#also the way ellie clutches his jacket hurts my heart so much

[javiersprincess]

i think forever the saddest thing about the tlou games is ellie seeing joel’s house after his death. the unmade bed, dirty dishes and unfinished laundry. the pictures of his family - tommy, sara and ellie. his guitar and the unfinished wood carving. his reading glasses and the texas decor. all the the shouts of ellie’s presence in his life ; the drawing of him, the book from the museum and the space book for dummies are not echos that haunt that house. its so painstakingly real of what its like when someone dies it hurts to think about, the evidence that someone was there but isn’t anymore.

[starlessskies94]

Consequence (Joel Miller x OC)

Summary: What if Joel survived his injuries from the Abby and Fireflies attack but ends up with really bad amnesia. He can’t remember his wife, Ellie, or the Outbreak; only before. How will his family bring back the man they once knew?

Pairing: Joel Miller x OC

Note: Hope you enjoy the chapter; please leave a comment and let me know what you think <3 

Chapter Eight

It all started with a note. 

The next they were hightailing across the damn state, all the way back to where their deep dark mess of secrets and lies had started. There was no time to stop and question why Ellie had gone back; there was no need. They already knew. The poor girl was simply looking for answers that everyone else had refused to give her. 

The closer they got; the worse their fear became. The dread pulling tighter up the throat like a noose around the neck. It was like riding towards their own execution for the terrible crime they’d committed, of robbing the whole world of something they didn’t believe they even deserved. Because they didn’t. Not at the expense of Ellie’s life. 

Even now after everything; Joel and Adaline would always agree on that. 

When they finally made it to the outskirts of the hospital; Ellie was sitting alone. The pair barely bother to halt their horses before dismounting and rushing to their daughter’s side. Joel quickly pulling her into a hug. 

“The hell were you thinkin’? Joel uttered. Taking the words right out of Ada’s mouth as she moved to join the two. “Running off in the middle of the night like that…you talk to us.” He continued. “You don’t just leave a goddamn note-“ He didn’t get to finish as Ellie pushed him away.

And Ada knew this was it. Their time had run out and now there was no going back. 

The teenager paced on unsteady feet; her hands fidgeting with her jacket sleeves before finally getting too frustrated and just pushing them back up passed her elbows. It was a common habit Ellie had picked up as she’d gotten older; they’d both noticed. Whenever Ellie was stressed, uncomfortable, nervous or upset; she would fidget with her hands. Whether it was pulling on jacket sleeves, picking at her nails or just absentmindedly running her fingertips across the now hidden bite mark on her arm. Just as Joel did with his watch. It was always fascinating to Ada how much Ellie could be like Joel without even realising it. 

Over the years; the girl had picked up a lot of the man’s mannerisms. Like father, like daughter she supposed. Unfortunately that also meant she had Joel’s temper. And it was certainly a force to be reckoned with. 

The girl continued pacing, almost not daring to look back at her parents. Her mind racing a mile a minute as she contemplated what to say. How to string her words together. The endless list of questions that plagued her for years. 

‘What happened to the Fireflies?’

‘Why had Ada and Joel lied about it for so long?’

‘Was Marlene dead?’ Ellie had a bad feeling she already knew the answer to that one; it had always been an assumption she sort of accepted, considering how loyal the leader had been to her cause. If she had threatened the young girl in any way in order to get her cure; Ellie knew for a fact her mom wouldn’t hesitate to cut her down. Or maybe Joel had killed her; it didn’t really matter now. The Fireflies were gone and so was their precious cure. 

She just needed to know why. Looking back at the rotting ruins of the Hospital; Ellie finally settled on her words before turning to face her family. 

“Tell me...what happened here.” She started with a shaken breath. Resisting the urge to pull her sleeves again as hands began to tremble once more. “If you lie to me one more time, I’m gone. You will never see me again.” She took a breath and it caught in her throat. The air thick and tense, Joel and Ada staring blankly at her with sad eyes.

“But if you tell me the truth, I’ll go back to Jackson.” She promised. “No matter what it is.” It was at that point as her parents shared a look; that Ellie realised she had no idea just what she was promising. 

Her mother took a reluctant step towards her and Ellie had to stop herself from flinching.  

“I...uh…” Ada stuttered, clearing her throat several times before trying to speak again. 

“Mom...just say it.” 

The older woman glanced back at Joel as he nodded woefully. Ada turned back to her daughter; her brown eyes welling with tears. 

“Making a vaccine...would have killed you. So we stopped them.” She said, gesturing to herself and Joel. The older man dropping his eyes to the floor as the shame flooded his face. 

Ellie’s blood ran cold. She gasped out a strangled sob that burst from her throat as it burned. She felt sick. Her chest tight and heavy. The weight pushing down so deep she couldn’t breath. How dare they?

HOW FUCKING DARE THEY?! 

Taking such a choice away from her! Taking away the chance for her immunity to mean something. To make the losses mean something. Her pain mean something. But they had decided to take her away from all that and it wasn’t fair that she’d had no say in any of it. 

She collapsed letting herself sit atop an old box, old equipment the Fireflies had left behind maybe? She didn’t fucking care anymore. She pulled at the front of her shirt in a feeble attempt to give herself room to breathe. But her chest continued to tighten. Her airway closing around the lump forming in her now dry throat. Her eyes streamed with tears, blurring her vision.  

“Oh my god…” She choked. Her hand clutching her chest as her breath became quick and short. Her stomach churned; hands and feet turning cold and numb. 

“Ellie...sweetheart…” The voice was echoed and distant. But she flinched when her mom reached out to console her. Her whole body snapping to her feet as she pulled away. Her hand lashing out to shove her back.

“Don’t you fucking touch me!” She snapped. Ada's lower jaw quivered as she held back her own tears. The hurt was plain and raw in her eyes looking back to Ellie. “I’ll go back, but you and me...we’re done!” She screamed, her eyes narrowing at both Joel and Ada. Ada gasped a sob of her own as she took a cautious step towards her daughter but Ellie was already backing away. “Ellie...please.” She pleaded. “Just let us explain.” The teen scoffed bitterly; she wasn’t interested in anything they had to say. Her nostrils flared in anger, her lip snarled as she shook her head in defiance. 

“I don’t fucking care! I hate-” 

“Hey! Stop! That’s enough!” Ellie's eyes darted to Joel raising his voice as he moved to stand beside his wife, his arms wrapping around her shoulders. Pulling her close as she buried her face into his side. 

“Don’t do that. You wanna hate someone for this? You hate me, okay?” He clarified and somehow the audacity of Joel only made her angrier. “Don’t put this on your mother. It ain’t her fault.” 

Again Ellie scoffed bitterly. How dare he tell her how to feel. Who to blame. They were both at fault for this. She’d trusted them and this was what they’d done?! How could she ever see them in the same way again. “Are you fucking kidding me Joel?!” 

The man sighed heavily, Ada wiping away her stray tears as she looked back at her daughter with bloodshot eyes. Joel was quiet for a second, his eyes flitting back between Ada and Ellie before he finally spoke. “I pulled the trigger, not your mom. You wanna blame anyone then you blame me. Please don’t punish her.” He uttered pathetically. His whole body seemed to sag with sadness and Ellie felt sick the longer she looked at him, she didn’t even bother dignifying his plea with an answer as she shoved passed him and headed back towards Shimmer. Not even bothering to spare them a glance as she mounted and forcefully spurred the horse into a canter and rode away back towards Jackson without another word. 

Ada and Joel watched her go. Both feeling defeated and tired.

The Texan glanced back to his wife when she slid her hand into his and squeezed gently. “You didn’t have to do that.” She whispered. “I wished you hadn’t.” Joel felt his heart ache at the broken look on her face. Her nose and eyes rubbed red from her tears, Her face slightly puffed from the lack of sleep they’d lost from riding through the night to find Ellie. He softly kissed her forehead before dropping his gaze to meet hers. 

“If she has to lose one of us...I’d rather it was me.” He said. “She needs her mother if she’s gonna get through this.” Ada sighed, collapsing against his chest as her exhaustion caught up with her. “She needs you too.” She muffled into his jacket. “We both do.” 

He ran a hand through her hair as he hugged her close. In that moment it hit him just how grateful he was for this woman in his arms. He often thought about his life before Ellie and Adaline and he didn’t like it. There had been no way of knowing how things were going to play out the way they had when they’d met in Boston, but Joel knew without a doubt he wouldn’t have changed a thing. This was a life he’d happily choose over and over. At the beginning after losing Sarah, Joel had given up on the idea of family and love. After losing her, there was no getting it back. But then they’d come barrelling into his life...literally. Ada, eager to protect the young fourteen year old from the strange man forcing his way through the door, with Ellie in toe ready to strike with her pocket knife to protect her then mother figure from harm. If anyone had told him he would then go on to marry this woman, he’d have called them insane. Now he couldn’t imagine life without her. He didn’t think he could live without her. He didn’t want to. 

He squeezed her tight as her own arms found their way around his waist squeezing back in return. 

“Don't worry about me; I ain’t going anywhere darlin’.” He looked down kissing her then let his hands run the length of her arms, taking her hands in his, walking her towards the grazing horses. “Come on, let's head home.” 

Ada didn’t reply as she followed, the two quickly climbing back on and turning towards the same path Ellie had taken. Their horses breaking into a gentle trot. They rode in silence, both afraid of the fall out that awaited them when they returned to Jackson. Tommy and Maria would want to know what happened. If they hadn’t already noticed they were gone, Joel wasn’t looking forward to that conversation. He figured Tommy would understand but he was pretty certain, he hadn’t told Maria the whole story yet. He stole a glance back towards Ada as she rode beside him. But she just looked utterly broken. Her eyes set dead ahead of them, hands gripping her reins like a vice and legs rigid from the panic she’d woken up to in the night; when they'd found Ellie had disappeared. Joel looked back at the path before them. It would be a long ride back to Jackson. He just hoped and prayed that given some time and space...maybe...hopefully; Ellie would eventually understand why they’d done what they had done. And if he was lucky she might even forgive him for it. 

[riverdalepoet]

ALL I EVER WANTED (part 8)

PAIRINGS: Sweet Pea and OC (Emma Carter Wilson); Toni and Cheryl, Kevin and Fangs, Betty and Jughead

WORD COUNT: 2318

TAG LIST: @reblogserpent

WARNINGS: mention of abuse and neglect, language, adult themes

A/N: TA-DA!!! Chapter 8.  The light of day brings some good news for the kiddos we met in the last chapter.  Emma gets a call that she certainly didn’t want...read to see who from and what he/she wants, This is now on AO3 (kaylahselman15) and Wattpad (kaylah14) PLEASE REBLOG AND LEAVE COMMENTS!

PART 1    PART 2    PART 3    PART 4     PART 5     PART 6     PART 7

_________________________________________________________

                Fingers toyed gently with my hair, stirring me from my sleep.  I swatted them away and tried to ignore it, but they were persistent.  I peek one eye open only to see my husband and his outstretched arm carefully coaxing me awake without disturbing Axel or Sienna who lay still between us. After my eyes and my attitude adjusted to the light streaming softly into our room and the annoying prodding against my scalp, Sweet Pea motioned for me to get up with him.

                 “What time is it?” I mumbled, voice thick from the blissful sleep that I was just robbed of.  I made my way straight for the coffee pot.

                 “Six a.m.” He chuckled at the whine I gave him in response. Sweet Pea loved the mornings.  The quiet, the stillness, the anticipation of the day ahead.  I, on the other hand, took about two hours to fully wake up.  “Jug called. Apparently, Lauren’s sister is Cassie Mantle.”

                 “Shut up!” I halted, my hand hovering over the Folgers can.  “I never knew that.  Oh, Sweets, that’s great. The kids really will be in good hands.  Cassie’s as good as gold!”

                 “Yeah, I was relieved.  They’re on their way here now.  Didn’t even hesitate when Jones got in touch with them.  They dropped everything and hit the road.”

                 I squeezed his shoulder as I walked by to grab last night’s soup bowls to throw in the dishwasher.  “Where are they living now?”

                 “Bout two hours north of Greendale- a small town called Pleasant Ridge.  They’re gonna stay with Reg’s parents until Dr. Ellis releases Blazer.”  He rubbed his palms together, fidgeting.  My eyebrow shot up suspiciously.  I waited for him to spit whatever it was that had him stalling out.  “Also…they found Lauren.  Emma, she was so messed up, she didn’t even know she had kids.  Hell, she barely knew her own name.  Jug said that Cassie plans to get her in rehab as soon as she can manage it.”

                “Good!  Maybe with Cassie and Reggie helping out, she can take the time she needs to get clean, and do right by her kids while she still can.”  Sweet Pea nodded.

                 “I’m gonna take them over to the Mantle’s in a bit.  I want to talk to Reggie.  Rob won’t be locked up forever, and I want him to know exactly what he’s got to protect them from.”  His eyes squeezed shut, no doubt as images from last night’s rescue mission came flooding back.  “Fangs is coming here to keep you and Carter company.”

                “Babe,” I groaned.  “We don’t need a Serpent Sitter.  I can take care of us just fine.  That is not necessary.”

                 He fixed me with a hard stare that silenced my objections immediately.  “This is not up for discussion.  I want someone here with you and that’s final.”

                 “Yes sir,” I kissed his cheeks and snaked my arms around his broad shoulders.  “Come on, bodyguard, let’s go get Ax and Sienna up and moving before Carter starts screaming.”

                 He followed me, packing up their things while I got them up.  Sienna’s freckled nose scrunched up as she stretched.  The light of day made the violet bruises look so much worse than I remembered from last night.  My eyes lingered on her face before catching Sweet Pea doing the same with an angry scowl heavy on his brow.

                 Waking Axel up was a challenge.  His sister told me he was not a morning person.  We had that in common.  Eventually, he joined us for breakfast.  They ate quietly until Sienna spoke up, “Where do we live now?��

                 Sweet Pea answered before I could, “Your Aunt Cassie is coming to get you guys, so you all can stay with her.”

                 Axel’s chubby hand reached up to rub his eyes.  “Mommy said Aunt Cassie doesn’t like us.”  Sienna’s shoulders slumped forward and Pea reached over to tug at the ends of her hair.

                “That’s not true.  She got up very early so she can get here to be with you. She’s almost to Riverdale now.”

                “Mommy’s not coming back, is she?” My heart shattered at the desperation in his little voice.  Sweets scooped him into his lap and held him close.  “Not yet, buddy, I’m sorry.”

                 Carter woke up shortly after breakfast, fighting mad.  I tended to him while Sweet Pea loaded the truck up and got it warming up.  Axel was content in front of Puppy Dog Pals, but Sienna was very excited to see the baby awake.  Soon enough his fussiness was ebbed away by the excitement of a new, smiling face to give him attention.

                 “He’s really wiggly,” she giggled watching me struggle to get him dressed.  Carter let out a squeal of his own, thrilled to have another finger to grip in his fist. Sienna stretched up on her tippy toes to smile at him.  He matched her grin with a drooly mirror image of hers.

                 “I think he likes you,” I chuckle, noticing a soft blush creep onto her cheeks and the very tip of her nose. I put Carter in his bouncer in the living room.  Sienna kneeled right beside him, fussing over every belly laugh and gurgle he threw at her.

                “Alright, kiddos, the truck’s warmed up and ready to go,” Sweet Pea announced clapping his hands together. Axel jumped right up, clutching the same blanket he clung to all night.  Sienna, however, lingered, fiddling with the small toys on his bouncer. I straightened Ax’s jacket while Sweet Pea went straight for Sienna, covering her tiny back with his hand.

                 “Hey, you.  You know you can come to see him anytime.  We can come to see you too, how does that sound?” I melted at the tenderness in his voice.

                 “Mr. Wilson?” She squeaked nervously.

                 “Hmm?”

                 “What if Aunt Cassie’s husband is like Daddy?” Sweet Pea turned her around to face him.

                 “He will not be, we will make sure of that. We’ve got you, okay?”  She nodded and stood to her feet stealing one last smile from my baby and running to give me a hug.  Pea kissed Carter on the head and made his way to the door.  He kissed me briefly just as Fangs came rumbling up the driveway.

                 I watched the trio as they walked to the truck. Fangs ruffled their hair as they passed by before bonding up the steps to the front door.  Carter wiggled happily at the sight of him.  Fangs didn’t hesitate to free him of the constraints of his bouncer.  “Hey, little man.  Did you miss Uncle Fangsy? Mommy and Daddy aren’t nearly as fun, huh?”

                 “Watch it.”  I smacked him on the shoulder and sat down beside him.  “What’s new?”

                 “Oh, you know: saving children, beating up complete assholes, guarding the Wilson clan with my life- the usual.”

                 I snorted in response.  “I told him that we would be okay.”

                 “Yeah, well, talking to a brick wall is damn hard. Trust me, I know.  At least we get to hang out.”

                 I smiled, crinkling my nose at him and the nearly passed out baby in his arms.  “ True that, Fogarty.  I know you’re hungry.”

                 “True that, Wilson.”  We chuckled so hard at his reply, we almost didn’t hear my phone ring. I got to it just in time, putting it on speaker so I could plumage my cabinets for the dishes I needed.

                “Hello?”

                 “Emma,” a chillingly familiar voice answered.  Fang’s eyes snapped up to my pale face.  “Why if it isn’t my favorite pain in the ass.  It’s been too long.”

                Swallowing the lump in my throat, I shot back, “Not nearly long enough, Peabody.”  Fangs sat Carter in his chair and rushed to my side, hovering over the phone quietly.  He pressed record on his own phone to capture the conversation.

                 “Not feeling very friendly, are we?  I bet if I got a hold of that sexy hubby of yours, you’d change your tone.”

                 “You leave him the hell out of this, you miserable bitch!  What do you want?” I growled.  Fangs instinctively threw his arm around my shoulders to calm me down.

                 “Well, I happen to be feeling…generous. You can either hand Larry over to me or pay the $5k he owes me.  The choice is yours, madam.  You’ve got 72 hours.”  We sat there stunned for a beat.  “Oh and Emma? Congratulations on the baby.”  With that, the line went dead and I chunked the phone across the room.

                 “What the fuck? What the fuck, Fangs?! She knows about Carter.  She’s gonna hurt him to get to Larry.  OH my god!” He grabbed my shoulders and jerked me roughly around to him.

                 “HEY! We’re going to figure this out.  Pack some of yours and Pea’s and Carter’s things. I’ll call a meeting, and we’ll head to the Wyrm.  It’s going to be okay, I promise.  Do you want me to call Sweet Pea?”

                 “No,” I muttered.  “He needs to make sure that the kids are going to a good place.  It can wait until he’s finished.”

                 Fangs shot me a look of doubt, “He’s not going to like that.”

                 I groaned and started stuffing our things into a duffle.  “I know, I know.”

                 By the time we made it to the Wyrm, Jug was pacing. Rusty swooned at the sight of Carter, and I kicked myself for not bringing him to meet her sooner.  “He’s beautiful, kid.”

                “Thanks, Rus. We kinda like him!” I smiled passing him to her.

                 Sweet Pea came in a few minutes later, clearly perplexed about why this meeting was called and why his child was in a bar.

                 Before he could ask any questions, I eagerly interceded, “How’d it go?”

                “Really well.  They hit it off pretty quickly.  Reggie was just as worked up about the whole thing as us, so I feel a lot better. We’re going to keep checking in on them though.”  He sighed.

                Jughead called for our attention and I tensed up immediately.  “Penny has contacted Emma this morning.  There is a bounty on Larry’s head.  If we don’t bring him to her, we’ll have to pay his debt.  My initial reaction was to say ‘fuck off’, but she mentioned that she knows about Carter.  She’s threatening one of our own if we don’t deliver, and I will not stand for that.”

                 Sweet Pea turned to face me, fire seething from his eyes, his tight-lipped mouth, and his rigid shoulders.  My sheepish grin did nothing to placate his rage.  “Emma,” he hissed.  “Outside, right now!”  I was certainly in trouble.  

                 Fangs shot me a look that screamed ‘I told you so’ as I snuck behind him through the doors of the Wyrm. Clutching Carter to me as a 15-pound shield of cuteness, I shrunk under the intensity of his glare. “You wanna tell me why you didn’t call me first? Isn’t this something I would need to know about?” He smoothed the gravel in his tone slightly when Carter squeaked in protest.  “How am I supposed to protect my own family if I don’t know what’s going on with them, Emma, how?”

                 “Oh, is that my cue? Am I supposed to talk now, or do you want to yell at me some more?” I sputtered.

                 He groaned, shifting his weight from one foot to another and pinching the bridge of his nose.  “If I didn’t love you so much, I swear… You drive me insane.”

                 “The bitch called me about ten minutes after you left.  Fangs was there, so we were safe.  You were right and I was wrong, doesn’t that make you feel better?”

                 He simply flattened his lips into a flat line in response.

                 “No? Ok then… anyway, if I had called you, you would’ve come straight home, so no I do not regret not calling you.”

                 “Of course I would’ve come home, Emma.  I would’ve dropped everything and been back with you as soon as I could.  To hell with…” he trailed off, avoiding my stare.

                 “To hell with what?” I quipped.  “With Blazer? With Axel? What about Sienna? You would’ve said to hell with them and their safety to come chasing an empty threat? Is that what you’re saying? Cause I would not be okay with that.”

                Huffing, he answered after a few minutes, “I guess I see your point.”  His posture visibly relaxed.  I was bouncing Carter around animatedly, resisting the urge to shout “HA”. “I’m sorry for getting upset, baby. I just don’t like you being threatened. The sooner we turn Larry in the better.”

                 “Well, we don’t know what they’re going to vote to do yet, cause you made us leave.”

                 “I don’t give a rat’s ass.  He’s my problem.  This is my choice.  It’s clear to me that he’s in it with Peabody.  They just want the cash, I know it.”

                 I blanched, trying to find the best angle to approach this conversation.  “But what if that’s not the case?  Would it be worth handing him over if he was innocent?”

                “Innocent?” he scoffed.  “He could do good deeds for the rest of his life and still not be considered innocent.  Do you know what he put me through?”

                 I leaned into him instinctively, balancing Carter with one arm and forcing Sweet Pea’s arm to circle me with my other.  “I do, and I wish I could take it all away. I just don’t want this decision to torture you if you make the wrong choice.  I really really really think you should talk to him first.  Then we can figure it out.”

                 He stiffened against me and took shallow breaths. I hated to see him this vulnerable. “I guess.”

                 “Do you still love me?” I muttered, smoothing out Carter’s hair.

                 His chest shook slightly as he chuckled. “Always, Emma.”

                “That’s what I was hoping you’d say. I love you too, Pea.” I smiled pulling him back inside, feeling lighter.

[leelee10898]

Chikara: Itami (4/?)

Summary: Ellie has been saved, but how will the events of the attack effect her? Meanwhile in California, the brotherhood makes another move. The word Itami, roughly translates to pain.

Catch up HERE. As always if you'd like added to the tags, let me know. Also I apologize in advance, tumblr apparently hates the read more feature stil....

Raiting: Mature. Series contains Violence, language, death and Lemons..

Compton, California….

Ximena slipped out to her red SUV, she had it painted to try to throw the brotherhood off her trail. The night Jason was arrested she took off for Compton. An old friend had a house she could crash and lay low for a while, the only person who knew her whereabouts was Colt. With him showing up she would need to put some effort in relocating again, keeping the trail Cold. A quick trip to the 24 hour market for some groceries and she was headed back to her safe house. Not a soul in sight she slowed to a stop at the sign and signaled right. Suddenly a car with no lights came out of nowhere plowing into her car, sending it spinning around 3 times before coming to a stop.  

[[MORE]]

Ximena hit her head on the window, her body jostled around from the collision. She tried to turn the engine over to no avail. Fuck she growled, reaching for her baseball batt she kept tucked away in the back seat. She could make out two figures stepping out of the vehicle  behind her. She quickly assessed her surroundings, her only vantage point was her car stopped crooked, her passenger side a blind spot. She carefully climbed into the passenger seat, quietly opening the door and slipping out.

"Hester warned us about her, she's tough. Stay alert." She heard one of them say as she stayed hidden in the shadows. Come on. Come on. Just a little closer. she thought to herself. "The doors open, she's gone. Check the alley." The other man spoke, as she heard footsteps approaching. Lucky for her, he passed by where she was standing. Once he turned to leave she jumped out from behind the dumpster, swinging the bat at the man, he hit the ground with a thud. She took off running towards her car, the other man on her tail. He lunged at her, grabbing her waist. He was larger than her, not giving her much advantage she struggled against the man finally wriggling free. "You son of a bitch." She swung her arm, the man ducking and landing a blow to her side.

Ximena clutched her side, fire raging through her veins, "big mistake asshole." She reached out grabbing the thug by this neck, bringing her free hand up to punch him in the jaw. The man struggled against her as She backed him up against the wall, pushing him up against it with force, knocking him out cold.  Rushing to her car she climbed in the passenger side, settling behind the wheel. "Come on. Come on." She grunted turning the key, as the engine sputtered. She noticed the other man emerging from the alley way, wielding a baseball bat. Finally the engine roared to life, the man jumped in front of the car, ximena clipped him with the passenger side,  sending him flying backwards.

She picked up her phone, frantically searching for a number.  "Colt. Its ximena, i'm on my way to you.. and your plan, I want in."

New York……

Ellie laid in the hospital bed, still unconscious. The nurses and doctors had left the room, leaving only Nick and her. After answering numerous questions by hospital staff and the cops, he was finally given permission to see her. When Ellie told him she was leaving the party, he was so caught up in the fact she put him in the friendzone, then worry about her safety. After a moment to compose himself, he mentally reprimanded himself for allowing a beautiful girl like herself to walk home alone, and so he set out to trail behind her. He only found her as she darted into a dead end alley, a figure following behind her. By the time he had reached her, she laid barely conscious as he grabbed the assailant off of her, and beat him until he passed out. He called 911 reporting the incident, and Ellie and the assailant were taken to the hospital.  

He was able to get into her phone and give the hospital her dads number. His memory reaching back to the image on her wallpaper, the boy with the leather jacket, dark hair and eyes, his arm wrapped around her waist. He knew he must have been something special to her, the fact made him a little jealous.  He stood next to her bed "Ellie, I need you to wake up. I need you to be ok." He spoke as he noticed her hand started to move. Slowly she opened her eyes, an audible gasp escaped her as she began to panic. "Ellie. Ellie, hey its ok you're ok." She looked over to Nick, relief and confusion on her face. "Nick? Where. Where am I? She whispered. "You're at the hospital, do you remember what happened?" She nodded her head, lifting her arm that was free from wires and iv lines to the back of her head.

"The brotherhood." She whispered.  Nick snapped his head to look at her "what did you say?" A nurse walked in "oh miss wheeler, glad you're awake. Im Nadia, I'll be the nurse taking care of you." She walked over assessing her. "Well everything looks good, however they do want to keep you overnight for observation. And there is a couple police officers who would like to speak to you." Ellie nodded as the nurse left the room, a minute later tow officers walked in.

"Hello miss Wheer, im officer grubbs. This is officer Davis" he motioned to the man standing next to him.  "we would like to ask you a few questions about what happened."

Ellie began to tell them how she had left a party to walk home by herself, when she was followed and cornered in an alley and then attacked by the man. "I see, and do you know the person who attacked you, had you ever seen him before?" Ellie shook her head "No. He said that Jason Shaw sent him to get rid of me. I have never seen him before tonight."

Officer Davis approached her "Had you been drinking at this party?" Ellie looked at the officer shocked.  "I had one cup of punch, hours before I left the party."

"So you're saying your judgment could be clouded by Alcohol consumption. " Davis smirked slightly.

"No. I'm saying that man followed me into an alley with every intention to kill me." Ellie bagam to tear up, frustrated by the turn of events.

"Kill is such a strong word. Were there any witnesses? The way we're told is you two have a history and your jealous boyfriend here stepped in while he was trying to save you."

"Davis!" Officer Grubbs warned.

"No. That's not what happened at all. I don't know him." Ellie sobbed.

Nick stood up from his chair "Hey, that asshole was attacking my friend.  He's the one you should be grilling, not Ellie."

Davis laughed out "ok casanova, calm yourself."

"I'm sorry miss wheeler if this had upset you. I have your statement, he will see a closed circuit judge." Grubbs spoke with a soothing voice.

"What. What will happen to him?" Davis gave her a  wicked smirk, Grubbs more sympathetic.

"He will be charged with assault, however he already has someone trying to post bail."

"B- bail? No. No no no, He's working for the brotherhood. Jason Shaw sent him to kill me. Check the FBIs wanted list, you cant let him go." Ellie sobbed out.

Davis gave her a smirk and walked out the door, in that moment she knew he was in their pocket. Grubbs walked up placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Im sorry Ellie, the best advice I can give you is to file a no contact order against him. I wish there was more we could hold him on." He gave her a sad smile and walked out the door.

Ellie began to panic, Jason wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted, revenge on her for taking him down. "My dad. I need to call my dad." She tried to get out of bed. "Hey, hey calm down Ellie. The hospital called your dad, he's on his way here." Nick assured her as he wrapped his arms around her small shaking frame. "Ellie, it's going to be ok. It's all going to be ok." Nick assured her in a soothing voice, calming her down. Something about the way he spoke was so familiar and she realized it was the same reassuring, soft tone Colt took with her it made her heart ache.

They sat there like that for a while, until the nurse came in telling them they were moving Ellie to a bed in the main hospital and Nick had to leave. That night Ellie struggled to find a good night's sleep, she tossed and turned until exhaustion took over.

Jason looked at her,  a maniacal smile that bared his teeth, chilling her to the bone. "I told you Ellie, Do as I say and nobody gets hurt. It's a shame you didn't listen."  Colts limp body sat hunched over in the chair, clinging between life and death. She tried to scream but her voice failed her, instead she sobbed out a pleading cry as he sauntered over to Colt. "Please. Please no." She managed to get out. "Such a sweet, innocent little thing still.  To bad that delicate skin is going to be your undoing. Say bye bye to lover boy." Jason lifted his hand pulling the trigger.

"Colt….." she Jerked up in bed, screaming as a constant flow of tears streamed her face. She looked around the room,  still in the hospital, alone. No Jason, no Colt, just her completely and utterly alone. The events of the past day wearing her down, He was supposed to keep her safe,  he told her going to Langston would keep her safe and it didn't. He failed to keep her safe, and he failed to do what he promised he would, Love her. Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft rapp at the door. A petite brunette nurse peeked her head in. "Ellie, Its early and we usually don't allow visitors at this hour, but someone wants to see you." Her eyes landed on her dad, he quickly crossed the room throwing his arms around her.  "Oh Ellie. Oh thank god you're ok." He breathed a sigh of relief. "Im ok. She flinched, her body sore from the attack. "If something happened to you Ellie, I don't. I don't know what I would do."

"Im alive." Her tone with a hint of harshness to it. She was angry at Colt for his failed promises,  it wasn't until her father came that she realized she was angry at him too.

"What's wrong Ellie? You seem a little angry." Her dad pulled back, sensing her tone. She sat there, silent for a moment he expression unreadable. "Why didn't you tell me Jason wasn't in jail?"

Her dad, caught off guard by her question doubled back. "Ellie…"

"Dad! Why didn't you tell me?" She demanded.  She was angry, much more than she thought.

"I. Was just trying to protect you." His voice soft, maybe a hint of shame in it.

"Right, because I'm this delicate little flower that everyone thinks cant handle the tough stuff." She scoffed.

"I wanted you to focus on school. The farther you were from this, the safer. " her father reached for her hand, she pulled it back quickly. "Well, look how well that worked out." She rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty tired dad. I think im going to get some rest. You should go get some sleep too. I'll see you later."  Her dad looked at her with a sadness that screamed heartbreak but he nodded anyway. "Ok. Get some sleep, I love you Ellie." He leaned over giving her a soft kiss. "Love you too, dad."

Once the door closed she tossed herself on the bed.  Jason's words from her dream running through her head. Too bad that delicate skin is going to be your undoing. She was soft, everyone seen her as a softie who needed saving, who couldn't get the job done. She was weak, meaningless and useless and that had to change. As she laid there she felt the darkness creep over, no longer would she be weak, useless, the girl who always needed saving. She wouldn't allow Jason to pull her puppet strings anymore.  he was going down once and for all, and she was going to be the one to do it. No matter what it took.

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[television-overload]

16x24 Fanfic

Yall, I'm tired as heck, but after tonight's episode I needed to try to find a way to tie this storyline into Ziva, even if the actual show writers don't go through with it. So this is kinda a fix it fanfic for an episode that hasn't even aired yet. Wow. That's kinda sad.

Anyway, I had this idea, and I was gonna try to pass it on to someone else to write. But then I decided I want the satisfaction of writing this nice ending, so here you go. After hours of typing this on my phone, this is what you get. My version of the season finale and Gibbs' hallucinations of Diane Sterling-Fornell. Etc. ;)

-.-.-

"Diane?" Gibbs asked, shocked to see the woman at his door.

She smiled, and pressed forward. "Aren't you gonna let me in, Jethro?"

Gibbs stepped aside, too stunned to say anything in response.

The redhead made herself comfortable, shedding her jacket and surveying the living room.

Gibbs shut the door and joined her, watching her carefully. "You shouldn't be here," he said, and it was true. She had died years ago, on a rooftop, right in front of him.

Diane scoffed. "What, Mike Franks gets to stop by, but I can't?"

Gibbs sighed, walking tiredly toward his basement. "Not this again," he mumbled.

Diane followed him, trudging down the wooden staircase and taking a seat on the sawhorse. She waited expectantly, her typical stubborn and nosy demeanor not lost in her ghostly form.

"I know you're not much for words, but seeing as I am a figment of your own consciousness, maybe you should start the conversation," she finally spoke, causing Gibbs to look up from the bourbon he was busy pouring for himself.

"What do you want me to say?" Gibbs shouted suddenly, the frustration from the situation with Fornell boiling over. "Your daughter is laying half dead in a hospital, and Tobias is losing it. What am I supposed to do about that?"

"She's not my daughter, she's Diane's," the hallucination reminded Gibbs, who grumbled in annoyance.

"I've lost every daughter I ever had," Gibbs spoke after a moment, sadness lacing his voice. "I lost my wife. Now the same thing is about to happen to Tobias, and I can't do anything about it."

He had seen so many others encounter the same misery he had experienced. Vance and DiNozzo quickly came to mind.

"I wish I could stop it all. All the suffering."

Diane nodded. "It's consuming you. You want to put an end to every injustice and every bit of suffering in the world. But it's too much for one person to bear."

Gibbs shook his head and took a big swig of bourbon. "I tried to let others help, but their fates were the same," he admitted. Kate. Ziva. Clayton. Who would be next? Everyone around him suffered, and Gibbs was very clear about his thoughts towards coincidences.

"My daughters," Gibbs spoke sadly, glancing up at his boat, fittingly named "Ziva."

Diane nodded again. "Kelly was important to you, but you lost her. In a way, she is the reason you are here."

Gibbs looked at his ex-wife, and suddenly her forehead dripped with blood. She, however, didn't seem to notice.

"I had others," Gibbs said plainly, his voice rough and scratchy from the hard liquor. "Other daughters."

"I know you did," the woman spoke, only her voice had changed. When Gibbs looked back at her, it was no longer Diane, but special agent Caitlin Todd.

"Kate," Gibbs whispered, his heart sinking at the sight of her and the bullet hole in her head. He stood from his perch on the workbench and made his way closer. She was so real, his mind was playing tricks on him.

Kate smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling a little. "Hello, Gibbs."

Gibbs shook his head, feeling altogether overwhelmed.

"I'm sorry, Kate," Gibbs spoke, reaching out to her forehead, but stopping short of her wound. He knew she wasn't there. There was nothing to touch, just open space.

After Kelly, Abby and Kate had come along and started to heal the old festering wound left by Kelly's absence. Abby, of course, was alive and well, but he had come close to losing her too. Kate wasn't so lucky.

"Isn't saying sorry a sign of weakness?" Kate challenged, staring expectantly at Gibbs, who made no effort to answer. "Or has that rule been thrown out too?"

Gibbs closed his eyes and rubbed his temples with his fingers.

"It's all a mess," he said finally. "This whole time, rule 10 has been a lie." All these years, Gibbs thought he was the poster child for his rule book. But it turns out, he had been breaking them as long as they were around.

Kate smirked. "Just because you make a rule doesn't mean you always follow it."

Every case weighed on Gibbs, even though he liked to pretend it didn't. It was almost like he left behind tiny pieces of his soul in each case file. Now he had hardly any soul left to give.

Maybe Grace was right. He couldn't keep going this forever.

"I'm getting too old for this," Gibbs admitted, taking another big gulp of bourbon.

"You and me both, Probie," a rough voice replied. And now in Kate's place stood Mike Franks.

Gibbs stood motionless before speaking to his old mentor, who was Gibbs' most frequent ghostly visitor. "Can't seem to leave me alone, can you Mike?" he said exhasperatedly.

"I could say the same thing to you." Mike responded with a deep, wheezing laugh. "You really need me to knock some sense into you every time you have a mental breakdown?"

Gibbs poured himself a refill of bourbon before responding.

"Let's just say, it's times like these I miss our little shack in Mexico by the beach," Gibbs mused, sending a humorless smile Mike's way.

"Running from your problems won't work this time," Mike observed. "Didn't work so well last time either, if I recall."

Gibbs remembered his brief attempt at retirement all those years ago. He had felt so free of all responsibility, but maybe that had something to do with the memory loss. Now, knowing that he can make a difference and lock up the bad guys, he can't just sit idly by. But what was he sacrificing for this job? Ellie and Kasie, his newest daughters, he couldn't lose them too. Nick was headstrong, quick to act, but thoughtful. He had become a part of Gibbs' team, and was now his responsibility as well. They all had stories. Some more tragic than others, but no one had it easy. Maybe it was something about Gibbs' brokenness that drew other broken people to him.

"If I stay away, people get hurt. If I get too close, people get hurt," Gibbs lamented, clutching his jar of alcohol much too tight. "How am I supposed to protect them?"

There was no response, and then a soft, gentle voice cut through the silence. "I thought that's what your rules were for."

Gibbs nearly dropped his bourbon upon hearing her voice. She spoke so calmly, so confidently.

"Jenny."

The woman smiled and gave him a nod.

"I burned rule 10," Gibbs announced, expecting a reaction from Jenny, though perhaps he shouldn't have. She did, in fact, know everything he knew already.

"And..." she prompted him to continue.

Gibbs sighed. "And...I broke rule 4."

Jenny's eyebrows raised. "Any other rules you'd like to throw out? I've noticed rule 12 has been somewhat of an issue lately. Or maybe always carrying a knife isn't so practical. I mean, do you really need a knife when you take a shower?"

Gibbs grunted in frustration. "I don't know what to believe anymore."

"How about you get your head out of the past and look at what is right in front of you for a change," Jenny challenged, her voice becoming stern.

"Because I NEED the past. I have to learn from my mistakes." Gibbs countered, his voice and temper matching hers.

"But you also say to let go," Jenny pointed out. "You tell others to ignore their feelings, to block out their emotions and move forward. How do you reconcile your rules with that?"

Jenny's voice of reason was unwelcome.

"Leave me alone. All of you!" Gibbs shouted. "Get out of my house! Get out of my head!"

Jenny promptly stood and left, her heels clicking on the hard basement floor. Gibbs watched her ascend the wooden staircase, and turned away with a huff once he was sure she was gone.

These apparitions had been pestering him for long enough, and it wasn't helping him with any of his problems. Fornell was still close to losing his daughter, and Gibbs had already lost several. He had dragged everyone he ever cared for down into his pit of suffering and despair. He had gotten emotionally involved in every case he ever worked, and he was only just admitting that to himself. It still weighed heavily on him. He carried every case, especially those dealing with the deaths of the people he loved, with him everywhere he went.

Gibbs heard a squeak on the top step of the wooden staircase, and anger filled him once again. "I told you to leave me alone," he said gruffly, taking another sip of bourbon. When the apparition didn't speak, he turned around to see who it was this time.

Ziva.

There she stood, at the top of the staircase, right where she was when she killed Ari to save Gibbs' life. Of course.

"Not you, too," Gibbs said, exhausted from all this speaking with the dead business. "I suppose you're here to tell me that it's okay to have an emotional connection to a case, and that rule 10 was a mistake all along."

The woman's eyebrow furrowed.

"Go ahead. Tell me about how my rules pushed you away, made you feel alone, and got you killed. Say it."

Ziva started descending the stairs, confusion and sadness evident on her face.

"Gibbs," she said softly, approaching him slowly.

"What?" he asked. His patience was wearing thin.

Suddenly, she jumped into his arms and held him tight, tears streaming down her face.

Gibbs' heart skipped a beat. Slowly, he began to realize that this was no apparition. This was Ziva, truly alive and breathing and standing in his basement.

"Ziver?" he asked, choking on the word as his arms made their way around her torso.

She nodded into his shoulder, sobs wracking her body.

Gibbs stood there in disbelief for several minutes before pushing her back to take a look at her. Unlike Diane, Kate, Mike, and Jenny, she looked different than he remembered her. Her cheeks were a little fuller, and her hair was cut shorter, about shoulder length.

"You're alive," Gibbs murmured, his hand framing her face and inspecting her for any sign that this wasn't real.

"Yes," she choked out, clinging desperately to Gibbs's shoulders. Gibbs was reminded of the moment he remembered who Ziva was, and what she had done after that time that he lost his memory. Their bond had always been deeper than others realized. Bound by death and trust. Right here in this basement.

Gibbs pulled her to him once more, afraid that if he didn't hold her close, her solid form would slip away and he would be left with a ghost again.

"Tony and Tali?" Gibbs inquired.

Ziva shook her head. "I will tell you everything later.

That suited him just fine. For now, he had his daughter back, and the guilt over rule 10 being her downfall was no more.

A tiny glimmer of hope appeared for Emily, Tobias' daughter. And Gibbs was no longer spiraling out of control, not knowing who he was or what he believed.

Now he knew.

He was Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. And he believed in family.

-.-.-

Any comments are much appreciated! If I screwed up anything, blame autocorrect or my big fat fingers. Thanks for reading!

[adam-dumortains]

Slipping Away - Logan x MC

Book/Pairing(s): MC x Logan

Word Count: 1,191 words

Rating: 18+ due to swearing 

Summary: This fanfic is based on the scenes that follow after Ellie (MC) is trapped in the Vault.

Category: Mini series

Warnings / Trope: Swearing, 

Song: Never Get To Heaven - Sarah Blaine

The Mercy Park Crew are ecstatic that their plan had worked: they had stopped the Brotherhood and they were free again. However, feelings are about to change as Logan comes to the reality that Ellie is in the vault, slowly losing life. 

Note: I’m not really sure where I am going with this but I felt inspired, it’s set from my perspective of the next chapter when the crew realise MC is still in the vault. More chapters to be added soon. 

Ellie clamped at her throat, desperately trying to breathe as she realised what had happened. The plan was to get rid of Brotherhood once and for all. Her head quickly looked around the room as she saw the dead body of the hostage lying lifeless in front of her with blood pouring out of his stab wound, her eyes darted to Detective Shaw who was also trying to catch his breath. Ellie couldn’t believe that he had been behind this all and had used to her to gain information, played on her emotions and her currently troubled relationship with her father for his own benefit and for a moment, she was glad she didn’t help him. She could sense time was running out as her breathing became more erratic. She thought of her father and how if she could see him one last time, she would apologise and tell him how sorry she was for how she had acted and she loved him. Soon, her mind flickered to each member of the crew and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Logan’s face in her mind. Her mind was remembering every touch, every word and every kiss her and Logan had shared and she felt as though her heart was physically aching: she would die here alone. She wanted to run to Logan and tell him how much she loved him with every fibre of her being and now he made her feel alive but she could slowly feel herself losing consciousness as her throat began to hurt. “Logan...” she croaked gently as her body began to become weaker, losing the will to fight.

——

Logan’s head shot up as he heard familiar laughter coming into the poker room he was sat in. He could hear the crew laughing and celebrating. A relieved sigh left Logan’s lips as he realised he would see Ellie in less than a second. He jumped up as he heard the door open, ready to take Ellie into his arms and never let her go. He watched as every member of the crew walked through the door, cheering at him about their plan being a success and hurrying to leave the building. Logan’s mind raced as he realised Ellie was not with the crew and his heart dropped as his face turned to panic.

“Where’s Ellie?!” He exclaimed, pushing them to the side as he frantically looked behind them for her, wondering if this was just some cruel prank.

“Ellie?” Mona’s eyebrow raised as she looked at Logan in confusion.

“S-she was here. We had a plan to stop you all before you...”

“I told her to leave, Logan. She is not with us, she probably went home.” Colt said, rolling his eyes at Logan, presuming he was overthinking.

“No. She went into the room to find you all.”

“We went to the vault and-“ Logan’s face dropped as Xiema mentioned the vault and the reality of what had happened began to dawn on him. Ellie has gone into the vault, not realising what Colt’s plan was.

“The fucking vault! She’s in the vault!” Logan shouted at the top of his longs, drips of sweat falling from his head as he pushed the crew away to run down the hall. The crew followed him, panicked and confused.

“How can she be in the vault? We didn’t see her on our way there...” Colt shouted loudly so that Logan could hear over his fastening footsteps.

“What did you do to the vault?” Logan turned quickly and stopped to look at the crew who were also beginning to realise how serious the situation was.

“We... put a gas grenade into the vault.”

“Shit! Ellie!” Logan sprinted down to the hall and stopped promptly at the vault door, his hands scrambling the handle to open it, with the thought of Ellie running through his mind. “Help me!” Logan pleaded with the crew, his eyes beginning to fill with tears as he thought about the prospect of losing Ellie, the only girl he loved. The crew rushed to his side as Colt jabbed the keys to open the vault, all of them covering their mouths to hide their breaths from the toxicity in the air. Logan ran into the room, not even covering his mouth as he scrambled to look for Ellie, his mind racing.

He spotted a body wearing jeans and a red top on the floor and knew instantly it was Ellie. He ran to her side, clutching her.

“Ellie?!” He shouted her name as he looked at her, her body was limp and her breathing still erratic but she was unconscious. Logan picked her up, taking her into his arms as he ran out of the room and down to the hall as the crew shut the vault door, before running after him. Logan ran with Ellie’s limp body in his arms to the nearest exit which took him to alley way, the tears rolling down his cheeks. He gently placed her lower body on the floor with one hand whilst taking his jacket off with the other and placing it on the floor, lying Ellie on top. He looked at her, pleading with a God he didn’t believe in that she would come back to him. The crew ran out of the door and stopped, all shocked and all saddened in their own way as they witness Logan holding Ellie in his arms on the floor.

“Ellie, please...” He moved one hand from under him to wipe the tears flowing from his eyes, ignoring the pain that had come from wiping against the purple bruise that overtook the corner of his eye. “I can’t lose you. You’re the only person who has ever seen any good in me, saw the darkness in me and still loved me. Please...” Logan’s cries became sobs as he gently shook Ellie, begging her to wake up. His body collapsed over Ellie, crying quietly as the crew watched, helpless to the situation and also crying.

“This is all my fault... I should never have gotten you into this life. I’m so sorry, Ellie.” Logan whispered to Ellie, shaking his head as the guilt washed over him for bringing her into such a dangerous lifestyle. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. She was just a pawn at first, something to use for his own gain. Until he started to really see her and began to fall head over heels for her, which never happened. Ever since Logan’s mother was imprisoned and he had never heard from her, the absence of his father, the homelessness he experienced until Kaneko found him and the ultimate realisation that Logan was just a replacement for Colt. Logan had no one, he had his crew, but all he ever wanted was one person to truly care and love him, something he’d never had before and he had found that in Ellie.

“I know this is stupid,” Logan quietly laughed between the tears,” but I googled what your name meant and Ellie means shining light and that’s what you are, Ellie. You’re the light in my life.”

[leelee10898]

Chikara: Zenshin suru (2/?)

Summary:Moving forward. At least thats what Ellie is trying to do. Meanwhile Colt finds trouble back home. Catch up HERE. If you would like added to the tag list, let me know.

Raiting: Mature. This series deals with violence, angst, death, sexual situations and bad choices. Read at your own risk.

Ellie sat up in disbelief oh you have got to be kidding me she flopped back down on the bed. "Oooh come on Ellie, its gonna be so much fun." Ellie rolled her eyes as she was lifted up off the bed. "Seriously Ingrid, how the hell did you end up in here? You had a different roommate." Ellie groaned, could her luck get any worse? A horribly emotional Thanksgiving, and now this, she was convinced someone hated her.

"Well," Ingrid flipped her hair and sat on ellies bed "I put in for a new roommate before Thanksgiving. She was horrible, she used to microwave liver, the dorm smelled like burnt rotten sneakers." She pointed her finger to her throat, making a gagging sound. "So they called with this opening and well,  here I am!" She perked up. "Come on, there's a party tonight in the dorms across the quad, lets go."

"A party? God no. I'm really not in the mood to party, it was a long,  long break and a long flight, you go on without me this time ok. " Ellie refused.

"No can do! I have watched you mope around this campus like a sad little puppy dog. It stops now! Get up, get your ass dressed." Ellie eyed Ingrid in disbelief, was she really going to allow her high school rival boss her around. She stared at Ingrid a moment longer,  arms folded against her chest. "Fiiiiiiine!" She got up and started getting ready. Once she was fully dressed she grabbed Colts jacket and walked out the door.

They walked into the crowded halls of the building across the quad. The music pumping throughout, kegs in many of the rooms and almost everyone had a red solo cup in hand. "Want a beer?" Ingrid tried talking over the loud music. "No. I don't drink." She shouted back, Ingrid shrugged her shoulders "suit yourself."  Ingrid paraded Ellie around, introducing her to so many people. She felt oddly out of place, but if she was going to try and move on, she figured maybe this was a start. What she wouldn't give to have Riya here with her now, but Riya was a little over an hour away at hartfeld. They were standing there talking to some girl Ingrid knew when two guys approached, one with Dark blonde hair, the other a brunette with stunning blue eyes. The girl walked away leaving the two of them, with the two guys.  "Looking good Ingrid." The blonde smirked as he leaned in kissing Ingrid's cheek. "Kyle, this is Ellie. Ellie, kyle." Ellie gave him a shy wave. "Nice to meet you Ellie, this is my friend Nick." Kyle introduced the two.

Ingrid and Kyle were caught up in an intense, flirtatious conversation, leaving Ellie and Nick standing there. "So. You don't look like you want to be here." Nick finally broke the silence. "I'm not really into the whole party scene." She admitted.  "Neither am I, I only came because Kyle wanted to see Ingrid." He chuckled as he stood next to Ellie. "Yeah. Ingrid drug me out. Still getting used to being friends with her, after being rivals for so long."

"Oh, so you two knew each other before college?" He quirked his brow, seemingly interested in having a conversation with her. "Yeah. We went to the same high school. Battled for valedictorian our senior year."

Nick leaned in a little closer.  "And which one of you won it?" His voice low and Intoxicating. She bit her lower lip. Trying to stop the huge grin from spreading across her face. "I bet it was you. You got that smart and beautiful thing going for you." Her face was now beat red. "Beautiful huh?" She tried to even her voice, praying he didn't hear the slight tremor. "I call it how I see it. And you Ellie, are probably the most beautiful woman here." Ellie turned a deep shade of crimson,  it had been a while since anyone flirted with her. She couldn't help but think about Colt, what he was doing in that moment, wondering if he even thought of her at all anymore. Ellie mentally reprimanded herself, she was trying to move on with her life, she needed to stop pretending that she and Colt were anything but a distant memory now. "Hey Nick, wanna dance?" Nick smiled wide "Lets do it."

****

California…

Colt climb off his bike and stashed it, he made his way quickly down the familiar street and ducked in the side through the loose boards. He had been coming to the shop here and there for a few months, ever since the heat from the FBI died down. He hadn't been in a couple weeks, he spent Thanksgiving break with his mom and he was itching to get back to the shop and continue his treasure hunt. He started in the back of the shop, mostly sticking to the private quarters. His pop wasn't like a regular blue collar guy, he didn't use a bank except for the legit auto shop account. Everything else he had was hidden in the shop like In the walls where one or more of his great grandparents installed a fireproof safe, Loose floorboards, hollowed out cabinets with a removable panel. Colt had found the deed to the garage, a copy of Kaneko's will leaving everything to him, the original he was certain in a safe deposit box somewhere, he knew he would have to piece clues together,  it was what his dad did. He also found Several stacks of money, bonds and other property deeds.

He climbed the steps to Logans loft. He had yet to go up there, the bitter taste of Jealousy still thick on his tongue. He hated Logan from the moment he met him, he hated that a pretty boy was his father's prize poodle, he had the nice car,  the good jobs, and he had Ellie eating out of the palm of his hand. He snorted, a smirk forming on his lips when that changed. He swore he could still feel the softness of her lips pressed against his, her arms wrapped tightly around him as they lost themselves in the pacific.

Colt walked through the room, stepping over debris, a gaping hole in the roof letting the moonlight shine in giving him some natural light.

He found a metal box under the burnt bed frame, he had to pry it open, not much inside except a few slips of paper and a flash drive. He checked his phone, 9pm. He had been there longer then he should. He pocketed the flash drive and descend the stairs to the bay. His eyes landed on something glimmering in the moonlight. He reached down to pick up the item,  his heart caught in his chest as he realized what it was.

******

The day he took Ellie to her driving test, he wandered around inside the dmv, waiting for her to finish up. He knew she would pass, she was a natural. A rack of keychains sat displayed in front of him, he fumbled through them until he found the perfect one.

He waited outside as Ellie bounced out of the DMV, a freshly printed license in hand. "I passed, I passed!" She squealed as she threw her arms around Colts neck. "Congratulations. Here I got you something." He held out the silver crown keychain. Ellie looked between him and the key chain, as she took it out of his hand "thank you colt. But why a crown?" Colt shrugged his shoulders, "I'll tell you later, now come on let's get back to the shop."

*******

How did it get here? He knew Ellie had it on her keychain when she left for school, she hadn't been back to the shop after that night, unless. Unless she was there, sometime while he was away. He felt the lump in this throat grow bigger, she was there and he could have seen her. In that moment the need to see her, to feel her in his arms, to hear her voice, taste the sweetness of her lips. It was all too much to bare. He shook the thoughts from his head,  she was at Langston, safely away from the crime ridden streets of LA, it wouldn't be long until he was with her again.

He put the keychain in his pocket, along with the flash drive and headed to where he stashed his bike a few blocks over. He kept looking over his shoulder,  a nagging feeling he was being followed. He got to his stash spot, attempting to quickly climb on his bike and start it and thats when he hit him. Colt crashed to the ground with a thud, his bike coming with him. He had just enough time to roll as his attacker came down on him with a knife. He sprang to his feet, adrenaline coursing through him. His assailant charged forward, colt side stepping, grabbing the attacker by the arm, bringing his elbow down on his shoulder,  the knife hitting the ground with a clatter.

The man clutched his shoulder, crying out in pain. "Wrong choice buddy. Guess you don't know who I am?" Colt spat as the man turned, baring a rage filled face. "I don't ask names, I do what im told." He circled Colt, looking for his opening when his fist connected hard with Colts jaw. The attacker grabbed the knife, as colt lunged forward, tackling him to the ground. Colts first landing blow after blow, the man lifted his hand, slicing into colts side. Fuck! Colt screamed out in pain, it only fueled his rage further as he screamed "Who sent you?" he screamed as he twisted his body bringing the mans arm behind him,incapacitating him. "Arg, not going. To tell you." Colt shook his head as he pulled his arm further behind him. "Ahhh. Wallace. His names wallace." Satisfied colt released his hold on the man, shoving him to the ground. "Of course he didnt give you a fucking name. The little bitch. He knew you'd never fucking do it." Colt circled the man, stalking him like a lion and he was his prey. The man looked up at him confused, A devious smirk played on his lips, "the names Kaneko." He let the name set in. "I'm thinking the letters M.P.C are flashing in your mind right now aren't they?"  The man sat there, paralyzed in fear. "Now, you run and tell all your friends, that MPC still runs things." The man nodded his head and took off.

Colt clutched his side,  the realization that he was hurt crashing down on him at once. He hopped on his bike, flying down the highway to the only place he could think to go.

He pulled up to a small house in a backwoods California town, Killed the engine and walked to the house. He reached the door, banging harder than necessary. "Colt. What the hell are you doing here?" The voice spoke through the latched door. "I know. I'm sorry but, its an emergency." He pulled his blood covered hand from his side. "I need your help."

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