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ladyofavalon77) wrote2007-03-14 11:50 pm
Sometimes you just have to learn to let go...
As I prepare for Monday night’s 24 episode, I’m preparing myself for the worst case scenario. I will not be caught off guard again like I was with the Emmy’s. Then if the blow comes, it won’t be a surprise. We’ve had a good run and I’m thankful for what has happened. Now it’s time to get on something more important J However, before letting something go, check out this bit of news!
So last day at work until my mini vacation and I got nothing done! Idiot people crowded the desk five minutes before closing and we didn’t finish with them till way past the time we’re supposed to be off the clock. Oh well! I just grabbed what was most important and filed that. Hope I don’t get any call backs.
Well, I’ve started to watch Jericho again and find it mildly entertaining J This time (Semper Fidelis Episode 1.15) the Marines arrive in town to restore electricity and get things back on track. It really gives this show a much needed shot in the arm. When the head marine rolled into town and announced we’ve won the war and the military is helping to get America back on its feet. The Army Corps of Engineers are on their way to make the necessary repairs so power is restored all over the US one town at a time. Evidently, the attacks were the result of nuking North Korea and Iran.
I really liked the standoff between Hawkins and the other woman in his life. It was full of high tension and unresolved issues. The wife knew all along she was playing him. Jake’s little romance with the female Marine is cute…she’s tough and won’t take any guff. I did like how the old mayor and the new mayor tried to show off to the marine about how they took care of the town. Unfortunately, that puts them way down on the bottom of the list for assistance from the government.
And then…it was all a ruse! They had a guy outside town pretending to be headquarters on the walkie talkie. Their story was just a ruse to get food and supplies…they’ve been pulling this stunt at each town and got the equipment from some marines they stormed in an angry mob. It’s sad how Jake tries to convince her to stay so she won’t get killed. I like how the dad and Jake figured it out but let the people have hope so escorted them out of town before taking the guns and tank from them. Now Hawkins is alone as his wife took the kids and left after he killed the other room…but he’s meeting with the man she was talking too…
So Lost continues to amaze me.
Yes I know it asks a lot of questions but I don’t want any answers…I just like to be mystified and intrigued. Once you reveal the endgame, half the fun is gone J This episode (Par Avion Episode 3.12) centered on Claire’s flashback and confirmed what many Lost fans have suspected…Claire is Jack’s half sister. I really like the guy who plays their father…the guy has lots of layers to him and he wanted to help his daughter but didn’t want to hurt her either. Claire is SOOOOOOO much better as a blonde…she has these great blue eyes that really stand out if she has dark hair and it’s kind of creepy . The actress handled the flashback pretty well even if I didn’t think it was very interesting.
The stuff on the island was way more intriguing! First of all Claire wanted to catch a bird to send a message to get them off the island. I don’t think that will work because they seem to be waaaaaaaaay out. How far can this little bird fly? It only went as far as the Others’ camp. The sonic weapon fence!! Oh that was awesome when Locke pushed the Russian guy through and it completely fried him. Speaking of which, something is up with Locke. He’s up to something and I think it’s something he discovered in the little house they found the Russian guy at. And what’s this list he mentioned? “You’re part of Flow and not on the list” Hmm and then there is this guy who is in charge of everything and it’s not Ben. We’ll just have to wait and see! Favorite moment: Danielle Rousseau telling Kate why she doesn’t want to know about her daughter. The lines were heartfelt and heartbreaking at the same time…great acting!
That's all for TV shows…on to fan fiction!J Now that I’m off a few days I hope to get some chapters written. Posting a chapter a week should motivate me because soon I’ll be out of chapters and HAVE to write something! Anyways this was an important turning point in my story because Aaron almost loses Martha to a gunshot wound and must struggle with how to handle her possible death. After doing everything right, he still might lose her forever. This chapter was also the most difficult to write since I couldn’t find the right attitude for Aaron in this situation. Did I want him to confess his feelings at this point or just be the tender, understanding guy he always is? Read on to see where I went with it!
CHAPTER 11
Why had he left her alone? The cardinal rule in the Secret Service handbook was never leave the subject alone, not even for a minute. With twenty years of experience under his belt, there was no excuse for this break in protocol. Maybe it was time he retired…or maybe…he was just getting too old for this. Readjusting the grip on his weapon, Aaron Pierce refocused his attention on the hostage situation at hand.
It doesn’t matter. There will be plenty of time to assign blame later. Right now I need to concentrate on getting her back.
“I said drop your weapon, Jack. Don’t make me ask you again,” Christopher Henderson coldly reminded them, carefully positioning Martha in front so that neither man could get a clear shot his way.
For a moment, Jack hesitated and Aaron could tell it was difficult for the former CTU agent as he struggled to decide which was more important: the life of the First Lady or his desire to see his former mentor brought to justice. Nevertheless, despite everything that had happened that day, Aaron was confident that his friend would make the right decision. If there was one thing he knew for certain about Jack Bauer, it was that the man could be trusted to do the right thing…no matter the personal cost to himself. Therefore, it didn’t surprise him at all when Jack’s better sense of valor won out and he carefully lowered his weapon to the ground while Aaron followed suit.
“That’s right, gentlemen. Now back away nice and easy. Give me some breathing room here,” Henderson instructed them as they both complied, never losing sight of their target for one moment.
However, laying down his gun was the least of his worries as Aaron became more concerned with the mounting fear he could detect in Martha’s eyes as she frantically tried to find a way out of this situation. A kind of terrified desperation that would almost certainly get her killed. Unable to calm her down with spoken words, Aaron tried to communicate his thoughts through eye contact alone, finally managing to capture her attention as her panic filled eyes sought him out.
It’s ok, Martha, I‘m right here. Focus on me and stay calm. The only way to get through this is to keep a clear head and don’t let him rattle you. I know you can do it. Just trust me.
And as she began to read his mind, Aaron could see her visibly relax, drawing strength from his comforting presence as he reaffirmed his promise to protect her from harm. By focusing on him and him alone, the terror in her eyes slowly dissipated as she placed her complete trust in the one man who had never left her side. He only hoped he was worthy of the faith she had just entrusted to his care.
“I said it before, Jack, and I’ll say it again. Your one weakness is that you care too much. If your mission was really as important as you claimed, you wouldn‘t let a little thing like this stop you. It‘s quite pathetic how predictable you‘ve become,” the older man commented dryly while shaking his head. “Now throw me the keys to the SUV parked outside, Jack. Slowly. Try anything smart and you can explain to the President how you got his wife killed today.”
“This isn’t over, Christopher,” Jack informed him as he removed the keys from his inside jacket pocket and tossed them across the room. “You will answer for what you‘ve done.”
“Now, Jack, you should know by now that everything I’ve done has been in the best interests of the country. You just can’t see the big picture…you never have. That old fashioned sense of right and wrong always got in your way,“ Henderson explained, walking Mrs. Logan forward to retrieve the keys on the floor but carefully maintaining his hold on her at the same time. “However, the truth is we can’t afford to be morally right in the world we live in today. There are just too many threats out there and not enough time nor manpower to continue to play by the same old rules we‘ve followed for the last hundred years. It‘s time we set our own rules. This country needs men who are willing to do whatever it takes to protect our interests…moral consequences be damned. I’m just one of the few willing to make that sacrifice.”
“I don’t care how you choose to spin it, Christopher. You cannot tell me that your actions right now are in the country’s best interests. Your job is to serve and protect…not endanger the life of an innocent civilian.”
“Ah but this is only a means to an end, Jack. If you knew you could stop a terrorist threat to the nation by killing the President or First Lady, would you do it? Thousands of lives on the line versus the single death of one person. You do the math and tell me which would you choose?” he queried, expertly retrieving the keys from the ground before moving back again. “I did what I had to do. It’s as simple as that. Unlike you, Jack…I don’t take my work personally…which is unfortunate for what I must do next.”
And before either man could react to this cryptic warning, Christopher Henderson lowered his weapon to Martha’s waist and pulled the trigger, the unmistakable sound of a discharging bullet echoing across the warehouse. Crying out in pain, she collapsed against an empty cargo container, holding the wounded area with shaking hands as dark red blood stained her fingers and her assailant fled the scene. Reacting on instinct alone, Agent Pierce was at her side before she could say a word, catching her in his arms as she passed out, the combination of the day‘s earlier events and this latest assault too much for her body and mind to handle.
“Son of a bitch!” Jack cursed as he picked up his weapon and ran after Henderson, leaving Pierce behind to take care of Mrs. Logan. The former CTU agent had come too far to lose him now. However, Aaron had more pressing concerns as he took in the damage the bullet had left behind. Lowering Martha gently to the floor, he reached out for the jacket she had dropped just moments before and placed it carefully underneath her head for support, the concern in his eyes never wavering as he took in her pale face marked by pain.
“This is Pierce calling in for medical assistance. The First Lady has been shot. I repeat the First Lady has been shot. I need an ambulance on site as soon as possible,” he calmly related through his cell phone, his smooth delivery never betraying the turmoil he was feeling inside. It was his fault. He should never have left her side. How had he allowed something as simple as a phone call distract him from what mattered most? Slowly closing the phone in his hand, Aaron leaned back against a nearby cargo container, trying to get his thoughts in order as he maintained a careful vigil over the woman he was supposed to protect…the woman he had failed to protect.
“Aaron?” her soft voice reached his ears, uncertainty and fear coming through her tone as he moved to her side.
“I’m right here, ma’am,” he reassured her and relaxed slightly at the relieved smile that graced her face as she realized she wasn‘t alone. “I’m right here.”
“I’m so sorry, Aaron. I never should have left your side. I-” she whispered frantically, her breathing becoming more erratic as the pain increased and the guilt in her eyes piercing his heart.
“Shhhhh. It’s alright, Mrs. Logan, it‘s alright,” he told her gently, calming her down as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and she relaxed under his touch. “You did nothing wrong.”
“Nothing wrong? Aaron, I’ve been nothing but trouble for you today,” she joked, attempting to lighten the mood but failing miserably as she experienced another wave of pain and had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. “I really think you should consider a reassignment. Someone who is easier to protect.”
“It’s my job to protect you,” he replied, his blue eyes focused solely on her alone. “I wouldn‘t have it any other way.”
“You really mean that, don’t you?” she replied in amazement, happily surprised at his response and completely floored by his honesty and concern for her well being. “This country is lucky to have men like you…I’m lucky. I hope you’ll allow me to say that.”
Reacting purely on impulse, Martha reached for his hand and held it in her own as she smiled and closed her eyes, feeling completely secure knowing he was right by her side. And of his own free will, Aaron found his hand naturally closing around hers, surprised at how perfectly comfortable he was in her presence. He had never had this kind of connection with a woman before…not even his wife. Without even trying, Martha Logan had broken down all the barriers he had carefully erected over time, moving right past his defenses as she found her way straight to his heart. When had concern for her well being turned to something much stronger…and much deeper?
However, before he could examine these new feelings further, his attention was drawn to a small puddle of blood that had begun to form on the floor beside the First Lady, trickling from underneath the trembling hand she had pressed to the wounded area. Letting go of her hand for a moment, Aaron gently pried her fingers away from the injury, only to discover that it was more serious than he had first thought. The bleeding had never stopped…something was wrong.
“Mrs. Logan…”
“Hmm?”
“I need to inspect the wound more closely. The bleeding isn’t stopping and…and I might need to apply pressure to cauterize the wound.”
“Do whatever you need to, Aaron. You know I trust you,” she replied softly as she allowed a brief mischievous smile to cross her lips. “Just don’t get any ideas. I am a married woman, you know.”
Unsure of how to respond to her playful banter, he decided to play it safe with a small nod of acknowledgement before he began to loosen the waist of her skirt. It didn’t take long to uncover the injured area and see that the additional pressure would be needed. The bleeding appeared to be steady but not life threatening if he could get it to stop in time. Taking out a handkerchief from his back pocket, Aaron carefully placed it over the wound and paused a minute to brace himself for what he must do. He didn’t want to see her in so much pain but if he didn’t act now he would lose her.
“Mrs. Logan…” he began, searching for just the right words to prepare her for what was to come. “It looks like I will have to apply pressure to the wound for ten minutes…or you’ll bleed to death. Now once I start…I don’t need to tell you how excruciating those ten minutes will be…as I will have nothing to give you for the pain…”
“Aaron,” she interrupted gently, trying to reassure him. “I will be ok. Just do what you need to do. I’m stronger than you think.”
“It’s not your strength I question…it‘s mine,” he confessed quietly, refusing to look at her for fear she would read his thoughts. “I don’t want to hurt you…not after today.”
“Aaron, you could never hurt me…even if you tried. It’s not in your character,” she explained, reaching up to touch his face with her hand. “But sometimes pain is necessary before the healing process can begin. If there was any other way, I‘m sure you would have thought of it by now. Don‘t worry, Aaron…I‘ll be fine.”
Confident now that she understood the situation, he waited for her to mentally steel herself for the battle ahead before pressing down on the lower part of her abdomen while counting out the ten minutes needed to stop the bleeding. It was the longest ten minutes of his life as he felt her body tense up, her breathing become more labored, her eyes clouded over in pain, and finally the screams of agony she could not hold back any longer even as her eyes begged him to forgive her for such a moment of weakness. Her asking him for forgiveness when he was the one causing her so much anguish. It was all he could do to keep from disengaging from this errand of mercy that had turned into a task from hell. However, his efforts weren’t in vain as the bleeding finally stopped and he quickly withdrew his hand, trying to ignore the fresh tears on her cheek that he had helped in bringing about.
“I guess I wasn‘t as strong as I thought. I didn‘t want you to see that…” she finally spoke, her voice barely above the sound of a whisper. “Aaron, if I don’t survive…if something should happen…”
“Save your strength, Mrs. Logan,” he told her gently, his concern growing as he noticed a sudden pallor to her skin and a weakness in her tone. “You need to rest. The ambulance will be here shortly.”
“Hang the ambulance, Aaron! I’m trying to tell you something,” she informed him, a spark of fire briefly returning to her eyes before dying out. “I’m sorry to put this on you but you’re the only one I can trust…you’re the only one who can do this right.”
“Whatever you need,” he responded without a moment’s hesitation as she smiled back at him. Slowly reaching up to lay her hand on his neck, Martha brought his head closer to her own so she could whisper her request in his attentive ear. It only took a few moments but when she was finished he was both humbled and touched that she would entrust him with such a message. He only wished that the recipient of the message would appreciate how much it had cost her to give it.
“You know what I’ll miss the most…” she remarked quietly after a few more minutes had passed, once again interrupting the comfortable silence between them. “Your quiet reassuring presence…which is ironic when at first I was annoyed that you wouldn’t leave me alone even for a moment. However, over these last few years I’ve come to rely on your steadfast character more than I realized. When everything else around me could not be trusted…when I thought I was losing my mind…I knew there was one man I could always depend on…you.”
“Mrs. Logan…” he started to say but she stopped him by pressing her upraised fingers to his lips, her eyes still closed as she shook her head.
“Please, Aaron…don’t say anything more. I want you to know that I still love my husband…he was there for me in the beginning and we shared some wonderful moments together. However, over the last few years, you’ve been the one by my side…not him. And I wanted you to know how much I value our relationship…your trust…your faithfulness…your friendship has meant the world to me,” she finally confessed and he saw fresh tears glisten at the corner of her eyes while she struggled for another breath, the pain too much for her to bear.
“You‘ll always have it,” he replied quietly, surprised as she when the words left his mouth so unexpectedly but so instinctively. However, any apprehension that he might have misspoke disappeared under the warmth of her smile as she reached for his hand and once again he held it in his own. For a few moments, a comfortable silence filled the void, saying everything they could not. Unfortunately, it was not to last.
“I’m so sorry, Aaron, but I can’t fight it any longer…” she confessed her voice trailing off as Aaron suddenly realized that the pain had never really left and she had been trying to keep it from him this whole time, not wanting to worry him. “I didn’t want to make you suffer but it’s too much now for me to hold back. I just need…to rest…just a few minutes…I promise.”
“No, Martha…stay with me…follow my voice,” he urged, speaking her name for the first time and not finding it as difficult as he believed it would be. “The ambulance will be here shortly. You need to stay awake or you’ll go into shock. Talk to me…“
“I’m dying and now you want to talk. I think we need to work on your timing, Agent Pierce,” she whispered weakly, another smile almost appearing on her lips before she suddenly squeezed his hand so hard that it took him by surprise. “Oh, god, I could use some painkillers…Please, Aaron…I can‘t hold on much longer…I don‘t want to leave you but…it‘s just too much…”
“Alright, Martha…alright…“ he finally gave in, unwilling to see her in such pain but not wanting to lose her at the same time. “I just don’t want to lose you…”
“You‘ll never lose me…” she promised before finally slipping into a blissful state of unconsciousness, her hand gradually releasing his as the shock and trauma of the day‘s events overwhelmed her..
Not long afterwards, he could hear the sirens of the approaching ambulance and felt an enormous weight lift off his shoulders. Aaron immediately reached over to check her pulse and was reassured by its strong and steady beat. However, as he released her wrist, he couldn’t help but notice a stray piece of blonde hair that had fallen across her cheek and his hand of its own accord reached out to brush it away from her face, briefly touching her skin in the process. She really was a beautiful woman. Even on the verge of death, her spirit shone through like a light in the darkness. Only the arrival of the paramedics broke the spell as he stepped aside to let them work, watching them hook up an IV and take her vitals. But even before they said a word, he already knew: she would pull through. A soul like hers would not allow a small thing like death to conquer it.
I wish we could have something likes this in Season Six to show how much he cares for her instead of looking from afar…maybe next season J
Mike, I need your help! I've lost the keys to the liquor cabinet and I don't know what to do!
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Here's the story of the meeting (http://italyfilez.livejournal.com/214460.html)
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