In The Company Of Monsters

Better

Mitch sat on the floor, glass shards scattered around and on him. Lily had gone after new prey, but he hadn't found the ability to move just yet. The memory of her face lit by muzzle flash had settled into his brain and threatened to stay front and center for quite a while. 

When this happened to Blair, she was back to herself pretty quickly. After being knocked out, at least. He couldn't accept that she won't be ok. Maybe if they-

From down the hallway, he heard a man's voice. Victor. Then a soft crash like someone losing a fight. He got to his feet, and headed for the main office and the fusebox inside. As long as they were blind, Lily had a huge advantage. For her own good, that needed to change now.

He found the metal box behind her desk. Fingers tracing over the breakers, he found the main and snapped it back on. The lights flickered back to life and Mitch's shoulders relaxed a bit.

He ran back to the sound of the fight, trying not to think of the possibilities. Being able to see and move freely felt like a luxury. How did she manage it so well?

He ran into Jack on the way and shared a look of concern. If Lily had been with either of them, that'd be one thing. But she wasn't, which meant-

They turned the corner of the hallway and found Lily then. She was on her back, unconscious. Jack noticed the gun on the floor by her hand. Victor and Blair stood over her. Victor kicked the now empty gun away from her, but otherwise made no move.

Mitch ran forward and knelt beside Lily. She was out cold, her eyes closed and a purple bruise beginning to show along her cheek. He glared up at Victor. "What happened?" he snarled. Jack stood nearby, studying Victor's face for any trace of deception.

Victor held his hands up innocently. "Hey, I kinda like blondie. She's got more in her than I thought," he said. He shrugged his shoulders. "But someone puts a gun in my face, they get what's coming to them." 

Blair blinked and her gaze fell to the floor.

Jack was paying attention to the details of Victor's behavior, and he saw nothing but truthful indicators. He had no reason to trust Victor, but things seemed to have played out the way he said. And Victor was still the only one of them with a gun.

Still kneeling beside Lily, Mitch's eyes were locked on her bruise. Justified or not, anyone laying a hand on his girl brought up a deep rage within him. His pulse ramped up sharply, and his right fist clenched on its own. Lily may be hurt already, but he could still give Victor a matching injury. His legs tensed to lunge up for the punch, but a hand settled on his shoulder, holding him down.

He turned, not surprised to see Jack. "I know how you feel, Mitch, but I think it's best we focus on Lily now, don't you?" he asked. 

Mitch thought about that long and hard. It might be for the best, but we humans were still animals under the surface, and revenge was a powerful, exhilarating pleasure not easily denied.

Jack saw the feelings play across Mitch's face and waited. He'd sort through the craving for blood, and find his way back to protecting Lily. Getting himself shot would take her already tough life and throw it on a much rockier path. Jack knew Mitch just needed a minute to remember that and he'd make sure he got it.

Mitch struggled inside. He needed to feel his fist smash Victor's face. The siren song of that image was nearly irresistible. But a distant voice grew louder, telling him to hang on to that rage, but just set it aside for now, until the time was right. He realized the voice (and Jack) was right. He let out a deep breath and looked back at Lily.

"Jack, help me get her up, would you," he asked, reaching under one of her arms.

Jack nodded, and moved to her other side. "No problem, Mitch."

The men lifted her, and sat her in a nearby chair. Her long blond hair fell in her face as she slumped forward. Jack pulled out the cuffs they'd used on Blair and held them up.

"For her own protection," he told Mitch.

Mitch nodded once, curtly.

Jack pulled Lily's arms behind her and cuffed her, silently apologizing to the woman. He saw the trail of blood from her arm, and started to ask Mitch for something to bind it, but the Marine had already gotten up and gone looking.

He returned a minute later, and wound a long strip of fabric around her bicep, wrapping her wound tight, until the bleeding slowed and stopped. Mitch stood up and ran his hands through his hair.

"I raised that girl since she was two,” he told Jack.

Jack tried to know what the man must be going through. His gut sank as he realized he had some idea. What do you say  to make this better? 

"She'll be ok," Jack offered.

Mitch shook his head. "Saw a lot of insane shit in the war." He pointed at Lily. "That takes the prize."

"I know," said Jack.

"My little girl put a goddamn gun in my face, Jack."

Nothing much to say to that. Jack put his hand on Mitch's shoulder, hoping the physical contact would be some help. "Hey-"

"Uhhhnnn...” Lily muttered, stirring.

Mitch's heart jumped at the sign of life. He crouched in front of her, pushing aside her hair. "Bug?"

Her eyes flickered open and went wide in confusion. "Mitch...? Where am I?" she asked. "Why am I..."

Then the memories came. She froze, remembering herself hunting them down, her killing the lights, her firing a gun at Mitch.

"Oh, my god," she whispered. "I tried to kill you!"

"I'm here, babydoll." Mitch leaned against her, speaking softly in her ear. "Everything's ok. You're ok now." He took her face in his hands, letting her feel his skin.

The warm touch made her smile, and she pushed her face into his hands. "I am so sorry. I couldn't fight it. I tried, I really did-"

"Hush," said Mitch. He leaned her into his chest. "Not your fault. You got nothin' to be sorry for. Nothin' at all."

In her head, Lily couldn't stop reliving her stalking them down. The events kept running on fast-forward, always ending when she knew Mitch was in front of her as she pulled the trigger. But worse still was thinking she'd killed him. She'd felt no regret, no emotion, just satisfaction. 

Her stomach flopped, and she knew she was going to be sick. She turned her head as the first heave came. She threw up on the floor.

"Oh, baby...” Mitch whispered. He held her hair to the side until she was done. Her face broke, and she sobbed, burying her face in Mitch's shoulder.

He held her tight. Looking over his shoulder, he caught Jack's eye, then nodded at the cuffs holding her arms back. "Jack, can you...?”

"Yeah, of course." He unlocked the cuffs as gently as possible, and Lily wrapped her arms around Mitch's neck. She didn't look up, and her breath came in ragged gulps as she cried.

Jack stepped away, giving them space. He was surprised to see Victor and Blair had already slipped out.

Lily heard Jack leaving. She couldn't find the strength to pull away from Mitch yet, but she had to tell him something anyway. Between sobs, she cried into Mitch's shoulder, "I'm sorry, Jack."

Jack heard the muffled words and a weak smile came. "We're good. Just rest," he told her.

He backed away and left the room, giving them privacy.