In The Safety Of A Lie - COMPLETED!

Chapter 21

Joey carefully walked next to Evelina as they left the hospital. He didn't dare let go of her and risk her falling. The paperwork had been signed and she had been released within a few hours of him talking with her doctor. He hadn't been too sure about the man at first, and he still wasn't completely sure what he thought about him, but he seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. For that, Joey was thankful that Doctor Wiley had been around and available.

They neared the car slowly. Taking each step carefully. Joey split his attention between keeping an eye on Evelina and an eye for any threat around them. "You may want to sit in the backseat." He suggested, remembering the unclean, bloody passenger seat — the memory of her nearly dying next to him.

"Why?" Ev couldn't stop her curiosity. She smiled slowly. "Got me a present, did ya?" She couldn't help but joke with an impersonated, British accent. They had just been through a traumatic experience; she didn't feel the need to keep the moment so serious.

"If you'd call all of your blood a present, then I guess so." He didn't bother in returning her humor. The thoughts and feelings were still too raw. It felt like only moments ago he'd rushed her into that hospital without a pulse, dripping blood, and feeling helpless in being able to do anything more.

Evelina sobered up quickly. Her eyes searched his for answers. When she found none, her voice grew even more serious than his. "I'm not dead, Joey. It's just blood."

He stopped walking and looked down at her, staring silently at her for what seemed like an eternity. Silent love and obvious worry radiated from his eyes to hers. He opened his mouth several times to say something, but nothing was uttered. He looked away briefly, then continued to lead her to the vehicle. He gently opened up the backdoor and waited for her to get in.

Evelina entered the vehicle, staring speechlessly at him as he shut the backdoor. She wasn't sure that she wanted to say anything right now and break this unreal, serene silence.

"What the heck, he isn't sitting up there alone." She muttered and tried to open up the door to get out. Her wrists wouldn't allow her hands to work and the effort provided to be much too painful. She bit back a cry as she realized how much of an invalid she really was right now.

They drove in silence back to Nakita's. Ev didn't know what to say to him and she was too tired to really put together many meaningful thoughts. She didn't know if what she would say would help what he was feeling right now anyway.

Joey parked in front of the house and got out to open up Ev's door. He gently helped her out, letting her lean against him up to the house.

Ev bit back a surprised comment when she noticed Jimmy taped up on the couch. She didn't realize what Joey had done. She was equally surprised to see Nakita holding a gun by her side, keeping the prisoner there with them. It didn't surprise her with the extent that Joey would go to protect her, but she'd never guessed they'd be keeping a hostage with them either.

"Well, I can see you two made it back alright." A slight bitterness was obvious in Jimmy's voice as they entered the house.

"No thanks to you." Evelina couldn't help but weakly mumble back.

"I was protecting Joey. I was doing my job." He stated clearly, looking up at Joey with regret edging his voice. "Joey should have been doing the same thing."

"It's not going to be a problem anymore. He'll be safe." She said quietly, allowing Joey to gently guide her to the closest, comfy chair.

Jimmy looked at her quizzically. His face did little to hid his obvious confusion with her comment.