Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The team gathered in the van to meet up with Mia at Yan Sum Hospital. When they got there, she stood outside Ethan’s operating room “Mia.” Ted announced their arrivals “How is he?”
“I don’t know. They’ve been checking all night.” She looked worried “Did you guys catch him?”
Chuck shook his head “He had Erin with him the whole time, we didn’t have an open target. We’ll get him next time. Right now, we need Ethan to be okay. He’s the only one that knows where they’re staying.”
Mia nodded “I know.” She let out a sigh “If only we were a step faster.”
“TK was determined to get Ethan, there was no stopping him. Don’t feel so bad.” Darren assured her “We’ll all pray for him.”
She smiled gratefully “I know I will.” Hours later, the doctors finally emerged from the operating room “Is he okay?!” Mia popped up from her seat.
“He was held underneath the lake for a good 7 minutes, his lungs were filled with algae and fluids from the lake. We cleaned out as much as we could. He’s in stable condition but still very weak. Only one person can see him at one time.” He nodded while the team thanked him.
Mia turned to her group “We won’t fight to be the first.” Doug teased as he pushed her in.
She smiled and threw a glance at Darren who nodded at her. Mia turned and hastily walked through the swinging doors. When she got to his room, she found Ethan with tubes in his nose and monitored wires throughout his chest. His face was pale but his heart was beating from the rhythmic beeping sound of the machine. She looked at him from head to toe, her heart ached as she reached out lightly to touch his face “What did he do to you?” she whispered.
The sound of her voice woke him up as his eyes fluttered “Mia…” his voice was hoarse but he managed to give her a warm smile. She covered her mouth to hold in the cries “What’s wrong?” his eyes turning to worried.
“I thought I had lost you.” She managed to let out in a shaky voice.
Ethan smiled with his head shaking “I can’t die that easily. I have to help you guys find Erin.”
She nodded “How did you get out of the lake?”
His eyes distant away as he tried to recall the situation, but it was too hazy in his mind “I’m not sure. I remember struggling to get loose but after a couple of minutes I gave up. I couldn’t hold my breath that long and I had fainted. When I woke up, I remembered I was in the hospital and they were pulling me into a white room. I don’t know who saved me.”
Mia brows wrinkled above her eyes “We got an anonymous call from a person that said you were at a deserted lake. He even gave us directions. Ted and I got there and we found you unconscious, the ties around your arm and leg were cut. There was a chained ball locked at the bottom of your feet. No one else was in sight.”
“Strange.” He said it more to himself.
“Well, don’t you worry. There won’t be a next time…I’ll protect you.” Mia said courageously. He laughed and then winced in pain “Ethan!” she stroked his face softly.
“Don’t make me laugh.” He groaned painfully “It hurts.”
“That’s what you get for making me cry!” She scolded playfully.
He frowned “When did you cry?”
She smiled “It’s not important.”
“No, it is. Did you cry last night?” he was worried.
“Just a little.” She smiled guiltily “But I’m okay now!” she grinned wider to show him.
He shook his head “Mia, I don’t want to ever hear that you cried again. Even if something happens to me…I don’t want you to be sad. Life is about death, there’s nothing you can do when it’s calling for you. I only want to see you happy, because that is who you are. And that is how I want to always remember you.”
She began tearing up again “You talk like you’re about to die.” She gripped his hand tightly “Hey, after we catch the psychopath, how about you and I take a vacation?”
He smiled slowly “That sounds nice. Where do you want to go?”
Mia raised her brows as she wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes “Does my ears deceive me? Dr. Chan is not putting up a fight? No more good things to say about Darren or trying to convince me that I don’t like you?”
Ethan shook his head “I trust your judgment.”
“Well it’s about time!” she teased.
“At the beginning, I thought you were doing it out of pity. But I can tell that you are serious about your feelings. I think it’s time I stopped being in denial. After this incident, I have learned to be more appreciative of the things that I have. I’m not letting go.” He squeezed her hand tightly.
Mia sighed as she gave him a warm smile “Same here.”
************
TK walked Erin into the abandoned home, she had sensed his tense hands since he walked her from the car “Is something wrong? You seem a bit tense.”
He was reluctant but eventually came clean “I lied to you Erin. When we were at the Memorial, I saw the team. They were hiding behind trees with guns pointed at me. I think if you weren’t there, I wouldn’t be standing right now. Maybe you should return to them.”
Her face frowned “I shouldn’t have dragged you with me.”
He shook his head vehemently “No, I want to be with you. It’s my choice. But I think it’s a matter of time that they’ll find us.”
“Let’s get married.” Her request was sudden as he was taken aback.
TK arched his neck towards her “What?” he laughed, “I thought you just said let’s get married.”
“I did.” Erin said solemnly, she sensed his hesitation “I’m serious, Tay. Let’s just do it. That way we’ll get the money and leave this country. We’ll go to America, where they’ll never find us.”
He knew it was too good to be true, but the earnest in her voice could not be hidden. Maybe the hypnosis worked too well? Eventually, he nodded “Okay. If that’s what you want.”
She sighed out a smile “Let’s do it right now. Before they get here, they won’t guess what our plans are.”
“Someone’s in a rush.” He tilted his head playfully “I’ve been waiting for this day for a very long time.”
She was beaming “I don’t want to wait any longer.”
He agreed as they quickly packed up and left the home. They drove straight to city hall and made reservations to sign their nuptials that very night. The paper work took most of the day as they had to retrieve their birth certificates, find a witness and get new clothes.
She wore a simple white dress that the sales girl picked out and TK had on a simple black suit that he rented. The witness was a person he paid $1000. bucks to stand in as a close friend. He was careful at the bank when they signed to get their certificates from the safety deposit box.
“Were they suspicious?” Erin asked when they walked out of the bank.
He turned his head over his shoulder “I don’t think so.” No one had followed them out.
“Is it time?” she asked hurriedly.
He nodded “15 minutes.” They rushed over to City Hall again and prepared to say their vows. The judge began right on time as he read the nuptials. TK was holding onto Erin’s hands the whole time and she had a plastered smile on her face. When he announced that they were husband and wife, TK leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. He was about to move to her lips when she quickly hugged him.
“Thank you.” She whispered into his ear.
He smiled while hugging her tighter “You’ve just made me the happiest man alive.”
They broke apart and the judge handed over the marriage certificate “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” TK nodded as he took Erin’s hand and led her outside.
“Where are we going?” Erin asked when they were in the car.
He began driving off “Somewhere that the team won’t find us. You don’t mind that we’re not in a hotel for our wedding night do you?”
She shook her head “I don’t care as long as I’m with you. I wouldn’t be able to see the beautiful room but in my mind it’s gorgeous.”
He reached over and took her hand “I’m so lucky to have found such an understanding wife.” They came upon a run down three four warehouse that use to be dominated by sewing machines. But now, only cobwebs were its tenants. The metal door slid open with a loud creek. TK led her up the stairs until they were in an office like room. An old couch was the only homey effect. He placed the bag of candles he had in his hand down on the table. Lighting up a few, he looked around at the musty room “Maybe it’s good that you can’t see this room.”
“That bad huh?” Erin smiled as she found her way over to the couch “What are we doing next?”
He returned to her side on the couch “We’ll stay here for one night and then tomorrow we have to head off to the City Hall again. The inheritance forms were sent there. Originally there were two copies, one was kept by the lawyer present and the other was left at the City Hall.”
“I see.” She nodded and let out a tiring sigh “Maybe now we can live in peace.”
“We will.” He smiled as he looked over at her. She was glowing in the candlelight. He reached out and touched her flawless face “You’re so beautiful.” He whispered.
She lowered her head shyly “You’re just saying that.”
TK placed both hands on her face “I’m being dead serious. You are all that I need. Trust me, no one will ever find us. You won’t have to ever worry about them again…”
Erin hid the chill running through her body as she leaned her head onto his shoulder “I will go wherever you go. If you don’t want to return, I won’t either.”
“You have the heart to leave them all behind?” TK asked. There was a double meaning behind his threatening words.
She nodded against his chest “They’ll forget about me one day.” She let out a slow yawn and he his head turned to down.
“You tired?” he asked and Erin smiled in response “Take the couch. It’s too small for the both of us.” He moved so that she could lie down, his fingers combing her hair back from her face “I’ll take a raincheck for this special night. We have a long day tomorrow. Good night.” He kissed her on the forehead.
“Night.” She whispered. Her eyes closed but she knew that he had already left the room.
There were other things he needed to take care of. He rushed to the car and got out the explosives he had bought a few weeks back. He placed on each four side of the building and one in the center of the second floor. TK was ready for the team, he planned on getting them once and for all. The next morning when Erin wakes up, he would send a cab to take her to a hotel where he would meet up with her later. The plan could not go wrong, it was his only way to get the P.R.A. off his back for good. He didn’t want their lingering shadows following them.
After an hour, he returned to the office where he found Erin sleeping peacefully. Her face angelic while her breathing was slow and steady. He knelt down in front of her face as he began stroking her hair and cheeks with the back of his fingers. She stirred a little but didn’t wake “They won’t bother us again.” He said softly “Never…” he promised.