Dead on arrival (FOB/Patrick Stump Fanfiction)

Eleven

Annie's point of view

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"Brendon... I think it's time we come out of hiding. It's been too long. We need to get out of here and take Brad down... Before it's too late."

"Annie, we can't-"

"We can, Brendon... we have to. If we don't now, then when? Who's going to put a stop to this? I know I agreed to laying low for a while, but I'm starting to get concerned. No one has called to check in on us... Not even Patrick. I'm sorry Brendon. I think it's time that I take matters into my own hands." I put my hand on the door of the van, swinging it open. I turned my back to the car, and walked away.

"Annie! Wait!" Brendon screamed. I could hear rushed footsteps coming my direction, and I briefly turned around. Brendon was running after me. He gasped heavily as he caught up with me. I crossed my arms over my chest and smiled sarcastically at him.

"Oh! Look who decided to come running back!" I smirked, sarcastically. He rolled his eyes once he caught his breath.

"Okay, so you're right. I admit, it's been way too long, we need to help Maddy and the guys, but I don't want to risk your safety, it's too-"

"Who cares about my damn safety, Brendon? Right now, I'm more concerned about trying to save everyone else! I'm not here to hide from the "bad guys" I'm here to take them down! I'm not about to waste anymore time! You're either with me or against me, because I'm not just going to sit here while Maddy and the guys risk their lives for us! What's it going to be, Brendon... are you in, or are you out?" I crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for him to say something. He was quiet for a minute, but his eyes slightly widened. I couldn't tell if he was surprised, or at a loss for words.

". . . . I'm in." He nodded his head, and I grew a slight smirk in the corner of my lips.

"Good, now let's take this guy down, so I can go back to living a normal life." I said. Brendon suddenly bursted into a fit of laughter.

"Haha, you're hilarious, Blondie!" Brendon laughed, walking side by side with me.

"What are you talking about?" I stopped dead in the middle of the sidewalk, and turned to look Brendon in the eyes.

"Annie... you're not going to live a normal life after this is all over. I learned that the hard way when I ended up in your shoes six years ago." Brendon explained.

"What are you saying?" I asked.

"You really think you're going to go back to living a normal Midwestern life after discovering a top secret organization? No way! It's not that easy, Annie! You know more than you should... and now that you do, there's no way you can live your normal, old Chicago life! That puts you way more at risk. The same thing happened to me when I joined this organization years ago, and the same thing is going to happen to you and the guys, too. That's just the way things are, but trust me, it gets better, I promise. I know how you feel, and I'm here for you. No one is going to let anything bad happen to you. Neither will Patrick. He's going to protect you at all costs, no matter what it takes.... he loves you that much. Just keep your head up. Patrick has your back through all of this, and he won't let you fall." I smiled, looking down at my shoes.

"Thanks, Brendon." He put a hand on my shoulder, and we turned around, making our way back to the van. I sat beside Brendon in the passenger seat, staring out the window as he drove us back to the warehouse, no words spoken the rest of the ride. Once we had arrived back, I could sense something was wrong immediately. When we stepped foot back into the building, Maddy seemed different. She was staring mindlessly into space and was sitting on the couch. She was leaning forward with her elbows resting on her thighs, and her chin in her hands. Joe and Andy were sitting on each side of her on the couch. I looked around the room and noticed Pete and Patrick weren't here.