Hey everyone, I hope you liked the story up to here and will enjoy the last chapter. Let me know what you think.
"Your sister will be okay. Shes a bit dehydrated and clearly agitated but besides a few shallow bruises I cant find any serious injuries. Well take her to Bellevue hospital to stabilize her overall condition but theres no need to worry, though", one of paramedics who had examined Ariana for the past five minutes let her know.
With the tension of the past nine days suddenly fading, Chloe let out a sigh of release.
"Thank you", she answered in an uncommonly weak tone.
Her gaze wandering over the area in an involuntary reaction, it was the unexpected sight of John standing in a poorly lit sideway with Detective Fusco that made her freeze in motion.
Looking back at Ariana, who looked almost peaceful with her eyes shut after a light tranquilizer, Chloe knew what she had to do. Without any further hesitation, she made her way to the two men.
"I wonder if you ever will inform the police about a crime before you feel like solving the problem your way", she heard the Fuscos voice, who clearly wasnt happy to be involved only by now.
"I will… if I think theres a need for it", John replied in a way that gave, as Chloe thought, coolness a new definition. Contrary to the detective whose back was turned to her, the man in the suit had seen her coming closer already.
"Dont worry, Ill get your record straight", she held out both hands in Fusco's direction. With a glance to John, she added: "Told you to keep my promise."
The detectives baffled expression as he laid eyes on her, made Chloe almost laugh.
"Sorry again for using you as Johns secretary. If I had known another way, Id like to have spared you from the situation. In return for your help, however, you can arrest me without resistance", she said, still holding her hands out.
Watching Fusco exchanging a glance with John, he eventually frowned.
"I dont see a reason to arrest you. If wonderboy here tells the truth, youre a victim like your sister was and only did what you needed to do to save her", he replied with a mixture of contriteness and empathy in his voice.
Chloes glance flew over to John, who remained stoically silent.
"I do, however, still need your testimony, so Ill see you tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. in my office", Fusco went on.
Only able to nod, Chloe didnt understand what was going on.
"Alright, Ive got work to do. We still need to find the other two stolen items, so lets see how cooperative our two thugs are if I tell them that wonderboy here maybe is coming after them if they wont tell."
With a sudden amused smirk on his face, he made his way back to the warehouse.
"Seems like I have to have a conversation about distribution of roles with someone", John frowned, watching the Detective leave.
"And again its wonderboy", Chloe surmised no less confused about the whole situation.
"Not a name I prefer but probably better than the things he calls me in his mind."
Chloe smirked before turning thoughtful again.
"What happened here?", she asked. "I mean, why am I not arrested?"
"Lets say… I pointed out your situation a little. Thankfully, helping someone in danger isnt a crime yet."
"But… I broke the law in more than one way."
"Because you were forced to do."
Feeling his hands on her shoulders once more, John now looked her straight in the eyes.
"Its over", he calmly said.
The realization that it was over indeed -that her sister was free and she wouldnt go to jail- suddenly made her legs feel shaky.
"For a moment I thought that we all were going to die", she confessed in a thin voice.
"For a moment I thought that I was about to get shot", John answered matter of factly.
Chloe raised an eyebrow.
"As youve seen I wasnt even able to pull the trigger at Ariana's kidnapper."
"Something Im glad about."
The tone in his voice made her realize that he was indeed.
"You could have told me about your plan sooner, nonetheless."
"Could have but needed to find a suiting moment cause I kinda liked your idea at the haven."
"Never change a winning team, huh?", Chloe smirked.
Instead of an answer, John just looked at her quietly. It was still something about him she wasnt able to figure out. While a part of her would have loved to know what his actual thoughts were, it maybe was better that she didnt. Whatever his motivation was to help her, she knew that he would keep the secret to himself for safety reasons.
"The ambulance seems to be ready to take of soon. You should go. Your sister needs you now."
Chloe nodded.
Instantly knowing that their encounter would end here it left her feeling a little sad for whatever reason.
"Please also thank Mr. Finch again", she said. "And if youre ever in need of a coffee or a bagel, be sure to have free service at my Café anytime", she winked.
John smirked. "Ill keep it in mind."
Without further thinking she took the distance between them to give the tall man a slight hug, placing a soft kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you", she whispered again as she turned to leave. It was Johns unexpected voice calling her name that held her back.
For a moment he looked at her as if he was searching for the right words.
"You said that you didnt know who you really were for a long time of your life. Have you found the answer in between?", he eventually asked.
Chloe smiled.
"I guess, I am whoever want to be. A sister, a shop owner, an upcoming student of self-defense classes due to someone who taught me that it might come in handy… but most of all… I am glad to be someone who will leave a weapon at the hands of a person who can handle it", she winked again before hurrying back to Ariana. Taking a last glance out of the ambulance car window, John had disappeared how he came into her life - as the mysterious man in the suit.