*I'm back! It's been crazy, but I've returned to writing. I was having a severe case of writer's block and thought every single thing I'd written was rubbish. I nearly started over on all my stories at least twice.
I own nothing except the character of Allyson -Kaiti**
Allyson got out of her chair and went into the kitchen. She started feeling like the entire room was closing in on her. Matt, sensing something was amiss, followed behind her.
Lupo pulled out his cell and made a call. He knew that he and Matt would need all the help they could get to protect her. He decided to call someone he knew would do what ever needed to be done to protect Allyson.
He watched Matt's back as he followed Allyson. When the other party picked up the phone, he slipped into the dining room to have the conversation.
Allyson slumped against the counter, her breath coming in short gasps. Matt immediately wrapped her in his arms.
"Lyssa, you're OK. I'm here. Breathe, luv," Matt said.
Allyson's breath became calmer and Matt felt her rigid posture relax.
"Why me? What did I do," she asked, tears running down her face. Her sobs and soft voice made her questions barely audible, but Matt knew what she was asking.
He held her to his chest and placed a soft kiss on her hair.
He wanted to tell her why. He wanted to tell her not to worry. He wanted to tell her that she would be fine. He wanted to tell her it was all a dream. But he couldn't. He did the best thing he could do under the circumstances. He pushed her chin up so she was looking into his eyes. Her eyes shined with unshed tears and Matt's heart broke for her.
He kissed her forehead.
"Nothing. Do not blame yourself for what has 'appened. This is not your fault. It's this sick bastard that's to blame," Matt said.
She slumped against him, burying her face in his chest.
Matt felt her hot tears fall on his shirt. He knew that she hadn't cried and was afraid that she would break if she didn't let it out soon. As much as he hated to see it, he was relieved she was letting it out and was grateful he was there to help her.
She pulled away slightly, her head tilting up to meet his eyes.
Matt's blue eyes met her green ones. Again, the love he felt for her showing in his eyes. Her tears fell silently down her cheek and Matt used his thumbs to wipe them and their path. She sniffled and closed her eyes, pressing her cheek into his hand.
"How could someone close to me, be doing this and why? How will I know who to trust," she asked him.
Matt wiped the tears falling down her left cheek with his thumb. He put his arms back around her and she felt Matt's grip tighten around her and she just relaxed against him. "You can trust me," he whispered. She sniffled. She knew she could trust Matt. She knew in the depths of her soul that she could trust him with everything.
Matt looked into her eyes. His blue eyes searched hers as he said, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Neither is Cyrus or Kevin. We're going to find this bastard and we're going to make him pay for what he did to you and all those other women," Matt said.
Allyson gave a slight nod. Matt wrapped her in his arms again. Cyrus stood in the doorway.
"You OK," he asked, pressing his forehead to her.
"Yeah," she said, sniffling. She wiped her face and turned to face them.
Cyrus came into the kitchen, hating to break the moment between Matt and Allyson. She looked between the two men. She took a deep breath and turned around to face Cyrus. "So, what's the plan," she asked.
"Well, you're going to need protection," he said.
"I'm staying with her," Matt said.
Cyrus held up his hand. "I know, but we have to make sure preparations are in place for her when she's at her office. You're going to be helping us figure out who's behind this. So, I've called a friend to keep an eye on Ally when you, Kevin and I need to follow a lead. I'd rather you stay here. It'd be safer and easier," Cyrus said.
Allyson sniffed and shook her head. She wiped her cheeks with her hands.
"Get security at the office to close the building. Have a NYPD officer at the entrance. Get them to call anyone that needs to enter the building to the appropriate person. Have someone sitting outside my office. I'm not going to have some stranger following me," Allyson said.
"Lyssa..." Matt started.
"NO," Allyson's short reply caused both men to jump. She looked at both of them. "If this person knows me, then they know about the house and my job. I have to keep up the presence of a normal life. I can't let them take me away from the job I love. And before you say it, I can't just run off to London, Matt. It's obvious I'm not safe there either," Allyson said.
Matt looked at her. He couldn't believe that she'd know what he was thinking. The pleading in her eyes proved he wasn't going to win that battle.
Cyrus looked at her, too. He was beginning to think they'd have to lock her in jail to keep her safe.
Matt was seriously thinking of taking her back to London and locking her in the Tower of London until this was over, no matter what she thought. He had just admitted to her that he loved her and there wasn't any way he was going to let something happen to her.
"We're going to be with you. I'll see if we can move our investigation out of the station. Maybe McCoy will let us work out of your conference room," Cyrus said.
"What about court? I have two cases tomorrow," Allyson asked.
"I'll go with you," Matt said.
"I'll be there, too. I'll be able to know who is or isn't supposed to be there. Our additional help will be around, too. When are your cases," Cyrus said.
"The morning. It shouldn't take too long," Allyson said.
Cyrus nodded. "I'll go ahead and make some calls. I'll call you later about how the morning will proceed. Kevin will probably drive you in the morning, so I can make sure the courtroom is clear," Cyrus said.
Allyson merely nodded.
"I'll call you later, Matt," Cyrus said before heading out of the house. Matt followed behind him.
"I've got a friend coming by later this evening. You two can talk about how you want to work it at the office. I'm sure he can stay with her while we try to sort this out," Cyrus said.
Matt shook his hand. "Thank you. I guess I don't have to tell you what Ally means to me," he said.
Cyrus shook his head. "She's a special one all right. I'll call you later," Cyrus said, opening the door and exiting the brownstone. Matt punched in the security code and locked the door.
He returned to the kitchen and Allyson stood next to the sink, right where he'd left her.
She stared at the wall, not focusing on anything.
Matt watched her. He knew the break down she'd experienced earlier was very difficult for her, but the dam of emotions was starting to surface. He moved closer to her just as her facade collapsed. Matt rushed to her side and grabbed her as her legs gave out. He put her in his arms and carried her to the couch.
He sat her down, practically in his lap. His shirt was getting wet from her crying, but Matt felt nothing. He wrapped his arms around her. He felt her shaking as she cried and his heart broke for her, once again. Not only was Allyson dealing with the trauma of her attack, but knowing the person had possibly been close to her and her grandmother was too much. He kissed the top of her head and buried his face in her hair. His tears melding with hers because of the pain he felt for her. He loved this woman and wanted nothing more than to heal her and have a future.
Allyson didn't know how long she had silently cried in Matt's arms. He'd never once loosened his grip on her, nor moved positions. Allyson pushed up and felt his grip loosen.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice hoarse from crying.
"For what," he asked, his voice husky, his accent sharper.
"I cried all over you and your shoulder is probably aching," she said, moving to sit next to him on the couch.
Matt kept a hold on her hands. "Lyssa, I'm fine. Do you need anything," he asked.
Allyson looked at the clock. It was six o'clock. "I'm going to order a pizza," she said, reaching for the phone on the table.
Before Matt could say anything, Allyson had ordered two large pizzas. One pepperoni and one sausage. He smiled as he heard the order. He flashed back to the first time they'd shared take away pizza.
Matt and Allyson had been working on a case in the dining room of her, or, he supposed, their flat. Matt had been back on the job for a few weeks and they were working on a case Allyson was researching. Matt was looking over the police reports and helping Allyson.
When the pizza had arrived at the flat, Matt paid the man and set it on the table next to the plates Allyson had gotten out for them.
"You like pepperoni," Matt said.
"Yeah. Don't you," she asked.
"I do, but I took you as more the veggie type," Matt said.
Allyson laughed. "Veggies? Really? Vegetables don't belong on a pizza. If I want that, I'd eat a salad. Besides, the tomato sauce counts as a veggie. Or is that a fruit," she said, cocking her head and raising her eyebrow as she thought about it.
Matt laughed. He thought she was so cute when she did that. He saw the look at the office when she was researching and when she was trying to figure something out on the computer. It was another thing he loved about her and found impossible to ignore.
"...something to drink," Allyson asked. "Matt?"
Matt pulled out of the memory and looked at Allyson. "I'm sorry, luv, what," he asked.
"Drink," she said.
"I'll get it. Why don't you change. I know you want to get comfortable," he said.
She started to say something, but closed her mouth. Matt had been her roommate for a while and knew her habits. As she walked past him to go to her room, he grabbed her hand. She turned around and wrapped her arms around him. He gave her a quick peck before she went upstairs and he headed to the kitchen.
He pulled two drinks from the fridge and was headed back to the couch when his mobile rang.
"Devlin," he said.
"Matt, I wanted to tell you, the guard will be by to go over the security procedures," Cyrus said.
"Great. I hope she realizes she needs this," Matt said.
"She'll hate it, I'm sure, but she knows this guy. He'll come by tonight and be there to ride with you to the court house in the morning," Lupo said.
"This guy experienced," Matt asked.
"He's former NYPD. One of the best. Ally will be in good hands," Lupo said.
"Thanks, Cyrus. I'll talk to Ally about it," Matt said.
They ended the call just as Ally came downstairs wearing one of his football shirts and yoga pants.
"So that's where my shirt ended up," he said, a smiling tugging at his lips.
"How do I look," she asked.
"Beautiful," he said.
Allyson blushed. Even though he admitted his feelings, Allyson still felt embarrassed by his attention. She smiled.
"So what will you talk to me about," she asked.
"Cyrus got some additional security for you," Matt said.
Allyson looked at him. "I don't want it," she said.
"Lyssa, please. For your protection," Matt said. He wrapped his arms around her and said, "I can't lose you."
Before Allyson could say anything, the doorbell rang and Matt went to answer it. Allyson went to the kitchen.
The doorbell rang and Matt quickly checked the peep hole. He checked the camera and saw a man standing at the door. "Who is it," he called through the intercom.
"Cyrus Lupo sent me. I'm supposed to be Ally's bodyguard," the man said.
Matt opened the door and Matt saw his identification and the man introduced himself as former NYPD. "Lupes said Ally needed help. I'm here," he said.
Before Matt could reply, Allyson called down the stairs.
"Who's at the door," she called downstairs.
"Your bodyguard," Matt said.
"I told you and Cyrus I didn't need a bodyguard," Allyson said, coming into the living room.
"Well, that's too bad because you got one. I'm not leaving until you're safe," the bodyguard said.
Allyson stopped short. She couldn't believe it.
"Ed," she said.