Survivor

Chapter Fifteen

Meredith's eyes widen in shock, her heart feeling like it's about to pound out of her chest. She takes a few steps away until her back hits the wall. William smiles, showing off his nasty, messed up teeth.

"Glad we finally got a chance to talk."

"Get the fuck out." Meredith spits.

William steps forward. "Make me." When she doesn't move, he laughs, closing the distance enough that she can smell his breath. "We don't have very much time together, I'm afraid."

"This trial is almost over, you're done, William." Meredith threatens, wanting to scream or run or anything, but her body is frozen to its spot.

"Oh," He laughs again, reaching out a hand and wrapping it around her throat, though not squeezing. "This is far from over."

"Fuck you!" She yells, trying to conceal the fear she knows is in her eyes.

"You think I pleaded not guilty for me? It's obvious I did it, and I'm going down anyway, so why not have some fun while I do so? How much harder is it for you and those friends of yours now that I'm dragging this out for days?" He sneers.

"Get away from me!"

"My son is still out there. He knows what to do. I'm just warning you, you're as good as dead. It's only a matter of time." Now he begins to clench his hand, cutting off her airway. Meredith tries to move, to struggle but her body won't obey her. She closes her eyes, just wanting it to be over.

Olivia's jaw drops in front of the officers. "Fucking idiots! How did you lose a psychopath? My team is in that room. You tell them he's missing and find him before he murders someone else!" She demands. The men nod, heading off to the private room where Derek, Jake, Maggie, and Ryan are. Olivia knows that lowly court security guards aren't going to do any good here, but some of the best FBI agents are.

She's off at a run instantly, drawing and checking the magazine in her Glock as she dodges people. There's only one person William would want to see if he escaped. So, if Olivia finds Meredith she finds William. She just hopes that her first instinct is right. 

She holds the out gun in front of her, picking up a leg and kicking the door to the women's bathroom open. Her focus is sharp, it barely takes a second for her to process what she's seeing. William, dressed in the flashy bright orange prisoner jumpsuit is pressing Meredith against the far wall, hands around the throat.

"Get away from her, William," Olivia commands. When he doesn't move, she steps closer. "Don't make me shoot you. Let her go." 

Meredith lets out a strangled gasp, one that pierces Olivia's heart. She begins to count down from five in her head. If she gets to one and he's still got Meredith, she'll pull the trigger.

At two, William releases his grip on Meredith, slowly turning with his hands above his head, a sick grin on his face. Olivia keeps the gun pointed at him until she slams his front against the stalls, dragging his hands down behind him and pulling out a pair of handcuffs to secure him with. At that moment, footsteps approach, and the bathroom door is flung open again. 

Derek stands in the doorway, heart pounding with his Glock out in front of him. Olivia gives him a nod, telling him that she's got William under control, and Derek instantly crosses the bathroom to Meredith, who has sunken down to the ground, her fingertips gently tracing her neck as she struggles to catch her breath. He holsters his weapon, crouching in front of her. Her eyes are unfocused, Derek quickly recognizes the signs of a flashback.

When she doesn't react to more people entering the room, he grows even more concerned. Olivia hands-off William to the guards, ordering Jake to go with them and make sure he doesn't escape again, and she turns back to Meredith, her features softening. Everyone is crowding outside the restroom now, giving Meredith space but also wanting to see her.