They lunged simultaneously, both determined to get to the phone first. Emily was closer but even hurt Alison was quicker. Emily's fingers were only able to graze the device before Alison grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Emily kicked out, catching Alison in the hip and pushing her backward.

"Get off of me!" Emily kicked hard again but Alison dodged it.

She managed to shove Emily down to the desk and with her partially pinned, Alison reached for the phone again, she almost had it but Emily surprised her. Instead of hitting her or trying to free herself, Emily used her arm that wasn't being held down to swipe across the desk's surface, knocking everything off it. Random bits of paper, the laptop, and Alison's phone all clattered to the floor. Emily groaned, her shoulders contracting under Alison. They both paused when the phone stopped ringing, only for it to immediately start up again.

"Stop moving. You're going to hurt yourself," Alison pulled Emily up, securing her arms at her sides. It was like Emily had found a new fountain of strength. She used the desk as leverage to send them both back into the wall. "Fuck," The collision hurt more than usual because of Alison's injury. Emily threw her head back in tandem, connecting with Alison's nose. She knew from experience it wasn't broken but it still hurt and instinctively she pushed Emily away.

There was the sound of impact but it was the noise Emily made that had Alison thinking she'd gone too far. "My stomach," Emily whined.

Alison approached cautiously, forgetting about the phone for a second as Emily braced herself against the desk, one arm around her waist. "Let me see," She moved in closer only for Emily to throw her arm back. The intent was clear, to hit Alison in the same spot she had previously and Alison only narrowly moved out of the way, feeling the point of Emily's elbow graze the area. "Really? Pretending to be hurt so you can get in a cheap shot?"

"Whatever works," Emily said through panting breaths.

Alison was fed up, she made a play for the phone knowing Emily would dive after her, and when the brunette did she twisted their bodies. Pinning Emily to the floor, this time leaving her no wiggle room.

She snatched up the device, and covered Emily's mouth with her hand, being mindful of how she'd bitten Ben when he tried to do the same. "Paige," Alison forwent any snarky remark. She kept her voice as level as possible despite her breathing being labored.

"Alison," Paige's voice dripped with the usual disdain, "you sound… off. Did I pull you away from something?" The question lilted upward, she was prying.

Emily wiggled beneath her and Alison used her thighs to keep the brunette's arms at her sides. "You did," Alison kept her answer short, terse.

"I need to speak with you," Paige abandoned her curiosity, "In person," she clarified.

This was all wrong. Paige didn't sound like she was out of her mind with worry. She didn't sound like she called to threaten or confront Alison either. It was disappointing but Alison felt some relief too, if Paige didn't know she had Emily then Alison didn't have to start thinking end game just yet. Alison looked down at Emily, she was still trying her best to free herself even though it was futile. There was still time.

"If this is business you should be calling Jason," Alison stated dryly, trying to discern why Paige wanted to meet. Outside of what was mandatory, they'd gotten good at avoiding each other.

"It's not business… not exactly. This is between me and you, Jason has nothing to do with it. We can meet tonight. I'll even come to your side of town."

"I'm not available," Alison replied flippantly.

"Make yourself available," Paige's tone was suddenly strained.

Was it a trap? It could be a trap, "No. I don't think I will."

"Alison, this is important."

Alison's gaze flitted downward to brown eyes full of fury, "Is that supposed to sway me? When have I ever cared about what's important to you?"

Paige let out an exasperated sound, "The two blocks you wanted, the ones near 130th. You can have them."

Alison's brows furrowed, the DiLaurentis should have had that territory anyway, Paige fought for it to spite her. It didn't matter, if things went her way, none of it would matter, "I'll send you a time and a place," Alison agreed.

"Friday the latest or forget about it, deals off."

Alison huffed a laugh, ending the call. She sat back, her hips resting against Emily's as she freed the grip she had on the brunette's mouth. Alison held the phone in her hand, already replaying the short conversation with Paige. There was a 70/30 chance that it was a trap, for Paige to call out of the blue trying to convince her to come out into the open… it had to mean she knew something. But what if she was just fishing? What if Paige didn't know for sure and was trying to be certain? There was nothing out of the ordinary in her tone, their dislike for each other was palpable but that was normal.

Alison had been so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't hear Emily talking to her, yelling at her, until her hips bucked upward knocking Alison off. Their roles were reversed in an instant and Emily was leaning over her, straddling her hips, shiny with sweat, loose strands having strayed from her ponytail. She saw Emily's lips moving but the words sounded like gibberish… nonsense that Alison had no hope of deciphering as long as they were in that position. The more upset Emily got the more her hips rocked and her chest bounced.

"What did she say?" Finally, words broke through.

"I'm meeting with her on Friday, she wants to talk," Alison said concisely, trying to focus her gaze on the ceiling.

"Why Friday? Why not today? What is she doing that she can't take me home today?" The mixture of panic and hope in Emily's voice snapped Alison out of her brief haze.

She grabbed Emily by the hips bringing them both up from the floor, "It wasn't about you." Alison avoided Emily's heartbroken expression.

"What?" The one word question was watery and broken.

"The call wasn't about you," Alison kept her eyes fixed on the ground. "I don't know what Paige wants but she said nothing about you or the wedding." Between the constant nightmares and the hallucinations, she didn't have it in her to watch Emily fall apart over Paige again.

Emily was staring at the side of her face, arms wrapped around her body protectively, "You're lying."

"I'm not," Alison said softly, trying not to add fuel to the fire.

"You are!" Emily screamed, getting in Alison's face. "She's going to come here and when she does, she's going to kill all of you."

Part of Alison hoped that Paige did find the house, that she would ride in on a white horse and try to save her wife because Emily deserved that. She deserved for her loyalty to be matched in spades and for her love to not be manipulated and taken for granted. Emily ran straight into Noel's chest trying to leave the study and seeing the tears streaming down her face he looked to Alison for direction.

"Give her some breathing room," Alison told him.

Emily scoffed, pushing past Noel who followed a few steps behind her. Alison picked up the rolling chair that had fallen over in all the commotion and sat down. Her mind slipped back into strategic thought as she stared at the empty desk. If she controlled the place and time of her meet with Paige, then she had the upper hand. Not to mention, she had Emily, and that was all the leverage she needed.

… …

It was torture. Alison would know having tortured her fair share of people. Emily laid curled in a ball on the floor of the hallway between the living room and the bathroom. Over the hours, her stomach cramps had worsened until Emily was white knuckle gripping every surface around her in tears. Then came the projectile vomiting of everything she'd eaten. When the contents of her stomach were empty, Emily began throwing up an acid like substance that made Alison pull out her phone and call Wren. He tried to assure her it was normal but nothing felt normal about any of it.

Emily was exhausted, dehydrated, barely holding onto consciousness and there was nothing Alison could do but watch and pace. Emily refused to let Alison touch or help her. Alison rested her head on the wall, trying to block out Emily's scream crying. She had been in a lot of precarious situations, concussions, bleeding out, internal bleeding, all kinds of bumps and scrapes, she'd even been shot, but that sound might be the thing that broke her. She didn't know how much more of it she could take.

Alison kneeled next to Emily's body on the floor, "I know you're angry with me about earlier, and you can keep being angry. You can hate me, even, but you have to let me help you."

"No," Emily groaned through gritted teeth, "Leave me alone."

Alison may have misunderstood Emily's earlier words by the pool but she wasn't an idiot. She knew exactly why Emily was choosing to roll around on the floor in agony instead of taking her offered help. Just like when Emily had chosen to starve herself, it was punishment. She was punishing herself for letting her guard down, for all the moments they'd shared while her guard was down.

"You're stubborn," Alison decided on a new direction. "You're stubborn and you give me fucking whiplash, you know that? You run from Paige every chance you get… in real life, in your dreams. The two of you are wrapped up in some kind of toxic shitstorm where she blames you for everything and you just take it. I still can't figure out why, but you do. It's so deeply ingrained that you blame yourself for Ben too. There's a reason you won't step a foot back in that room." Her voice was menacingly low and she methodically pushed buttons she knew would make Emily anxious. Emily rolled onto her side, eyes shut and sobbing. "Wren says this is going to last three days at least, maybe up to a week. You plan on laying on the floor the entire time?"

"Ali," Noel peered his head around the corner, "What are you doing?" his tone disappointed.

Alison tried to dismiss him with a wave but he stayed put. Eric came up beside him, just as confused, "Boss? Why don't you take a walk?"

"Why don't you two take a walk? And don't come back until I call you."

The brothers look at each other, trying to decide who would speak up. "We uh-"

Alison stood from the floor, "Get the fuck out of here. I don't need your help, and she doesn't need you staring at her like she's a zoo attraction," She gestured to the door, "Leave, now."

The look in her eyes told both of them this was not a debate nor was it the time to question her. "Feel better, Princess" Eric tossed the words over his shoulder sincerely as he nudged his brother toward the front door.

Alison glanced down at Emily's form. Her failsafe plan was dangerous, made even more risky because she had no idea if Emily's body could handle it. Alison pushed those thoughts aside, she couldn't start second guessing herself or Emily now. Her idea would work and Emily would get through this.

"It was smart stashing away that piece of glass, but you used it on the wrong person. You could've just killed me and you'd be out of here." Alison picked her words carefully.

Emily brought her hands to her ears, in an attempt to cover them. Alison clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms. She hated this.

"Is there anything you want me to tell Paige on Friday… before I kill her? No rush, you have a few days to think about it. You're a little young to be a widow but I think you'll come around to it. You can always get remarried, personally, I think you'd make an amazing DiLaurentis but time will tell."

"Stop talking," Emily pleaded.

Alison pushed on, "Seeing you kick your feet in the water earlier inspired me. I think I'll fit Paige for a pair of concrete shoes and throw her in the first pool I can find. It's not as bloody as I originally imagined but watching her fight for air and pull nothing but water into her lungs could be satisfying. Watching her wheeze, and panic, and choke until she just… goes away. What do you think?"

Alison watched closely as Emily's breathing grew rapid and erratic. Normally she'd be watching for entertainment but not this time, she had to be certain she didn't push Emily too far. The brunette's eyes darted desperately toward the bathroom door. This was the moment Alison had been waiting for. Emily sprang to her feet, attempting to dash for the restroom, but her body betrayed her. Exhausted mentally and physically, Emily's legs buckled, and she crumpled toward the floor. Alison was there to catch her. Emily was out cold, completely unconscious. With a gentle but firm grip, Alison scooped her up and carried her bridal style to the ensuite bathroom in the master bedroom.

… …

Quietly, an hour passed, then two, then four. The whole time, Alison paced back and forth outside the bathroom door, occasionally pressing her ear against it. She knew the moment Emily woke up because loud banging and the sound of the handle rattling filled the air. Angry shouts, curses, and pleading to be let out followed. Alison knew Emily was confused and probably a little scared even if she didn't let on, she'd blacked out in the hallway and woken up in Alison's bathroom. A bathroom Noel had rigged to be nearing 200 degrees. An actual sauna would have been preferred but on a time crunch, they had to make due, so she'd asked him to make the arrangements earlier in the day. Alison had hoped it wouldn't come to this. It wasn't a good idea to speedrun an addict through detoxing. Not at all, it was heavily discouraged. But this way would cut Emily's withdrawal time by more than half, it would be intense but Alison would be there for her.

Eventually, the yelling subsided. A much softer tone carried through the solid wood of the door, "Alison."

It was just her name, three syllables, but from Emily's lips, it already had Alison chewing the inside of her lip.

"Alison, are you still there? You didn't leave me right?"

She answered immediately, "I'm here." Did Emily really think she'd toss her into a makeshift sauna and leave?

"Did you mean what you said earlier?"

Alison rolled her eyes, "I think of a lot of different ways to kill Paige, it could change by Friday. Earlier this week, I wanted to use a reciprocating saw. Before that, it was-"

"Not that," Emily put an end to Alison's almost rant. "What you said about me being a DiLaurentis?"

"Oh," Alison had gotten a bit carried away with that one. She meant it, she just hadn't meant to say it out loud. "I meant that we would be good together," Alison backpedaled slightly.

Emily hummed a laugh, "So it wasn't a proposal? That's probably for the best. I was a shitty fiance, I'll be a terrible wife." Before Alison could tell Emily that wasn't true she'd asked another question, "What would that look like anyways? Us, together, would we go back to the city? Or would we have to flee someplace far?"

Alison stopped pacing and rested her hands on her hips, "Why are you asking?"

There was a long pause before Emily spoke. "Because I'm starting to think you're right. I've been fighting it, but there's something between us. I don't know what it is exactly, and it scares the hell out of me, but it's there." Finally, Emily admitted what Alison had known all along. Almost instantly, Alison was buzzing with possibility. She wanted a life with Emily, she could see it, she could taste it. "But Paige made some big promises... ones she couldn't keep. I don't want to go through that again."

"Paige is weak," Alison shook her head in disgust at the comparison. "Whatever promises she made, I can keep, and you would be safe with me. Always."

"I believe you… but killing the McCullers is going to open a power vacuum. You're going to get me killed without a plan. You're going to get us killed."

Alison spun on her heels, her hands flying to her head and gripping her hair as her pulse began to race. Why hadn't she thought of that? "Fuck," she muttered under her breath. Emily was right. If they had waltzed back into the city arm in arm, it would put a huge target on their backs. The realization hit her like a freight train and left her breathless.

"Jesus, Alison. You don't have a plan, do you? You're not even the head of your family, we're dead." Emily's sigh was full of worry.

"This is happening… faster than I expected." Alison tried to soothe her. "If I have to get rid of Jason, I will, I just need to think. I'll have a plan before Friday" She assured.

"You don't have to do all of it alone. If we're a team, then I want to be involved. Open the door, and we can come up with a plan together."

That made sense, they were going to be a team. "Okay," Alison said, rushing to the door. She slipped the key Noel had given her into the lock and started to turn the knob, but then she stopped. Quickly, she locked the door again and slid the key back out. "Actually... I think you should stay in there a while longer. It can cut your withdrawal period in half if you just let it work."

"I know, and I'm feeling better already but I'm getting tired and I can't sleep without you, remember? Open the door."

"No."

"You crazy bitch, open this fucking door!" Emily punctuated her words with loud bangs against the barrier between them.

It was nothing Emily hadn't called her before but the words made Alison flinch this time. Her guard was down, her emotions high, and everything felt… raw. She stood there momentarily gathering her thoughts and waiting for Emily's banging to stop.

"That was amazing, I mean… wow, you deserve an award." Alison's voice shook, "You hit every mark, how much I care about you, my rivalry with Paige, my shitty relationship with my family… I was willing to kill my own blood for you," The words were like a lump in Alison's throat, "You even played on my adrenaline. You're good." Alison's face was wet suddenly and she brought the back of her hand to her cheek, that's new. "Is that what you've been doing this whole time? Figuring out what strings to pull to get me to do what you want? Playing the long game?"

Emily hit the door again, "You did the same thing to me. You pushed me to the point where I blacked out to get me in here."

"I didn't lie to you! Nothing I said was a lie!" Alison met Emily's blow with one of her own. It reverberated, shaking the door frame. "There's water, Gatorade, and protein bars in there. Get comfortable, you're not going anywhere."

... ...

Author's Note: In case anyone needs the reminder, forcing someone to the point of a panic attack and then throwing them into a bathroom that's been jerry rigged into a sauna is not the way to show them you care. Equally so, manipulating someone's emotions to get out of said bathroom, isn't great either. I'm disappointed in them both. As always, looking forward to reading your thoughts on where we are in the story! Happy Wednesday