033. Honor

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Fran Callahan, Chaz McQueen
Prompt: 033. Honor
Word Count: 1,632
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 32 of 33
Summary: Will Nathan make it in time?
Warnings: Language, Violence


Time seemed to pass in slow motion as Nathan made the drive to her apartment, breaking as many laws as possible, he made the thirty minute route in about fifteen. He pulled up to the large building, noticing a few windows with glowing lights. Not being sure which ones were hers right off the bat, he hurried inside to the elevator to make sure she was home.
He finally made it to her floor and knocked loudly on the door, gaining no response. He tried again, knowing her bedroom being on the second floor made it harder to hear. A neighbor popped their head out in the hallway, apparently annoyed by his persistence.

“What do you want, buddy?” The man asked warily.

Nathan pulled out his badge and flashed it at the man, “I’m Detective Davis, have you seen Miss Callahan this evening? She would have been in a while ago.”
“Nope, haven’t seen her or that big guy she lives with.”

Shit. “Okay, thank you. Go back inside and lock your door Sir, it may be dangerous to be out here.”

The man complied, Nathan heard him bolt the door. He pulled out his sidearm, stepped back and gave Fran’s door a good, hard kick.
The first floor was dark and appeared empty. He swiftly went inside, gun poised in front of him. He scanned the living room, made his way into the kitchen…nothing.

He suddenly heard muffled voices coming from the small opening above the spiral staircase. His pulse pounding furiously he instantly went into police mode, heart slamming in his chest, he quietly padded up them two at a time.
His eyes took in the entire room in a flash, he zoned in on the figure beside Frannie, crouched at a bedside table, “Freeze! Stand up slowly and put your hands up…” He said, finger on the trigger as he moved slowly closer, trying to stay focused on the man and not lose his composure by looking at her. If he looked at her, his emotions would surely take over…

“Turn around, slowly.”

The man did as he was told, Nathan immediately noticed he was holding a knife- a long, pointy dagger. He turned around to face him, knife still in hand.
“You!” Nathan exclaimed at the sight of his face, all this time he had no idea exactly how much danger she had been in, his stomach dropped to his knees as he looked into the eyes of the man he had been hunting, under his nose the entire time. “Drop the knife.” He said, eyes narrowed, anger boiling just below the surface.

Chaz looked back at him, enraged to see that man in his house again, he could sense he wanted Fran, knew the “just friends” thing was absurd. Now here he stood, pointing a gun at him, giving him orders. “I don’t think so. You see, you’re interrupting my little lesson, I’m going to show her what bad choices she made. And now you get to watch as I tear up her pretty skin, inch by inch.”
Nathan slowly moved closer, hand gripping his gun gently but firmly, the adrenaline surging through his veins while he weighed each option in his mind. He heard Frannie crying softly, his eyes darted to hers against his will, he felt his chest tighten as he saw the fear in her eyes. “Drop the knife,” He said again, locking eyes with Chaz, he flexed his finger around the trigger.
“Go ahead and shoot. I know you won’t, you don’t have it in you, you’re weak.”
Chaz turned slowly towards Fran, knife poised above her. In one swift move, Nathan fired the gun at his knees, and sent him down to the floor in agony. He quickly moved to the bed, kicked the knife from Chaz’s hand and pulled his arms behind him, locking him in handcuffs.
“For your information, I’m not weak, and whether you live or die isn’t my decision to make. Not that I expect you to understand.” Nathan said, shoving him into a sitting position, he put his gun away and went to untie Frannie.
His heart in knots, he removed the gag and the rope and pulled her into him, not giving her a chance to pull away, even if she had wanted to, which he somehow doubted. He held her gently as he felt her crying against him, he whispered over and over, “It’s okay Frannie, it’s over.”

She leaned into his chest, the warmth a welcome comfort, a place she felt safe…a place she could trust. She cried more, the overwhelming emotion inside her breaking free, she had been so foolish to push him away for so long.

A voice rattled the tender moment, “Hey, are you just gonna fucking leave me down here! My leg hurts, you shot me asshole, you have to call somebody, I have rights!”

Nathan pulled away from her slowly, wiping the tears that stained her cheeks, “Would you leave us alone for a minute?”

She took a deep breath and shook her head, not wanting to even look at Chaz, she went to the bathroom to wait until he was gone.
Nathan turned back to the floor and squatted down to the maniac in custody, “You want another one in your other leg? How about I go for a set and just put a bullet in all your joints? You’ll still live, not that I would have it that way,” He leaned down inches from his face, his anger surging, “Don’t push me asshole, you tried to kill the woman I love, if I wasn’t an honorable man, you’d be dead.”

He got up and pulled out his cell phone, making the call for a squad car. Then, he turned back to Chaz and said the most gratifying words he could ever think of, “You’re under arrest for the murders of Natasha Bowen, Angel Hudson, Nadia Korskii and Paulina Evans. And for attempted murder of Fran Callahan. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law, so I would shut the fuck up, you insane bastard.”

Chaz just looked back at him, not saying a word. His knee gushed blood as he leaned back into the wall, groaning.

*~*~*
A few moments later, it was all over. The backup had arrived and put Chaz into a squad car, taking him downtown to seal his fate. Nathan had a report to make but first he needed to talk to Frannie. He found her sitting on the couch, in the same sweats and tank top he had last seen her in.

He paced the floor in front of her, not knowing where to begin. I love you Frannie, I almost died when I thought something had happened to you.

“Sit down for shit’s sake, you’re making me nervous.” She said, gaining a strange look from him, he had never heard her use such language.
He sat down next to her, the look in his eyes glowing with pure, raw emotion. “I don’t know where to start…I’m sorry about what happened, it being him. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling.”

Fran listened, she knew this was it, the conversation she had dreaded. But it was happening and she couldn’t fight it any longer. “I’m glad it’s over,” She said, shifting towards him slightly, “I think I’m still in shock, about it being Chaz and all, I can’t believe I didn’t see it sooner.”
He looked down at the floor, nerves on edge, he just began to blurt things out, “Frannie, life is too damned short. I almost lost you, I can’t think of anything worse,” His voice cracked as he nearly choked on the words but he found the courage to say them somehow, “I…I love you Frannie and I want to be with you and only you...forever.”

Tears filled her eyes at his confession. He loved her, not liked or wanted to test things out first. Her thoughts a jumbled mess, if he had been brave enough to take the risk, how could she not? Maybe she had to throw away the “what ifs” and dive in head first and give happiness a real chance. She sat quietly, looking back at him, still speechless at how he really felt.
He searched her face for a response, she wasn’t saying anything, which was driving him crazy. He probably shouldn’t have said anything, she obviously wasn’t ready to give him a chance, after all she had just been through. Idiot. Great timing Nate. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that…I should give you time to get over this, God I’m so sorry…” He stood up and began to pace again, cursing himself for not being able to wait any longer. After nearly losing her though, he didn’t have much of a choice.
Fran smiled to herself, she had been so surprised by him that she hadn’t had time to think up a response. She got up and grasped his hand, stopping him from walking in circles. She looked into his eyes and stroked her hand gently around his cheek. Without a word, she placed her hand on the back of his head, feeling the coarse hair between her fingers, she pulled him down to her and kissed him deeply, the contact sending chills down her spine.
His arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, the touch of her lips on his own igniting a passion deep inside him. The girl he loved was in his arms and safe, she was opening her heart to him and no longer pushing him away. Life was good.
Fran ended the kiss slowly, her face still merely inches from his, she said, “Don’t apologize…I must have loved you my whole life.”

Part 33