Madeleine lives because I say so.
This will also introduce a reoccurring OC.
Enjoy~
Death wasn't something that scared Florence.
After all, in her line of work death was an inevitability. All it would take is one slip up. One wrong move. One bad decision to cut her life short. It was that risk alone that drew her to the criminal world. The delicate dance between life and death when fighting with her mark. The rush of adrenaline she felt when in a shootout with a rogue group of thugs. The thrill of choking the life out of someone with her chains. It excited her to no end.
And if she died doing what she loved? Well, she'd come to terms with that long ago.
What she hadn't prepared for, though, was Madeleine.
More specifically: losing Madeleine.
After having someone around for so long... Being with someone for well over two decades just for them to be suddenly and violently ripped from her wasn't something that never crossed her mind.
But here they were.
In the back of the van that they'd restored together. Florence pressing on the gunshot wound to Madeleine's chest, praying to any god that would listen to her, to let the woman live. Madeleine weakly holding onto her wrist, a soft resolute smile on her face. An accepting look in her eyes.
"Where are we going?" Sam's question cut through the silence in the van.
"The Manor."
"Seriously?"
"She's the best option we have." Florence said, locking eyes with Anna May through the rearview mirror, daring her to argue. After involving themselves in Sam's mess, they couldn't take Madeleine to any of The Firm's hospitals. A normal hospital would draw too much unwanted attention.
That only left them with one option: The Manor.
"You know she's going to shoot us before we even get to the gate, right?"
"She won't."
"Fine, she won't shoot Madeleine." Anna May said with a roll of her eyes. "The rest of us are fair game."
Sam leaned over towards her mother. "Who are they talking about?"
"I have no idea." Scarlet shrugged.
"Katyaovna Sokolov."
"Sokolov? Like Vlad Sokolov? Vlad the Butcher? Leader of the Russian faction? That Sokolov?" Sam asked in disbelief. Turning to get a better angle, she looked between Florence and Anna May, waiting for confirmation.
"Yep." Anna May nodded.
"Even Nathan won't touch him." Sam muttered in amazement. Over her years in The Firm, she'd heard plenty of stories about those who'd been foolish enough to go against the Sokolov Family. Early into her years, Nathan told her to keep her distance from them. Both from fear and respect for Vlad's ruthlessness.
"They won't. But we aren't going for him. Katya, his daughter, is the Russian's equivalent of the Firm's doctor."
"Okay? How do you know she'll help us?"
"It's Madeleine. She'll help."
"You're sure of that?"
"Katya has an..." Florence paused. In her time of knowing the other woman, she'd never really been able to put a specific word to Katja's feelings towards Madeleine. Settling on the best word she could, Florence finished her sentence. "Infatuation with Madeleine."
"Infatuation my ass." Anna May snarked. "She's head over heels in love with her. Obsessed. Always has been."
"It's not like that." Madeleine spoke up quietly. Truth be told, Madeleine and Katja had been friends for a long time. Even before she joined the Librarians. After her father's death, Vlad and his family took her in. They coached her, trained her, kept her safe. Vlad himself had been the one to teach her to fight with an axe.
"Oh yeah?" Anna May challenged lightly, relieved to hear the other woman still speaking. "Then why did she put a hit out on Florence when she found out you two got married?"
Florence could feel Scarlet and Sam's gazes, but she was far too invested in keeping Madeleine alive than answering whatever questions the two had.
"She didn't actually follow through with it." Madeleine attempted to chuckle. However, the simple action sent another wave of pain through her. Closing her eyes, she grimaced as she took a shaky breath.
"Only because you asked her not to."
Sam took in the surrounding area as Anna May stopped the van. A large iron gate sat in front of them. Just beyond that, a very large, three-story English country styled manor sat around three hundred yards in. Square cut ferns lined the driveway. At the end of the gravel driveway sat a large fountain.
Rolling down her window, Anna May turned her attention to the stone pillar beside the gate. The small monitor that sat in the wall flashed to life. A young, dark haired, burly man's face appeared on the screen.
"Who goes there?" He said with a thick Russian accent.
"It's Anna May."
"Who?"
"Anna May. The Librarian."
"No librarians. We are not in need of books. Go away." Anna May started to panic as the man lifted his hand to cut the feed to the monitor. The dark-skinned woman knew too well that her friend in the back of the van would die if she didn't get help, and soon.
"Wait! I need to speak with Katya. It's important!"
"Who is asking?"
"I told you! My name is Anna May."
"That does not explain-"
"Get out of my way, idiot." A new voice growled. Pushing the man out of the camera, a new figure appeared. The tan woman was dressed in a black, low-cut v neck shirt. Her long raven hair hung down, framing the sides of her face perfectly. Dark brown eyes stared into the monitor. "Anna May? Why are you on my property?"
"Katya." The curly haired woman sighed with relief. "We need your help."
"Oh? And I should help you, why?" the Russian asked, crossing her arms and raising her eyebrow.
"It's Madeleine."
Instantly, the woman's demeanor changed. The apathetic appearance quickly being replaced by one of concern. Hitting a button on the panel in front of her, the large metal gate began to open. "I shall meet you at the door."
Anna May nodded. Pushing down on the gas petal, she drove to the front of the house.
True to her word, Katja (and three men dressed in black suits) stood on the front steps of her home, watching as the van came to a stop.
"Where is-" Katya began as she watched the unfamiliar redhead open the back door to the van. Crawling up inside, she knelt beside Madeleine. Gently, she reached out tucking a stray hair behind the unconscious woman's ear. "Oh, luchik. What did they do to you?"
"She has a GSW to the chest." Florence said, not pulling her focus from the woman in her arms. "She's already lost a lot of blood. She lost consciousness around ten minutes ago."
"And them?" Katya nodded her head to the mother and daughter that stood awkwardly by the van.
"They're friends."
"Very well. Ivan. Get her inside. Now." Katya ordered with a snap of her fingers. The largest man beside her reached in effortlessly lifted Madeleine into his arms. "Be careful with her, or I will gut you. Understood?"
Ivan only nodded in response. Taking the lead, Katya spun on her heels and entered the manor. With a wave of her hand the maid that stood just inside the doorway bowed. "Tatiana, take those three to the parlor." The blonde girl nodded. Gesturing for the others to follow her she led them down the hallways to the left. Trusting the maid to follow her orders, Katya continued along the halls. Coming to a stop at a large mahogany door, she pushed it open.
Stepping inside the room, followed by Ivan and Florence, she flipped a switch. Ivan stepped past her, gently laying Madeleine down on the metal table. Katya wasted no time, pulling her long hair up into a tight efficient bun, she walked over to the sink and began scrubbing her hands. "What happened?"
"The short version?"
"Da."
"The redhead out there is Scarlet's daughter. The Firm wants her and the kid she spared dead. They came to the library for help. We all split up. Some of the men snuck through and one of them got a lucky shot in."
"And this child?"
"They took her." Florence sighed, running a hand through her curls. Taking a calming breath, she recentered herself. Right now, being upset wouldn't solve anything. She was the calm one. The rational one. She couldn't afford to be anything but.
"Flo?" Madeleine groaned.
"Hey, I'm here." Florence called out softly, taking Madeleine's hand in her own.
Florence watched as Madeleine attempted to look around, her unfocused gaze trying to make out the unfamiliar place. "Where?"
"You're safe."
"Emily?"
"Don't worry. We'll get her back. I promise." At her promise, Madeleine hums in content. Her eyes fluttering shut.
"Very well." The raven-haired woman said as she pulled a small metal table along with her. Florence watched as Katya's gloved hand picked up a pair of scissors, cutting away the blood-stained fabric of Madeleine's shirt. As soon as it was clear, she switched tools.
"Aren't you going to give her something to keep her unconscious?"
"There is no time."
"What if she wakes up?"
"You need to leave."
"I'm not leaving her."
"Right now, you are of no help. I understand your concerns. However, I need to concentrate on saving our girl. I cannot do that if you keep hovering! Go! Go save the child like you promised her you would."
Florence wanted to argue. Wanted to demand to stay, that her presence alone would help. But with one glance at Madeleine's too pale face, she relented. With a nod of affirmation, Florence stood and made her way out of the room.
"Florence." Pausing, she glanced back at Katya, who removed her focus from the unconscious woman for only a moment. "Make him bleed."
Florence would do more than that.
She'd kill him.
"How is she?"
"Stable. I managed to remove the bullet. Lucky for us, the bullet didn't shift with you idiots moving her around. Otherwise, I cannot say she would have lived."
Scarlet furrowed her brow at the woman's words. Leaning over, she whispered in Anna May's ear. "Did she just call us idiots?"
"She sure did."
Katya paid no attention to the two women's antics. Instead, her focus remained on the paperwork that littered the large dark oak desk. "You may stay here until Madeleine awakens."
"But we can't stay-" Sam stood up from her chair. They may have killed the men that were currently looking for them, but she knew all too well that The Firm would never stop. They couldn't risk staying in one play for too long.
"Listen to me, child." Katya's tone barely withheld the annoyance. "Madeleine is in no condition to move or be moved. I refuse to let you idiots undo my hard work. She will remain here for a week, at minimum. If you do not wish to stay, then leave."
Scarlet leaned back over towards Anna May. "She called us idiots again."
"She does that."
"But-"
"Sam. Everything will be fine. We'll be back on the road as soon as we all get some rest." Scarlet said, patting her daughter on her shoulder.
"Yes, listen to your mother." The raven-haired woman said, tapping her pile of papers on the desk. "There are twenty fully armed men in this house at any point in time. We have a top of the wire security."
"Top of the line."
"Yes. That too." The Russian waved her hand, dismissing Anna May's correction. "Right now, this is the safest place for all of you. Even if they found out you were here, they would not dare trespass onto my property. While you are here, you are safe."
"Okay."
"You all look horrible. Tatiana shall show you to your rooms so you may rest." Katya stood from her desk, letting her gaze travel over each of the women in front of her. Turning back to Florence, she motioned for her to follow. "You, come with me. I shall treat your wound."
Following the taller woman back down the hallway, Florence noted that they were heading back to the medical room. The same room where she had left Madeleine.
"Did you take care of him?"
"Yes."
"Good." Entering the room quietly, Katya pointed to the stool. "Sit."
Taking the seat, she took the chance to check on her wife. White bandages wrapped most of her chest. While she still looked far too pale for Florence to be truly at ease, Madeleine's chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. It was something that she could take comfort in.
Gently, Katya unwrapped the makeshift bandage that Scarlet used to wrap the wound to her eye. Tilting her head slightly, Katya began to work. It didn't take long for the Russian to finish her sewing. "The damage to your eye cannot be repaired. However, I have sewed the wound as best as I could. You will have to change the bandage on this once a day, to keep from infection."
Florence nodded. "Thank you."
"I shall leave you with her, but do not disturb her."
"I won't."
"Very well. If anything changes, I will be down the hall."
Florence felt her last bit of energy leave. The last twenty-four hours had been far more exciting, and stressful, than she'd experienced in a long time. Any adrenaline she'd had, wore off long ago. Folding her arms on Madeleine's bed, Florence rested her head on them.
Slowly, she let herself drift off to sleep knowing that everything would be okay.
