Chapter 22

“Grace?” Gavin called for what must have been the hundredth time, flicking on the light and walking down the basement stairs. After searching every room in the four-floor house, this was the only place left where she could be… he saw her then, sitting underneath the stairs. “Grace…?”

She wiped her eyes on her sleeve, trying to get rid of the evidence that she’d been crying. “My mother would take Cassidy into the basement and stuff her into the crawlspace underneath the stairs if she thought she’d been bad. Sometimes mom wouldn’t let her out for days at a time. I’d come down and sit next to the space for her – I could never move the filing cabinet – it was too heavy.”

He sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her. It had been three weeks since Cassidy’s return, so he knew that that wasn’t what was making her cry now. “What happened?”

“I…” Grace couldn’t seem to form the words. “I lost it.”

“Lost what, honey?” He asked gently, helping to wipe away the few stray tears she had missed.

“The baby.”

“You were…” He hugged her close. “It’s alright. It’s okay, Grace. I know it hurts, I know you’re upset, but it’s okay.”

“It’s not. I was going to tell you…but then I lost it…and I couldn’t.”

“Shh. We can still have a baby someday.” He softly kissed her cheek.

“I…I don’t know if I can.”

“Well we’ll worry about that later.” He kissed her softly, still hugging her close.

“My stepfather did something to me…”

“Shh,” he repeated, just holding her close. “It’s okay.”

~*~*~*~

The phone rang, and Bryce Callahan picked it up. “Yeah?”

“Sir…we’ve encountered a slight problem…” Agent Krit Lee began hesitantly.

“Where’s the problem? Get the body, hack it in pieces, and send it back to his stupid fucking family gift-wrapped.”

“There lies the problem…sir, we can’t *find* the body.”

“He was lying dead on the friggin’ pavement! I kicked him myself and he didn’t so much as breathe at me! Are you telling me he got up and walked away?!?”

“Either that or someone stole it.”

“Find it. Now,” Bryce snarled. It was too good an opportunity to lose.

This, Gavin decided, would probably be the hardest day since Cassidy had returned for any of them.

Holly walked over to Gavin. “Where the hell are they? It’s awful that she cost me my son, but now she’s going to make me miss the memorial service too?”

As if on cue, Cassidy came downstairs. It was clear she had been crying again, and she didn’t look at Holly.

“Hush,” Nathan said gently. “Let’s go.”

The door opened of its own accord, leaving the group standing in the parlor staring at the doorway. Who could possibly just walk up to the Spencers’ door and push it open, with all the security and the locks and…

Garrett stepped into the parlor and looked around the room. “Who died?”

Cassidy fairly threw herself at him. “You’re alive… you’re alright…”

“I told you I had a plan, didn’t I?” He kissed her firmly. “Did you think you could get rid of me that easily?”

“I was so scared…” She trailed off.

“I’m sorry baby, but I had to make you all think I was dead for my plan to work…” For the first time, he looked around the room at his parents.

Holly fairly lunged at him, shoving Cassidy away. “Don’t you ever do that to me again, you horrid boy,” she said warningly, then hugged him. “You’re safe…”

Garrett smiled. “Mom…you should know by now that it takes more than a couple of bullets to kill me.”

Gavin simply watched for a moment before moving to place a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Welcome back. You hurt any?”

Garrett looked at him. “No, I’ll be fine. Thanks.” Garrett replied.

Gavin simply nodded and went to sit by Grace.

Garrett sat down with Cassidy and held her close. “You okay?”

“Now. I’m okay now.” She kissed him.

Grace squeezed Gavin’s hand as he sat down. She opened her mouth to say something but looked down in alarm at her hand, which was now stained with blood. “Oh my God…”

At the exact same moment, Cassidy had noticed something as well. “Not hurt? You’re bleeding like crazy!” She jumped up suddenly.

Garrett took off his jacket. “Something must’ve opened up…” He said, closing his eyes. The room was so hot and he just wanted to sleep…

It was Nathan who caught his son when he fell. “Let’s go,” he said simply, leading the group to the building’s medical area.

“You stay away from my son, you little death-wench.” Holly muttered darkly as she walked past Cassidy.

Cassidy suddenly stopped walking, wondering where the kindly lady who had helped her get ready on the morning of her wedding had gone, and when Mrs. Callahan had moved in.

“Is there anywhere I can wash my hand off?” Grace looked at Gavin. “You might want to do the same.”

“Doesn’t matter to me, we’re both infested with the same blood anyway.” He guided her to a sink.

Grace washed off her hand and then did the same for Gavin. “Still…you wouldn’t want to walk around with blood on your hand.”

“Guess not.”

Holly paced back and forth in the hallway, not being allowed in with her son. “This is all Cassidy Kincaide’s fault.” She repeated over and over to herself.

“Cassidy Spencer,” Cass corrected, getting to her feet. “And at the time you thought it was a fine idea for us to get married.”

“That was before I knew what you were willing to sacrifice in order to save your own ass.”

“Holly, sit down and shut up,” Nathan snapped, having had enough. “Because I’m sure this is just exactly what our son – and her husband – is going to want to hear when he wakes up. My mother didn’t like you either.”

Holly opened and shut her mouth, doing as Nathan told her. “Bitch.” she muttered under her breath.

Nathan put an arm around her. “Hush, Holly. You aren’t acting like yourself.”

“Are you okay?” Grace asked softly. “You seem like you’re walking around in a daze.”

“Yeah… I’m glad he’s back. I really *don’t* want the organization… he better not die now.”

“I don’t think he will…he survived a firing squad, I doubt he’ll just die.”

“How’s he doing?” Holly asked.

“He’s fine at the moment,” a doctor replied. “Though his wounds weren’t treated very well the first time.”

“I hope so. He damn well better,” Gavin replied.

“He will be.” Grace kissed him softly.

“Garrett’s first concern was probably getting home, not getting his wounds treated.” Holly replied.

“He’s asking for his wife,” the doctor said.

Holly shot Cassidy a look as she got up and entered the room.

“Hi,” Cassidy said quietly, cautiously sitting on the edge of the bed.

Gavin pulled Grace close.

“Come here.” Garrett said. “How are you doing?”

“I’m not the one who found myself on the wrong end of a firing squad, how are *you* doing?” She asked.

“I had a bullet proof vest on.” Garrett said. “A few bumps and bruises, but other than that, I’m okay.”

She cautiously reached out to take his hand. “Your mother doesn’t like me much anymore.”

“As much as I love her, she can go screw, because you’re my wife and the most important thing in the world to me.”

Cassidy kissed him softly. “I was so scared… I didn’t know what I was going to do without you…”

“Well you don’t ever have to find out, now do you?”

“Guess not. May I curl up next to you?”

“Before you do…you might want to lock the door…I don’t want anyone getting a peep show of my wife.” Garrett responded with a grin.

Cassidy laughed… but she did lock the door.

“Grace?” Gavin asked after a few minutes.

“Mmhmm?” Grace seemed on the verge of falling asleep in the uncomfortable hospital chair.

“Listen, this isn’t exactly how I wanted to do this, but… will you marry me?” He pulled a small box from his pocket.

“What?” She sat upright. “What?” She repeated, looking from him to the jewelry box back to him.

He opened it. “I know we might have to wait until Callahan decides to stop hunting us or until Garrett’s on the mend or until that demon stops possessing my mother, but I love you… will you marry me?” He asked again.

“You…you want to marry me?”

“I want to marry you,” he confirmed. “Please?”

Grace smiled and kissed him softly. “Yes.”

“I knew asking nice would come in handy,” he teased, then stood up, lifting her to her feet and whirling her around.