: "come on, Ms. Donnelly, looks like we'll be here for a while," he said as he let her precede him out of the door.

"I'll be staying, and if at any time I think that things are detrimental to Mr. Grey's or Ms. Steele's state of mind I will stop the questioning," Flynn told the two detectives as Taylor walked out and retook his sentry position at the door.

"Fine, but Mr. Grey, your father…" Monroe started, only to be interrupted by the man in question: "is legal counsel to both my son and Ana. Now, now about we get started?" Carrick pallied as he took a seat on the side of the bed near the wall by Flynn and Christian took a seat on the edge of the beds near the detectives.

"Ok, then… let's…" Monroe said as Christian clasped Ana's hand in his and then shared reassuring, albeit, shaky, smiles…