Christian's POV

I wish Ana had a sense of self-preservation but her stubborn streak overrides it completely and I understand her saying that by doing everything herself, she is preserving herself, making sure that she can stand on her own two feet, ha, literally at this moment but it has taken a toll and tonight she could barely keep her eyes open while we had a dessert supper delivered by Sawyer along with clothes for both of us. I only managed to snuggle for a minute before she was asleep and I begrudgingly had to come back out here to the living room to try and work out this shit storm that has happened.

Taylor decided that we'd all be better off here so after their dinner, he brought Gail with him. Given what has happened today, Welch and Taylor believe that Escala is the next target and since we need to decide on our actions, it doesn't make sense to have Taylor there nor does he want to leave Gail and Ryan at the mercy of possible madmen, so Ryan has been left to guard Escala and will only have to look after himself if something happens.

Gail has busied herself making coffees for us and baking biscuits to stock the cupboard while we work over what has happened today. It appears the justice department let us down with no-one notifying my legal department about Morton's release and we'll need to investigate how that happened, Elena is still in custody but I have no doubt of her reach. There would be more than one person in the justice system on her books as Doms so the calling in of favours and the greasing of palms would be a distinct possibility, in fact probability. We will need to somehow get our hands on and examine the visitation records, our answer will be in there but we still don't know what has happened to Cecilia.

Finally the call comes through at about 3 am from Welch and says that two bodies have been found at the facility and there is only one person missing from the facility, which is Cecilia. However the bodies haven't been identified and probably won't be for a few days. I draw my hand wearily across my eyes, I don't want to tell Ana anything, especially with her interviews and there is a chance that it isn't Morton and Cecilia, I wouldn't put it past him to somehow have caused the death of two innocent people while stealing Cecilia away. How did my security miss him entering if it was him? There are still so many unanswered questions but I look at Taylor and say, "We might as well turn in, nothing's going to be solved tonight, is Ryan ok?"

At his nod that Ryan is fine and nothing has transpired at Escala, we both turn in. I curl myself around Ana in her tiny bed and she sighs and relaxes into me and just that small action is enough to finally put a small smile on my face and I wrap my arms around her, bury my face in her hair and drift off to sleep.

Ana's POV

"Christian" I gasp, "Christian, let me go before you choke me" but it's not working, it's obvious he is having a nightmare and he has me in a strong submission hold, ha, even as I'm losing consciousness, I appreciate the irony. He has me in a twister type joint lock holding my body immobile, the pain in my ribs is indescribable and he has my neck cranked at a dangerous angle and there is nothing I can do and then I think back to Ray and I whistle as loud as I can, given my lack of breath. Ray used to say that I had a whistle that was louder and more piercing than anyone he knew and Christian opens his eyes and looks down in horror, releasing me as I gasp for air.

The door bursts open and Taylor is standing there with gun drawn, "It was me Taylor, I'm ok," I manage to gasp out as the air returns to my lungs. He holsters it, looks confused but nods and walks back out and I turn my attention to Christian who is staring at me, frozen, absolute dread upon his face.

"It's a pity I'm a bit broken or you would have found yourself on the other side of the room," I state quietly but matter-of-factly as I rub his arm, "That was a standard hold I could break in Judo so I suggest you have some practice with Claude so that when I'm well, we can try that again." I don't know how to get through to him.

"I could have killed you." Christian says, he won't look at me. Swinging to the side of the bed, he puts his head in his hands, and with a strangled sob, he repeats "I could have killed you."

"Christian, you're obviously worried about the threat, this isn't normal, you haven't been doing anything normal lately so the stress has been building up, please, I'm ok, you aren't going to hurt me again." I have to admit, I hope not but I am not going to have him worrying. "Don't you withdraw on me!" I say attempting a harder tone.

"Ana, you keep making excuses for me and my fucked up shit, I am not good for you, I nearly killed you, how can you sit there and .."

"If I thought there was any malice Christian, I wouldn't be sitting here, call Dr Flynn and he'll explain it you." I'm scared that I will lose him and I don't even want to think about that or why that fills me with dread. As I look at his face, I can see him closing down and I feel like my veins are filling with cold cement.

I make one last effort and shift to a different tone, "Baby, I am going to get ready but I need you…" And I let the sentence hang in the air as I swing my body around. I am busy moving my leg but as I look towards him to continue talking, his arms reach out and he lifts me onto his lap, his lips are on mine, his hands crushing me to him and I notice the tears running down his face, it's breathtaking as I am sure he said he has never cried but an ache grows in my chest, this kiss feels like goodbye. I can feel him pouring everything into the kiss, he pulls away to look deep into my eyes and then he folds me into his chest and the tears fall on my shoulders as he shudders but still doesn't say anything.

As I wriggle to loosen his grip he turns his face away and drops his hands in a defeated manner and I can't let this continue, "Christian, please look at me, I love you and I trust you, please believe me," I plead, I can't bear how he is beating himself up about it "But I have to go have a shower, will you join me?" and I know it's bad when he just shakes his head and releases me.

A quick shower completed and I am dressed in as fast a time as is possible and I make my way into the kitchen and Gail asks brightly what I'd like for breakfast and even she twists her lips when I say "Just some toast and honey, please," she smiles though when I add "My stomach is a bunch of butterflies because of the interviews." I don't want to add "and because what happened this morning" so say "Is Christian here?"

Gail shakes her head and says, "Mr Grey asked me to tell you that Sawyer will bring you to your interviews and to not go anywhere without him and then to come back here after the interviews." I feel a touch of fear that he couldn't wait to tell me that himself and I hope he'll come home tonight. I wonder whether I should ring Dr Flynn myself and tell him about what happened and then realise that I have to make a move if we are to reach my first interview on time.

Sawyer is a great driver and his calm demeanour has me less stressed when I reach the first interview. While the interview felt successful, the big corporate headquarters doesn't feel like somewhere I'd fit it in and I wonder what it would be like to work in such a place as GEH which is even bigger. The HR department doesn't seem too scared off by my injuries, I stated all of them in the spirit of disclosure and explained that all the costs are covered now and will be covered in the future so there shouldn't be an issue going forward. They were ok with my availability being in about two weeks and suggested that if we were a match, then I would receive a call later in the week and wished me well as I left. It just didn't feel like somewhere that I'd prefer to work because on the quick walk around they showed me all the current interns sitting in cubicles off to the back of a floor, all very clinical but I'll take it if it is the only offer I receive.

Sawyer looks at me with concern when I leave the office and hobble across the shiny marble floor towards him in the waiting room on the crutches but I am able to reassure him that it was simply the stress of my first ever proper interview as an adult and he simply smiles. When Christian isn't around, I am realising the security lets down a little of their guard and I can see their friendlier side but as soon as he is in the vicinity, then they are all back to stone walls, solid, dependable and expressionless.

Using the crutches on the sidewalk is putting considerable pressure on my arm pits and by extension my shoulder but there is no way I am about to say anything, I wouldn't put it past Sawyer passing the message onto Taylor and from there Christian but that makes me worry about how he was feeling this morning. I pause for a minute and as I frown, Sawyer solicitously steps towards me and I shake my head, "If I sit at this café, could you go get the car?" and he looks conflicted and I know that his instructions are to stay with me at all times "Look, if you order the tea and I can sit here while you get the car and I promise not to move."

"No, he's not going to leave you here or he will lose his job." There's no mistaking the angry voice I hear and I swivel my head to see Christian appear from behind Sawyer who is looking decidedly relieved at his appearance although Christian's visage is one of annoyance. "Let me help you," he says and places an arm around my waist while denuding me of my crutches and handing them to Sawyer and in one fluid motion I find myself in the air and I can do nothing but wrap my arms around his neck.

I like this position but it feels different this time, it feels like he is completely distant from me, just like he is carrying me and that's it, no love, like it could be anyone that he's carrying and it scares me. "When will you learn to listen? I said you were to go direct to the other interview and not stop anywhere."

Ah, so he's angry at me, well seriously! "I just needed to stop for a bit because my arms were hurting and I have time before the next interview," as I say that I realise I am providing him more ammunition as he jerks his eyes from straight forward where he was avoiding me down to my face.

"I should take you back to the apartment now." He says with a growl and holds me closer.

As we reach the car and Christian bends to sit me in the car I tighten my arms and lift my lips up to his willing him to respond and he releases an audible groan before plundering my mouth. Suddenly he pulls away and rests his forehead against mine, his eyes squeezed shut and breathing heavily, he enunciates as if in pain, "I. Need. To. Keep. You. Safe."

The sheer emotion is crushing me so I resort to the safety of sarcasm, "By the way, what are you doing here anyway, were you just passing by?"

He gives a half snort as he opens his eyes and says quietly shaking his head, "I was on my way to Dr Flynn and timed my departure so that I might have a chance to see you," and my gasp has him almost smiling ruefully, "I needed to see that you were safe walking out of that building, and I'm glad I did, you shouldn't be walking anywhere but of course, you're stubborn." I'd like to disagree with him but he's right. "Now you'd better leave otherwise you'll be late for your next interview," and I look at my watch and almost leap into the seat, jarring my leg on the seat in front and Christian grimaces and growls, "Ana …. Safe."

Looking at Sawyer he says in a tone brooking no argument, "Straight back to the apartment, no stopping anywhere after the interview. Got it?" and we both nod, I'm sure he'd appear if I didn't and I've already wasted his time albeit unintentionally but at least he seems to have unwound a little and the kiss he leaves is tender and not so distraught as his earlier one and he doesn't seem so distant.

Once again Sawyer drives like a racing car driver and luckily finds a park right outside the doors of the SIP building and I am out with him right beside me and gingerly making my way over the stone tiles into the reception area. I am immediately more comfortable, the staff look comfortably dressed, the offices that I can see reflect a friendly environment that is not as stuffy as the previous interview and I relax as I wait on the Chesterfield couches.

When I am called into the interview I ponder at the differences between Christian and the man in front of me, a Jack Hyde, while he wouldn't be much older, he has earrings, his face is more lined and there's something about him that has me on high alert. The most obvious difference though is his hair, it is not Christian's ginger colour, it is bright red and pulled back into a ponytail, half the length of mine and oily. I almost giggle as I realise it is practically Orangutan red, vibrant to a point of looking almost fake.

My spidey-senses have me observing his actions and his eyes to see if they match and tellingly, they don't at times especially when he asks what else I like to do out of work hours. His eyes flare with an unappealing light and Elizabeth Morgan, the HR manager's demeanour changes a little, her back straightens and her lips thin, hmm, weird reaction on both their parts and I simply state that I prefer books. I decide that they don't need to know that I practice Judo and have been working through the ranks with the aim of reaching as high as possible without actually representing any region, my Third dan black belt being one of my most prized possessions. I realise as I think this that I haven't even told Christian, I have alluded to my Judo but not really discussed it, hopefully that will make him feel more comfortable with my safety especially combined with my ability to shoot and a few other things that Ray has taught me.

Back to the interview, it concludes comfortably with them saying that the position I am interviewing for doesn't actually start for two weeks and I am happy to inform them that I should be in a walking cast by then and so the crutches will be gone and I will be well on the way to recovery. While I have disclosed the extent of the injuries and both cringed as I described them, I think I was able to assure them that I will be fully mended soon enough and the injuries won't disrupt my work, I promise that if I do have to take time off for medical appointments, I am more than willing to take work home and complete it there as I won't leave my colleagues understaffed and they assured me that flexibility is one of the cornerstones of SIP.

As I leave my wariness of Jack Hyde increases when despite my protestations that I am fine, he "assists" me out of the chair by placing his hands under both of my arms and his extremely long fingers brushed the edges of my breasts on both sides. As I release myself from his grasp I catch a glimpse of an annoyed look on Elizabeth's face before she reassembles it although the eyes stay cold and she tells me politely that they'd let me know by the end of the week if I had the position.

Jack accompanies me into the reception area and holds the door allowing me to leave and then thankfully walks back inside as Sawyer materialises out of the shadows and walks with me to the car. Stowing the crutches and leaning against the seat, I realise that I am exhausted, adrenaline had obviously been coursing through my body and it feels like it is going to crash, the first interview, Christian and now this interview and all I want to do is go home and fall into bed.

Ha home…. I don't actually know where that is anymore. Kate's place or Christian's and neither are mine yet, I know Christian has said I must go back to Kate's apartment and at least the bed there is the one I have slept on for four years but interestingly I realise that I am thinking that home is Christian's place. I don't think I'll tell him that though, who really knows what's going to happen when we get past this part of our relationship, me broken and needy and him discovering he has a heart, will it all work when we are living a normal life?

I look at Gail as we enter and she gives me a tired smile, she seems to have the Charlie Brown worry rings around her eyes and I want to ask her how she's feeling but I know that if I don't hurry to my room, I will probably collapse and the effect that will have is just not worth the small interaction. I manage a "Yes please" to her question as to whether I'd like a cup of tea and make it to the room and lie quickly on the bed.

When Gail brings me my tea and looks questioningly at the fact that I am under the covers, I manage to reassure her that I am perfectly fine albeit a little tired from the interviews and ascertain that her worry is that she didn't sleep that well out of her own bed last night and hopes we'll be back in Escala tonight or really soon at least and I smile and agree, it is somewhat better appointed and easier to work in.

Before I drop off to sleep, I manage

From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Interviews
Date: May 30 2011 12:49
To: Christian Grey

All done, all dusted.
I hope your day is improving.
I'm going to sleep now.

I switch off the phone and drift off to sleep.

My sleep is punctuated by dreams of big hairy orang-utans picking me up and swinging with me through the trees and it's only finally when I'm sick and tired of being thrown around like a baby orang-utan that I retaliate with a throw and wake with a start as I hear "Easy baby" and realise I am wrapped up in Christian's arms, his face nuzzled into my hair and his hands trying to stop me from throwing him from the bed.

"Sorry, I thought you were an orang-utan," I offer as an explanation and for a second I see confusion and then a smile flicker but it is gone as quickly as it came.

"Baby, I have some news for you but I need to know you're ok, have you eaten?" As I shake my head his lips twist and he grates out "I gather your phone is off then? I complimented you on your haiku and suggested you eat something."

"I can eat after you tell me the news," I say and he shakes his head.

"No, you are eating first. Mrs Jones has made some lovely rolls out there but if you feel like something else, she will manage it."

"A roll will be fine," I say but I don't like his tone or the expression on his face when he said he had news and I know it isn't going to be good so my stomach starts doing flips and I really don't want to eat however one look at Christian's face and I know I have to force it down or he won't tell me anything.

As the last bite descends and my anxiety soars through the roof, Christian starts, "After we left you we went to the facility that was holding Cecilia, what we ascertained was that yesterday the guard was distracted by Cecilia attempting to run through the corridors so he was chasing her. Anyway, he caught her and brought her back to the room and a little while later while the nurses went in there to do whatever they do with her, they came out saying that she had locked herself in the bathroom and that they would come back and they left. Soon after that there was an explosion in the room and the flames were so fierce that the guard couldn't do anything except grab a fire extinguisher from the wall and try to extinguish the flames while the sprinkler system was doing its thing. He was really surprised though because the sprinkler system seemed to be having no effect and he believes that there must have been accelerant spread around the room."

Christian pauses and pulls me onto his lap, like he needs my closeness or understands that I am going to need his and absentmindedly rubs circles on my back, "When they were able to put the fire out and it had cooled down enough, the firefighters found two bodies."

His eyes are trained on mine as he continues, "They were able to identify both today and it appears that they were Cecilia and Stephen Morton."