Forbidden Encounter

Chapter 9

Sage's POV:

    Months passed since that incident. I never recovered mentally, but physically, I'm better than ever! Jasmine recovered beautifully and Griffin has gained a new rank. I haven't gone on any severe missions, mainly because I am not mentally ready for it. "Sage, don't feel rushed. I know what happened scarred you in more than one way. Just take it easy, okay?" Jas said to me, bringing me back to reality. I didn't even realize that I was spacing out. I just sat down where I was, looking down at the ground. "I just.." I couldn't get the words out. The pain is something I cannot describe. Jas sat down in front of me and hugged me. I quickly hugged her back, hiding my face in her shoulder. "You don't need to explain anything to me, Sage," she said while smiling, "I know exactly how you feel. I felt the same way when I first started working here." I looked at her. I couldn't help but tear up and hide my face in her shoulder again. She rubbed my head, comforting me. "It'll take time to heal, Sage. We have a therapist and psychiatrist here to help make the healing process easier," she said as she continued to rub my head. I didn't realize Griffin walked in. "Is everything okay, Newbie?" He asked, sitting down by Jas and gently placing his hand on my back. Jasmin turned to look at him, then spoke. "Just PTSD, Griffin. He is still yet to see an on-call therapist about it, which is understandable." "I see," he said, "Look, Sage, we're here to help you through it. It happened to all of us when we first started. It's like a ride of passage that every new agent has to do." "Exactly, but don't feel rushed. We are going to stick with you until the very end," Jas said while smiling. She was gently rubbing my head and I couldn't help but feel comforted by it. Griffin smiled a bit, as he wrapped his free hand around her. I simply stayed there, then I felt Griffin join the embrace. It was a warm embrace. I felt protected by the two of them. "Thank you," I whispered through my now quiet sobs. "You're welcome," they whispered back. The room was quiet, but so comforting because of them. I want to stay with them forever..

Grey's POV: 

      "You didn't have to shoot, the boy!" I shouted. I don't know why I got so protective of him, but he truly didn't deserve to be shot. Not like that, at least. "Getting protective now are we?" Lilliam said. She was sitting at her desk with me standing in front of it. "He hasn't even been in the profession for a year and you decide to give him trauma like that? That is low, really fucking low." I scoffed, crossing my arms. She glared at me, and that made me see a side of her that I haven't seen before. She stood up with such power. She is many positions above me, but that doesn't matter right now. I'm not talking to her as if she was my boss, I am talking to her as if she were a collegue. "You remember when you shot your father," she said coldly, "That was your real first trauma. Yes, killing people is one and gun shots and pain are another, but killing someone you loved is where the real trauma begins." I couldn't believe what she was saying, so I just stood there in visible shock. "That injury to your arm was nothing. Remember when you got that big scar on your chest? That is where real pain for the trauma begins," she went on. I couldn't help but feel furious. "Lilliam," I said while trying to sound as calm as possible, "I understand the points you are trying to make, but none of that happened to me after I was a year in. Sage didn't make a year yet, and now he might not even want to continue this." "And what do you know about him and how he feels or what he wants?" she asked. "More than you think," I responded, then walked towards the doors. "So you have a soft spot for him." Her words made me stop in my tracks. "I learn more and more about you everyday. So, how long have you known?" she asked. I sighed, but kept my back facing her. "I've known ever since I met him, so a few months now. I didn't have these feelings prior," I told her. The tone in my voice was neutral. She sighed, then walked over and placed her hand on my arm. "So then, was what we had fake?" she asked. I froze. There were silence for a few seconds, then she spoke. "I se-" I cut her off. "No, it wasn't. Don't ever think that, Lil," I said as I turned to look at her. Lil was a nickname I gave her. I used it whenever we were hanging out outside of work. "I've known you longer, much longer, so what we have is real," I said it to make her feel bettter. But even now, I don't know anymore. "Are you sure?" she asked, her voice softening. I could tell that she was hurt by it, but I sighed. "Honestly, I don't know now, but before this, it was. And, it'll continue to be real. Nothing will get in the way of it. I promise.." I pulled her into a hug to comfort her, and she hugged back. She whispered a small "thank you" and hid her face in my chest. I have seen many of her sides, but this is one I haven't seen. I've seen her rise to power, in fact I was with her through all of it, but despite all of that, I've never seen this weak side of her. She felt smaller than before. "I'll never abandon you, and I will never use you," I told her. She nodded and wiped away her tears with one hand. "You.. You should go train.." she said while looking away. "Is that a suggestion or an order?" I asked while smiling a bit. She looked back at me, and I looked into her eyes. She was about to say something when the lights started blaring. "Shit, it's an attack," I said. My expression changed and she noticed it too. I looked down at her, "Hide. I'll be back for you. Right now, you are in a state that is not well enough for a battle, so stay hidden." She nodded, then ran for cover. I put on my mask and ran out of the office.

     The fight went on for at least an hour or so. I couldn't get Lilliam off my mind, so I finished fighting my enemies and ran to her office, knowing she was hiding there. "Miss lilliam!" I shouted. Only the lights and sirens blared. I heard no response. I called again.

...

    No answer. I ran to where her hiding spot was and stared in shock and in horror at what I saw. Blood. So much blood. And there she was, lying in it, barely breathing. I screamed and bolted to her side, falling onto my knees while carefully picking up her bloodied body. I cried into her chest and screamed again. Some of my men rushed in and saw what had happened. They crowded around and helped me up, picking her up too. They guided me to our hospital wing, and they rushed her away. I pulled off my mask and stood there, tears rolling down my cheeks. My men, who are shocked at my state-of-mind right now, stayed with me. One even put their hand on my shoulder, but that did nothing. I fell to my knees again, and just cried. Lilliam was a friend, a boss, a leader, but overall my loved one. I cared about her and would protect her no matter what. "Where did I go wrong..?" I questioned. One of my men spoke up, "You did nothing wrong, Sir.." Their voice was calm and understanding. They all kneeled down by my side and put their hands on my shoulder gently. I stayed there, frozen to the world. All that moved were my tears, and all that could be heard were my sobs of pain, betrayal, confusion, and regret.

~End of Chapter (1410 words)