The Redemption of Ace Merrill

Do your job Merrill.

Stella lay crying on her bed. The tears wouldn't stop coming, no matter what she did, they just wouldn't stop.

Austin had been such a big part of her life and now she had no clue whether he was alive or dead.

He'd taught her everything, always protected her with his life and made sure she felt completely comfortable wherever she was with whatever she was doing.

Skylar stood in her room over by the window as he looked out onto the street. Occasionally he would glance over at Stella on the bed and his gut would clench up every time.

He wasn't supposed to show emotion. He had to remain professional. Her everything she was doing, was exactly what he wanted to do. He wanted to cry with worry for his friend.

Her room door opened as Skylar turned to see Charlie and Billy standing there.

"We got her food." Charlie said as he held up a brown bag.

Skylar nodded as he turned away again. Billy and Charlie exchanged a look. All her agents were being a lot more quiet and tense with the uncertainty of Austin's life.

Billy nudged Charlie closer to Stella, as he felt awful seeing her crying on the bed, clutching at the blankets. They saw her hands wringing together as her fingers gently clawed at each other.

"We got you something to eat." Charlie mumbled as he took a small step closer. "Ma'am." He quickly added on at the end.

He placed the bag down on the bed but jumped back as she swung her arm out and pushed it off onto the floor.

Rolling over away from them she continued to cry. Charlie went to leave but Billy didn't follow him as he walked around to her other side.

"Fuck the rules." He mumbled as he reached to where she was now facing.

Skylar noticed as he clenched up, taking a small step closer. Charlie saw and tried shaking his head at Billy, not wanting an angry Skylar to beat him down.

Yet they all watched as Billy slowly crouched down in front of the uncontrollable Stella. His hand cautiously reached out to her. Skylar moved a few steps closer as he watched.

Billy's hand gently interlaced with Stella's as her fingers instantly clung to his, gently tugging and fiddling about with them together.

A small smile came to Charlie's face as they watched as Stella's breathing slowly became more controlled and the tears stopped falling.

She lay there silently as she kept her focus on his fingers. Gently she played around with them as Skylar took another step forward.

Billy was ready for his discipline for breaking the rules regarding her but it never came. He glanced up at Skylar as he got a simple nod instead.

Her door opened again as Hugo walked in. The three all turned to him as Stella's attention remained fixed on Billy's hand in hers.

Hugo walked straight over to Skylar, placing a hand on his shoulder, he leant closer and whispered something in his ear.

Skylar almost flew out the room as Hugo looked between Charlie and Billy, noticing the way Stella was transfixed on their hands as she gently twirled their fingers together.

"Protect the girl." He mumbled as he walked out behind Skylar.

Charlie and Billy exchanged a look.

"You think that was about-" Charlie stopped, his eyes fell down on Stella.

Billy nodded slowly. "Most likely." He mumbled in response as he looked back at Stella.

"You wanna talk about?" Billy asked her quietly, again breaking the rules but he was past caring when there were none of her agents in the room to tell them otherwise.