Save Me

Nikolia instantly began gathering their stuff. "I.... I'm on a mission." Her voice breaking, tears coming to her eyes. "Screw the mission." Nikolia said. "Come on baby."

"We know...." Keith said as he cried. "They told me not to call.....said you don't need any distractions....but I know how close the two of you are." Chloe was shaking as she tried to keep it together. "Come on baby." Nikolia said again. "We can make it to Westfield by tonight if we leave now."

Chloe looked at him, saw the determination and care in his eyes. "I.... I'm on my way." She told Keith, her voice weak. When she hung up the phone, it fell from her hand. "My daddy..." Tears began to fall. Nikolai cupped her face, "I know baby, I know. Come on." He scooped her up and carried her out of the motel. He checked them out and got in the driver seat. He held her hand in his free hand as he drove.

"What's he like?" He asked her, to keep her from in the present. "He can be a hard ass, but he's only hard because he loves us and knows we can do good. When I told him I was going to be an FBI agent he hugged me, told me he knew I was meant to do great things. He and I were the closest out of my entire family. Keith was the only one who could hide in his office and read though. I was the only one who could get out of bed in the middle of the night and we'd drink chocolate milk together. It was our secret." She wiped her eyes. "He doesn't judge by looks, but by actions. My mother was covered in piercings when they met and came from Hinsboro, but she was a detective and retired Marine. He encouraged us to chase our dreams, no matter how insane. Bishops never use the words I can't." She shared with him. "My dad's parents were horrible and when my dad married father and mom, my father said all of his brothers could adopt his last name. We were all family so it made no difference. They did it too because they wanted to cut all ties. My father has only ever given and now he might be taken from us."

Nikolia brought her hand to his lips. "Do you think he'll like me?" He asked her, wanting to take her mind from the possibility of dying. She nodded, "You make me smile, and you dropped everything, risking your own safety for me." "He's your family Chloe. I don't have any, but I refuse to let you not be there for yours." He told her. She looked at him, "You do have a family. You have me."

Which was why this was important to him. He pushed the gas pedal harder, going faster.

It was a couple of hours before they got to Westfield Memorial. They got to the ICU, her steps were slow at first until she saw her dad sitting with he brothers. She began running. He caught her in his arms. Nikolia hung back, letting them have their moment. But the triplets noticed him. There wasn't any judging in their eyes, simply wondering what he was doing with their sister.

She pulled away. "This is Nikolia Dawson." She wiped her eyes with shaking hands. "I'm supposed to be protecting him, but Keith called....and...." She couldn't finish as more tears came. "And I said to hell with my safety, and I drove her home." Nikolia finished, even though that wasn't what she was going to say. From the look in Nikolai's eyes, they knew it was more than that, but this family knew how life and death situations can spring up love between people in a single heartbeat.

"Go see him." Cole urged her. Chloe walked on numb legs to the room. Her mother was in a chair, asleep, clinging to her father's cane, as if it was a lifeline. She looked at her father and nearly fell to her knees at the sight of him. He was so weak, pale, with tubes and wires. "Daddy..." Her voice cracked as she began crying. She wanted to throw herself at him. "You can't leave me...." She whispered. "I want you to meet Nikolia.....I want you to threaten him even though it's not necessary..." She tried to stop the tears but she couldn't. "Daddy....please wake up...."

Nikolia was broken as he watched her through the window. "How long have you known her?" Her dad asked. "Four days." Nikolia answered respectfully. "Why is she protecting you?" He asked next. "I joined a gang to pay for my mom's medicine when I was a kid. She died and I stayed but never did anything illegal. I just wanted the tie to money to survive. But the boss killed and raped a kid. That was the last straw. I plan to testify against him, shut down his organization." Nikolia wouldn't have given someone that deep of an explanation but he liked Chloe and he wanted her parents to approve of him. "She's making sure I make it to the trial."

"If you hurt her..." Cole warned. Nikolia smirked, "I'm not that stupid. The woman carries a gun a for a living and I've seen just how good her aim is." Cole nodded, "Smart man."

Chloe then came out of the room and walked up to Nikolia, burying her face in his chest, gripping his shirt. He wrapped his arms around her. He took her phone out of her back pocket as it began to ring. It was Director Cain.

"Good evening Director." Nikolia said, while holding Chloe close. "Have you guys found somewhere to hide? Where is Chloe?" She asked. "Family emergency. I drove her home, against her will. I'll find a place to hide for the trial. Let you know when I do."

"I wish you both luck." Cain said her voice soft before hanging up. Nikolia hung up the phone and slipped it back into her pocket. "You're not leaving me." She told him around her cries. He kissed the top of her head, "Wouldn't dream of it baby."

Her family watched them, relieved she wasn't going to bottle this up. Visiting hours were almost over. "You both are going back to my place with me and Alison." Her oldest brother, Eliot, told him. "I don't want to leave." Chloe said her voice weak. Nikolia didn't give her room for argument as he unclipped her holster, handing it to her brother Sabel and scooping her into his arms. She was too exhausted to fight, so she clutched his shirt as he carried her.

"It would be best if we didn't take a stolen vehicle." Nikolia said. "What happened to you don't do anything illegal?" Micha asked. "The fuckers tried killing us and popped the tires on her car. We were taking any chances." Alexander nodded, "I'll have it dealt with." He then lead Keith away. Eliot opened the passenger door for Alison and Nikolia got into the back with Chloe.

Eliot told him how to get to the guest bedroom, informing him Alexander will bring their things from the Rover later. Once in the room Nikolia went into the bathroom and ran a bath for her. He undressed her and placed her in it. He was gentle as he washed her. After he was done he dried her off and laid her in the bed before stripping and joining her. "I can't lose him..." She said softly as she fell asleep.

He kissed her forehead, praying her father made it.