Ana awoke feeling groggy and her mouth had that dry, cottony feeling. She looked around for Mara, but her nurse was nowhere to be seen. Slowly she stood, then smiled. No dizziness. She walked to the en suite, and after taking care of her personal needs, stared at her reflection. Jeez, she looked horrible. After gently brushing her hair, she put on her robe and decided to find Mara and say hello to Gail and catch up on what was happening.
She knew she had missed a lot. She padded softly down the hallway, near the staff quarters. She was about to turn towards the staff entrance to the kitchen when she heard sobbing. It was Gail. Gail sobbing and being comforted by Mara.
Ana listened carefully. If she understood them correctly, Christian, Taylor Dr. Grace and the child she had seen had been taken by Schneiderman and were being held at sea. The odds of any of them being seen alive again were not good. Ana backed away slowly and return to Christian's bedroom. It was just before 7:30 a.m. when dressed in yoga pants, a tee shirt and sneakers, she made her way to the Security Office. To her shock, there was a US soldier standing guard outside the door, blocking her way and refusing her entry. If she had been angry before, she was now furious.
She screamed Sawyers name as loud as she could and immediately the door opened revealing a panicky looking Sawyer. Ana looked at Sawyer with disgust, and made her way into the office. There was a General there. She knew from the four stars on his uniform. What the heck was going on? She looked at the men, one by one, and no one except the man next to the general could even look her in the eye.
"Close the door, Sawyer." Carrick Grey requested.
Ana wanted nothing more than to slap the shit out of Sawyer but first she needed to get as much info as she could. Welch, a General, Mr Unknown, Carrick Grey, Another stranger but she had seen him around the house recently and Sawyer.
"I want to know what is going on, everything, now!" She demanded in a firm voice.
"You are aware that Christian Grey, his mother, his personal security Taylor and the child known as Shelley have been taken hostage by Schneiderman. Taylor just spoke to Carrick here, and in exchange for some off shore account numbers sand passwords, Schneiderman was willing to return Grace Grey. It is our confidential understanding that she is in need of medical attention.
Ana paled. Grace may have been difficult at times but she loved her family with every bit of her heart and they loved her. Christian would be devastated if something happened to her.
Just then Carrick's cell phone rang. Ana could immediately feel the tension in the room rise. The took was totally silent as the older man answered his phone with a blustery," Carrick Grey speaking,"
"I've changed my mind. Your wife isn't worth all this trouble. I think I will just have her dumped overboard."
"No! Please! You can't do that! Please, I'll do anything!" A desperate Carrick pleaded into the phone, completely oblivious to everyone else in the room.
"Anything? Hmm, there is one thing that might interest me. An exchange. Anastasia Steele for Grace Grey. By chopper, 60 minutes, I will text you the coordinates when I can confirm your bird is in the air. Deal, Grey?"
Ana looked at Grey and nodded yes. The men were all frantically signaling no. Carrick closed his eyes and said slowly, "Yes. We have a deal."
Ari looked at Levi and said simply,"Get Mara."
Welch was arranging for a helicopter to come to Escala.
Ana was about to leave when Mara arrived. They hugged and cried together for a moment. Mara looked at her brother Ari and knew he was about to try sand drag her into this.
"Ladies, please sit. Everyone else, please leave the room."
When the room had emptied, the door was once again shut. "Mara. You should be aware Ms Steele has just agreed to exchange places with Dr Grace, Christian Grey's mother who was kidnapped by Schneiderman's people. "
"Ari! You can not allow her to do this! Its suicide."
"In just a few hours, Schneiderman will be auctioning off nuclear parts, fuel, and missiles to insane dictators with more money than brains. If Ana agrees to the exchange and it slows things down for even a moment, I cannot say no. I need time." Ari was pacing now, pulling at his hair in a way that reminded Ana so much of Christian.
"But the child is there, right? There shouldn't be any problem."
"It appears she has a moral conflict. She had no qualms about sacrificing soldiers of Israel, but balks at sacrificing these civilians."
"You, of course, have no such qualms. The good of the many must always triumph, right?" Mara asked, angrily, her voice tinged with bitterness.
"Mara, please! I know you think I could have prevented your families deaths, but honestly, I could not. Yes, I knew your husband had information on Schneiderman and yes, both he and I were aware he had made a potentially dangerous enemy but there was no reason to think Schneiderman was aware of Uri's knowledge. Do you really believe Uri would take the children out if he felt he was in such peril? He loved them and would never knowingly jeopardize their lives. You have every right to be angry that your family was torn from you. You have every right to want revenge. However, I am sick and tired of your confusing me for the enemy. I did not betray you. I would never betray you. You are my blood, my baby sister. I would do anything to protect you and yours. Mara, please, when are you going to believe me?"
Mara stood and went into his arms and sobbed against his chest. " I know, Ari, I know. Deep in my heart, I have always known. Its just you were there and so easy to blame while who the hell even knew where Schneiderman was. I want to go with Ana, Ari. I have
to go. You have to help me. I will help you and you will help me, yes?"
Ari hugged her tight and with tears in his eyes, whispered, "Of course. Whatever you need. Come, we must hurry."
An hour later, Schneiderman watched the helicopter land on his ship. Ana was helped off by another woman, her nurse. Schneiderman had allowed her to come because he knew the crew would appreciate her company, even if she didn't. He watched the limp form of Grace Grey be handed into the chopper and a moment later watched it riser back of into the sky. He smiled victoriously.