Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
They got out of the rented limo and Daniel nodded to a few friendly faces. One particular male in his late fifties approached him with a very disapproving lady on his arms “Commander! You came and I heard that you would not make it.” He laughed merrily.
“Sergeant Gu.” Daniel smiled in return “Mrs. Gu.” He didn’t forget to greet his wife.
The women seemed to be more interested in the beauty by his side “And who is this lovely lady. Is that why you have been hiding from our dinner invitations for the past month?”
“Where are my manners.” Daniel laughed easily “This is Erin Yeung. Sergeant Gu and his wife.”
Erin shook their hands in a polite manner “How do you do?”
“Where do you find these ladies?” the man complimented as he gazed at her up and down making her uncomfortable as she put on her defense helmet.
“If you walk down Lan Gwai Fong, you’d find plenty of us.” Erin cooed.
The couple was taken aback as they realized she had just called herself a hooker. Daniel quickly cut in before the silence grew into a block of ice “Erin’s kidding. She is actually one of the top P.R.A. agents.”
“P.R.A.?” the Sergeant was impressed once again.
“Sure, that’s my day job.” Erin added with a crooked grin as she bowed a slow head “Excuse us.” She linked her arm through Daniel’s and walked him inside.
He shook his head with an apparent smile “That was not necessary and you know it.”
Erin peeked a glance over her shoulder to see if the couple was still staring. The woman hit her husband when he gaped after Erin. She laughed to herself “Trust me, it was necessary.”
He stopped her before they entered the ballroom “You know it only gets worse, we can walk away right now. Are you sure you want to continue?” he gave her a last choice.
Rolling her eyes, she dragged him inside by the hand “Come on.”
He gripped her hand tightly, letting no chance slip to show her affection. When they were in the room, she didn’t seem to notice until she caught Ted’s stare. Quickly letting go, she smiled when he approached with Sara on his arm “Hi, you guys came together?” he pointed unsurely.
“Yes, Erin’s my date.” Daniel replied.
“How nice.” Sara smiled “How have you been?”
Erin returned the smile “Very good. Thanks for asking.” Turning to Daniel, she said “I have to use the ladies room.”
“I’ll be here.” He nodded as she left the three to talk.
Ted smiled when he noticed Daniel staring after Erin, making sure she made it there safely “Looks serious.”
Daniel couldn’t help but grin “If I play my cards right, it will become more than that.”
“Erin is very…” he thought of the perfect word “special. She’s not the usual girl you can woo and hope she’ll fall in love with you.” It was more than a hint, it was a warning to Daniel’s ears.
He smiled coolly “Sara, what do you think about your husband calling another woman special?”
Sara was not jealous or bothered as she answered with an even tone “Ted is a man with much love and affection as well as overprotection for his good friends. He is just watching over Erin. It’s only natural.”
“How understanding of you.” Daniel sneered smugly “But I hope you two have a good night and we won’t be running into you again.” He didn’t like Ted’s tone and refused to let his warning pull his mood down.
“Honey, it’s out of your hands.” Sara said wisely.
Ted nodded as he touched her arm gently “I know. But I have a bad feeling about this one.”
“Like you did with Devin?” Sara asked “And any guy she will chose to date. I know you worry for her but she is old enough and definitely smart enough to know who’s good and who’s bad.”
It was the first time Sara had commented on his growing obsession to see Erin find her Mr. Right. He knew he had taken it too far “I’m sorry.” He said sincerely “I know I’ve neglected you. I promise, I’ll try my best to stay out of her business.”
“I know you care for her and I’m okay with that. But your presence obviously makes her uncomfortable.” She pointed out how Erin swiftly moved her entwined hand away the minute she noticed Ted “Women notice things like that.” She tilted her head towards her husband “But they don’t like to notice it all the time.” She hinted.
He smiled warmly and wrapped an arm around her bare shoulders “Yes, Madam.”
Erin reached for the handle at the same time another girl did “I’m sorry.” The girls said in unison “You came first.” Erin said politely.
She didn’t look that much older than Erin “I think we came at the same time.” The girl giggled “It’s a fair fight.”
“I think we can fit through the same door.” Erin chuckled as she opened the door for them. There was a long line inside. She sighed “Looks like it wouldn’t matter.”
“I know there’s an upstairs bathroom.” The girl whispered. Erin smiled in response as they snuck out before any of the other girls noticed. After they finished, they washed their hands together.
“Are you here with your husband?” Erin asked. It was unlike her to be nosy but she felt at ease with the girl somewhat, like they had something in common. She didn’t appear to be having that much fun either.
“Yeah... Well, no…” she smiled weakly “It’s complicated.”
“Say no more.” Erin raised a hand “Been there done that.”
She let out an easy laugh “I’m Jan.” she presented a hand.
“Erin.” She replied with a firm shake “Too bad there’s no window in here, I’d crawl out.”
Janine laughed “It’s the second floor!”
“I’m that desperate.” Erin groaned as they exited the quiet bathroom and back to the boring party. She noticed Daniel was standing near a group of old men. He threw her a help sign with his eyes. She laughed internally “Sorry, I have to save my date.”
“See you around.” She waved and returned to the opposite corner where Devin was crammed in a tight circle with the head officers of the Department.
Erin approached the group carefully “Gentlemen, can I steal away the Commander for a minute?” she interrupted.
“I wouldn’t see why he wouldn’t want to be stolen.” A lieutenant cracked. The other men laughed as if he was doing stand up.
She laughed politely while gently tugging Daniel away “Thank God.” He sighed with relief “I didn’t know I could sleep with my eyes open.”
Erin grinned “I think you’re the one that’s dying to leave.”
“I’m so glad I don’t work with all of these people.” He looked around and shook his head.
“Not all are bad.” She recalled the girl she met “Do you know of a Jan? She seems to be an official’s wife of some kind.”
“Jan?” Daniel shook his head briefly “Not that I know of. Where is she? Maybe I’ll recognize her.”
Erin spun in a circle as she arched her neck to look for the girl “She went that way…” her words faded when she was faced with Devin and Jan talking and smiling with the other Generals. Her heart nearly stopped “Jan…Janine.” She whispered the name. Snickering to herself, she wanted to slap the stupidity out of her mind.
“Maybe we should go?” Daniel suggested when he noticed her gaze had stopped.
Too late, he saw her. She had not planned to run, she had expected to see something of that sort. Devin approached them leisurely “Fancy seeing you here.” He said with a silent dagger shooting towards Daniel.
Erin smiled coolly “Likewise. I met your lovely wife.”
“Actually, I’m not his wife.” Janine realized she was the Erin Devin had told her about.
“Just the mother of his child.” Erin flicked a brow up.
“Not in your eyes.” Devin challenged.
Erin smiled grimly “Why would it matter to me? I am nothing to you as you are to me.”
“Thanks for the reminder.” He said coldly.
Janine and Daniel exchanged glances, it was time to break up the silent fight “Devin, I’m a little parched, let’s get a drink.” Janine jumped in before it got any worse.
His eyes gazed after her until they were at the bar. Erin closed her eyes as she touched her head “Are you okay?” Daniel asked.
“No.” she replied honestly.
“You want to leave?” he asked. She nodded blankly as he ushered her outside. The ride home was uneasy and too quiet “I’m sorry.” He apologized.
“It’s not your fault.” She replied. In her mind, she blamed herself for agreeing to go. How could she not know that Devin would be there? He is Head of Security.
“Let me make it up to you.” He was pleading, she could hear it in his voice.
Erin looked up and was ready to decline when she saw his earnest eyes “You don’t have to, but I guess dinner would make this even.”
“How about I cook?” he offered “I make a mean steak.”
She smiled “It sounds perfect—” they were suddenly jolted forward, she almost flew out of her chair as she reached her arm out to stop from crashing into the other seat. They didn’t have time to question when they heard the doors locked and a gray smoke began to fill the vent. Erin closed her mouth and nose and turned to Daniel who did the same.
He turned to the window and raised a foot as he broke through the glass. The smoke escaped but they didn’t have time to take a whiff of fresh air when a hand with a knife at the end struck through and slashed towards Daniel. He escaped seconds from the attack as Erin grabbed his arm and Daniel kicked the knife from his hand. Erin pulled him roughly through the glass cutting his arm and body. She ran out of air and had to take in the anesthesia filled car.
Daniel rolled to the door and unlocked it manually, kicking it open, he took a lung full of air while fighting off yet another guy. Erin was growing woozy as she felt her lungs weakening. She crawled to the exit but an arm stopped her from escaping. She turned to the guy, he was hanging from the window and gripping onto her ankles. Erin tried to yank away and call for help but she was weakening. Daniel finished the guy as he ran away fearfully. He got to the door and noticed she was trying to pull away “Erin!” He reached for her arm and pulled her towards him. When he got her outside, her eyes had rolled behind her head and she was out “Erin!!”