Christian's POV
We had a most magnificent morning that left Ana all but purring and me with a grin on my face that nothing, not even Ana staggering around on those goddamned crutches has been able to remove. To stop me simply hovering, she gave me her prized guitar and said "Sing please. It'll take your mind off what I am doing and I've always wanted a soundtrack to my life."
Clever girl, it did take my mind off potential disasters while I serenaded her. What she was wearing had me singing, "You look good in my shirt" from her favourite, Keith Urban and had her giggling and earned me some special crutch manoeuvres that didn't help my heart at all and ensured that she was wearing shorts under my shirt when we went down for lunch.
We've now made it to Bellevue for Sunday Family Dinner and Ana stubbornly refuses to let me help her and so she is making her way slowly over the gravel to the front door, Taylor is on one side and I am on the other. She did warn us to watch out for swinging crutches and given the damage I am still sporting, we are heeding her warning but are both watching her carefully.
Sunday family dinner is usually something I endure, I eat my dinner, make sure I speak to my mother, speak to my father, try not to argue with my brother and then head home to my sub as fast as I can but now I have a reason to be here, allowing Ana to catch up with Kate, relax with my family, catching up with Mia, I have to admit I have missed her since she has been away but the one thing that is worrying me is Macy. How will he react to me? How will I react to him? Did we catch him soon enough that Elena didn't hurt him too badly? Mentally that is, the physical effects would have all healed by now. How damaged was he before she sunk her claws into him?
Mom called to say that he is having nightmares but at the moment they don't seem to be as bad as the night terrors I still have and it doesn't appear that he is scarred physically either, so hopefully he won't be as difficult as I was at this age however he has been in and out of foster homes for most of his life and who knows what that has done to his ability to trust. So it's with a degree of trepidation that we reach the house.
There's a welcoming committee, Mom at the door to clasp Ana in a hug that almost earns her a throat clearing from me but she remembers and apologises that she had forgotten the ribs given how well Ana was handling the crutches. "Much better than the other day, I see. How are you feeling Christian?"
"Really Mom, you had to bring that up?" I say cringing, Ana turns a shade of pink and Elliot shouts with laughter, obviously my injury has been relayed.
"She brought it up, can you?" chortles Elliot earning himself a clip behind the ear from Kate, hmm, maybe I might like Kate in time.
Dad gingerly gives Ana a hug and then Elliot the idiot, lifts her clear off the floor, "Elliot put her down, you're not supporting her pelvis and the cast is too heavy…" I don't get to say anymore as he carefully puts her down apologetically.
That's it, I've just about had it with my family but then Kate hugs her gently and whispers something in Ana's ear and Ana smiles and kisses her on the cheek and I know she's ok and I'm glad that Kate is there for her. Mia is missing which I find strange but it slips out of my mind as I watch anxiously as Ana negotiates the highly polished wooden floors.
We finally make it to the family room and as we settle ourselves, Mia comes tearing through the doors screeching a hello to me and Ana but thankfully she just pecks Ana on the cheek and then turns to the door and calls out "Come on Macy, no-one bites," and I cringe at her choice of words but am pleased to see the shy looking teenager appear in the doorway and wave a hello.
Mia takes over and says "We've just come back from a run, sorry it took a little longer than expected, we'll be back down in a bit," and they rush up the stairs with me staring after them.
"Is that wise?" I ask a little concerned that something is going on but Mom smiles and says something that makes me shake my head at how confusing our lives have become.
"Macy was fostered by the Scotts last year and their daughters Sharon and Mary are some of Mia's nicest friends so Sharon who is the younger sister came over today and the three of them have been out for a run and a wander around. She's a very perceptive 16 year old and has been drawing Macy out of his shell like no-one else has been able to do and has enlisted Mia as her ears on the ground as it were. Sharon has helped with the Coping Together fundraiser in the past and will be here again to help this year; she has a special reason for wanting to do so as she has always been concerned for Macy and speaking of which, will you and Ana be coming to the night?"
I nod to indicate that we will be there and I can't wait to see Ana in a ball gown, she should be in the short walking cast by then and I will legitimately be able to have my arms around her, holding her up as I introduce her as my girlfriend to the world. For once, I can't wait for the function that unfortunately brings up too many bad memories for me.
Mia and Macy walk back in and all the introductions are done properly and without being pointed into a particular spot, it interests me that he naturally gravitates to Ana's side and sits down next to her as she gives him a gentle smile. Ana is simply a magnet for damaged people and I wonder what it is about her and whether that will cause problems in the future.
As we settle down for dinner, the phone rings and Mom who is standing walks off to answer it and comes back with a concerned expression asking Dad to take the call in the office and she sits down with a worried look on her face saying it was a business call, somehow I know it isn't but I decide to concentrate on filling Ana's plate and doing similar for Macy who looks like he could do with a huge feed.
I listen as Ana asks Macy what his dreams are for the future, what he'd like to do and sadly he says quietly that he's never looked forward to the future because he didn't think he'd survive his teenage years, the poor boy is 15. Ana's eyes pool with tears and she rests her hand near his arm as if she is gauging his reaction to touch and asks what he likes doing, does he like running or sport, does he like music and at the mention of music, his eyes light up and he says he'd like to play drums and Ana looks towards me with a question on her lips and I don't hesitate.
"I think we can sound proof one of the rooms here so that you can practice and then we'll have quite a little band, I play piano, Elliot plays guitar and Mia the cello so between us we can help you with the drums, would you like that?" While Macy nods shyly but eagerly, it's Ana's eyes that I am drowning in, I can see her gratitude in them and then she turns back to Macy as I squeeze her hand.
"How are you doing at school?" and I watch as Macy looks like he is about to shut down but it's obvious that Ana sees that and says, "I used to help a group of school children near WSU who were struggling with school, can I help you? We used to start right back to the basics because if you miss those, then everything else is too hard. I'd be happy to help you like I helped those other boys, and some were much older than you, would you like that?" Ana says smiling gently at him and again the shy nod.
Mom is looking like she is about to burst into grateful tears so we turn back to Elliot and Kate and talk about their coming vacation to Barbados, it seems that Elliot has it bad as he has cancelled his plans for the next two weeks and invited himself along. Given how all over each other they are, I wonder if this is a short fling but it doesn't seem like his normal MO, so perhaps this will last, I hope so, if it means that Ana is happy otherwise the fact that we are together could be difficult if her best friend is no longer attached to my brother. I'd better make sure he doesn't do anything stupid.
Dad comes out of the shadows in the doorway and indicates for me to go with him without coming into the room, I press a soft kiss into Ana's ear and whisper that I am going to speak to Dad and she looks concerned, squeezes my hand and then turns back to Macy who is looking a lot less scared of everyone now.
"Son, I'm sorry to be the bearer of this news but it appears that Stephen Morton was released this morning from custody as Cecilia has withdrawn her statement," and my head starts to thump and just as I stare at my Dad my phone rings and I look down to see it is Taylor.
"Sir, there's been an incident at the facility involving Cecilia."
"What the fuck has happened Taylor? Spit it out."
"There was a fire there an hour ago in the wing where Cecilia was being held, in the confusion, it hasn't been possible yet to find out if all the individuals escaped the fire and if so, the whereabouts of Cecilia. Welch has some additional men heading down there now."
"Taylor, you might want to let Welch know that Stephen Morton was released this morning." I say through clenched teeth, there is no way that these two occurrences are not related.
"What about Elena Dad, is she still in custody or did she get out too?" I ask, I can feel Elena's fingertips on this, how very convenient that Cecilia recant her statement and then her residence burns down, perhaps with her in it soon after her father is released from custody. Dad's eyes go wide as I explain the situation to both Welch and John Flynn.
"Why weren't we told that he had been released this morning? Why wasn't Alex Lia informed or was he and he didn't tell me?" Someone is going to pay for this stuff up and I hope it wasn't my team.
"Calm down Christian, we'll sort it out although the news about the fire does add an element to it."
"Sorry Dad, we need to go home, I need to make sure that Ana is safe because if something has happened to Cecilia, the only other person that has anything on Morton is Ana and I am not risking her in any way. Elena also has a motive to hurt Ana and quite frankly her stupid mother would somehow get in on some action to harm Ana so I want to make sure I have her secure. I will send extra security here too, you have Macy and he is the only other person that has any information on Elena so you are all at risk as well. Do you want to come and stay at Escala so that security only needs to be in one place?"
"Thank you son, but I think you're overstating the risk and Macy needs to go to school and that is closer to here, so no, we'll stay here but sure, get Ana home, she probably needs her rest anyway." Dad says, completely underplaying the severity of the situation and I just don't want to waste the time arguing and walk back into the dining room. I can sense Ana's concern as I walk to her side, apologising to Mom "Sorry Mom, a situation has come up that needs us to leave now." I know that Dad will explain to her and I really don't want to talk about it in front of everyone else.
Despite my desperate need to get Ana home safely, Kate and Elliot take their time saying their goodbyes and Ana finally manages one last hug from Kate and agrees that she'll look after herself, she then turns to Macy and he smiles perhaps the most genuine smile of the night when Ana blows him a kiss and blows one back and shakes my hand, at least he doesn't seem to have an issue with touch. Hopefully he's not as damaged as I was at that age and if Ana is helping him out, I can almost guarantee that he'll improve and I'll just have to figure out how to not be jealous about the attention.
Jealousy is the least of my concerns at the moment, my anger that Morton was firstly allowed to leave and then secondly without us being notified is all encompassing and as we start moving, Ana slowly on the crutches, I look at her and before I can say anything she says sweetly, "Christian, do you mind, my arms are a little sore, could you carry me please?"
"Thank you baby," is all I say, I know she knows I need to leave and that she would have slowed me down, her perceptiveness floors me and I tighten my grip, nothing can happen to Ana, I will not let anything happen to her and I know she'll be on the target list for these evil people who have just become that much more evil.
Mom and Dad accompany us to the door, they both kiss Ana and Dad says "Don't worry son, it'll all work out," and I nearly swear at him, sure, everything has worked out peachy so far, I love his optimism.
It's only once we are underway that Ana says "What's happened?"
"Don't worry; it's nothing for you to worry about." I say, I don't want her worrying.
"Is it something to do with work or does it relate to something to do with my sideshow?" and I don't miss the hard edge to her voice.
"It's not work, but really I don't want you worrying about it. You need to get home and rest, you've done too much today"
"Oh no, that's going to work! Christian, seriously, what has happened? I am fine and I have to prepare for the interviews tomorrow anyway when we get back."
"Oh hell no! You are not going to those interviews tomorrow." I explode as the worry of the last hour hits me.
"On the contrary, there is apparently nothing for me to worry about, nothing for me to worry my tiny mind over, so I think you can go and save the universe and I will do what I intended to do. I shall attend my interviews. Thank you." She finishes quietly and primly and turns her head towards the window.
"Ana.." but she won't look at me. "Ana, I just need to keep you safe." Still she won't look at me and I really don't want to tell her because I want her to relax and get better but from the tightness of her shoulders, I know she isn't relaxed at the moment and I will only end up with an upset and angry Ana anyway.
"Ana, honey, there is a chance that you are going to be targeted tomorrow and the only way I can keep you safe is to keep you at home." That is all I want to say but when those big blue eyes turn to me blazing, I know I'm going to have to tell her everything.
"Exactly who is targeting me?" I don't know if she is frightened but if she was to throw this anger at the perpetrators, they should stop in their tracks. I want to hold her but she is looking like she will lash out if I attempt to touch her, let alone hold her.
I sigh, "I am not used to having to tell people why I make decisions and I just wanted to keep you safe so that you'd relax and heal" and I see a slight softening in her face but as she twists her lips and looks like she is considering saying something, I continue quietly, "Stephen Morton was released from custody today because Cecilia recanted her statement…" and I watch as Ana's eyes rim with tears, the effect is instantaneous with her gasp "and then the facility where Cecilia was being held burnt down and we don't yet know whether she survived or not."
There, right there, is the reason I didn't want to tell Ana, she turns as white as a sheet and I am across the seat to her as she reaches out, Taylor pulls over to the side of the road, having listened to the conversation and watching through the mirror, he realises that an anxiety attack could be imminent, I release her seatbelt and pull her close to me to try and ground her, "Breathe, baby, please breathe."
"Oh no, poor Cecilia." She sobs, well, that wasn't what I expected but I can see how Ana would think that. "She had a shitty life and then all this and he didn't care for her, just himself if he's prepared to kill her."
I am not that surprised at her compassion for Cecilia but I have to be rational, "Ana, honey, we don't know if she survived or not, she might well be working with him. We have to figure out when and why she recanted her statement, there is a chance that she started the fire and has escaped. There is so much we don't know and the only thing I can think is that you are the only person who can testify against both of them and that's why I have to keep you safe."
"Yes, you can keep me safe, but I don't intend to let any bully win, you will need to be at GEH tomorrow to deal with all of this so I will be alone in the apartment and I will feel more vulnerable there, so I think the better option is that I continue as planned and then I can come to GEH and curl up in the corner of your office or the security office with a book and that way you'll know I am safe."
I desperately want to forbid her but I already know that isn't going to work and she continues "If you drop me off with Sawyer and he stays with me and then gets me to the next interview, they are practically one after the other, I will be safe, no-one will know where I am, they are more likely to assume that I am with you at the apartment, in fact, I wonder if it would be safer to stay at Kate's apartment tonight because no-one knows about that at all."
I love that she called it Kate's apartment, "Actually, that's not a bad idea." I want to see what the apartment is like, I've already beefed up the security on it anyway so that if Ana is ever there visiting Kate, she'll be safe but since neither of us has been there, it might as well be where we stay tonight, I know that Kate is staying with Elliot so that they can all leave early tomorrow and that Ana has the key as Ethan, Kate's brother will be back earlier and will be staying there.
"Taylor, have Welch send some extra staff to Kate's apartment, you'll drop us off and continue to Escala to stay with Gail and monitor the situation from there and send Sawyer back to us with the clothes Ana wants for the interviews tomorrow." With that and now that Ana is calm again, Taylor takes off for Kate's apartment and I hold her hand trying to reassure her through touch that everything will be ok when in fact, I feel once again, completely out of control.
Ana suddenly gasps with pure fear on her face, "What about Elena? Is she still in custody? What about my mom, is she safe?"
"This is why I didn't want to tell you anything yet, I don't know, I am waiting to hear from my legal team or from Dad."
"I just thought you were keeping things from me, sorry." Ana says apologetically and now I feel bad but I really did want all the information before allowing Ana to worry, although I have to admit to myself, if the truth be told, I wouldn't have told her anything, it's my worry, I will worry about it.
"You were the one that said I could worry about keeping you safe while you worried about being happy, remember?" I have the feeling that I will be throwing that back at her often and by the twist in her lips and the almost eye roll, she does too and it makes me chuckle and finally there is a tiny smile on her face.
"You know, I love that sound, you should laugh more often, then you don't seem such a fuddy-duddy." Ana says with a smirk that softens the blow.
"Fuddy-duddy? Excuse me?" I say as I keep her eyes trained on my face but move my hand to her side and I am rewarded by the giggle that erupts when I tickle her gently. "Just you wait until you can move around and then there'll be no fuddy-duddy descriptors thank you very much."
I truly can't wait, the things that I can show Ana will make her body and mind sing but I need to keep her safe and there it is, my heart clenches at the thought that I may not be able to do so, Morton is proving to be sneakier than I expected and I have no doubt that Elena is behind it all.