Chapter Fourteen

                                    

                                          
Harry's POV
                          
After I ordered Merlin to send some of our people over to the Dark Knights HQ, I ordered the attack on Vale's men outside. Andrea got in position at a window a bit further off, rifle in hand, all tense. I did the same. 
What followed is a bit of a blur. Bullets flying from everywhere, our windows, the bushes below. Men falling. Bodies everywhere.. how many of them were there?! 
That's when I looked at Andrea and saw her dozing off. I couldn't scream, the crossfire was too loud for her to hear in time and come back to her senses. She was an easy target.. I didn't think, I just ran..

                          
Andrea's POV
                          
I dozed off.. Don't know what happened, only.. Next thing I know, I was on the ground. I hit my head. Everything was as in a daze..
When I regained myself I saw Harry down on the ground, hit..
                          
  - Nooo! Harry!
                          
I reached out to him, took his head in my hands, placed his head in my lap, and cried.. The fight wasn't yet over outside, but I didn't see or hear anything else anymore. Time stopped. 
                          
  - I'm.. ok.. 
  - Harry! You're..
  - Alive.. So.. are you.. 
  - You're bleeding. It's, can I - 
  - Sure.
                          
I opened his jacket to see. He had just a scratch. An ugly one, close to his heart, but a scratch nonetheless.. 
                          
  - It's just a scratch. 
  - Feels like hell..
  - Idiot! What did you do that for? 
  - You're.. tired. Dozed.. off.
  - I know. It was stupid of me. But the bullet was meant for me. Not for you..
  - Andrea.. I.. 
  - Don't! Harry, stop speaking. Let me.. I remembered it, you know? That night..
  - What..?
  - The kiss. Our drunken kiss. I remembered it some time the next evening. I was trying to remember if there was something, if we.. because I woke up in your bed and..well.. Doesn't matter. And I remembered the kiss. 
  - I.. 
  - I'm not finished. Is this why you were so awkward about Lucas? 
  - Yes.. yes, it was.. I - I love you. 
  - And you couldn't say that before?! Harry.. Oh for God's sake, I love you too!  
                          
He was now sitting a bit upright, elbow firm on the ground. Hair disheveled, sweat on his forehead, his shirt bloody.. Funny, he looked good. So good. I got closer, swept away a lock of hair from his forehead. He closed in the little distance between us. We kissed.. Really kissed this time. Stone cold sober. His free hand was in my hair, pulling at it a little. I was holding him closer. Our tongues were swirling, dancing, caressing each other. I melted in his kiss. Forgot the fight, Lucas, Vale, everything. Forgot myself..
                          
  - Wow! I'll never kiss you again when I'm drunk. This is too good. 
  - Ha! he chuckled softly.
  - I think it's over.. 
  - Yeah.. the shots stopped. 
  - Let's get you home.. 
                          
He just smiled. That little bemused, side smile. Then frowned..
                          
  - Oh! I really need to look at your wound. Hurts much?
  - Yeah..
  - I'll get the first aid kit. Patch you up.
  - And.. get some.. scotch too. 
  - Ok, I smiled. 
                          
I took the kit, two glasses, and the bottle of scotch. Helped him up on the sofa. I filled the glasses, drained mine, and opened his shirt. He left out an 'Ow' when I opened it to get it out of the way. Fabric was sticking to the wound. I started cleaning it as best I could. He frowned every now and then, drank a little more scotch. 
                          
  - You're almost as good as new. Just need to put this bandage on. 
  - Thank you. 
  - Want another drink? 
  - No, I'm good. Can you.. get me my glasses. 
  - Sure, I said picking them off the ground.
  - Is Lucas..? 
  - He's dead. I took him out. Felt good.. Well, my guess is all Vale's men are dead. But what about Vale? 
  - Let's find out..

                          
Harry's POV
                          
  - Merlin? You there? 
  - Yes, Arthur. 
  - Is everyone ok? 
  - Everyone's fine. Not a scratch. 
  - Vale's men?
  - Dead. 
  - Good. And Vale?
  - Our men reached his building, found the scientists, some other of Vale's men, as Andrea said, but..
  - Vale's gone.. 
  - Yeah.. he took of. We don't know where he is. 
  - At least he's alone..
  - As far as we know, yes. You're ok? Andrea? 
  - We're fine. 
  - Oh, for God's sake, give me those! Andrea shouted, taking my glasses off. Merlin, it's me. He's not ok, he's been hit. I'm taking him home, can you tell Eggsy to come here? 
  - We're both coming. 
***
  - What did you do that for? We need to catch Vale. I'm not going home until we do. 
  - For all we know he can be miles away already. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. 
  - But.. 
  - No. We're going home. You need rest. And so do I. 
  - He's only getting further.. 
  - Harry, would you just stop being stubborn 5 minutes?! I'll take you home, we'll lay down, side by side, and get the rest we deserve. At least until you get better.. 
                          
I couldn't argued with that. I gave in. She was cute when she was mad, and hot when she implied.. I kissed her again, pulled her close, didn't care about the wound. That's when Merlin and Eggsy walked in..on us. 
                          
  - Ahem..
  - Finally, you two, Merlin said smiling.
  - Yes.. finally.. I said looking down.
  - Come on Harry, let me help you out. 
  - I can walk on my own, Eggsy, ok?
  - Guys, why is he so stubborn? 
  - We've been asking ourselves that for long. Just is. 
  - Will you keep looking for Vale, Merlin? We'll be back tomorrow. 
  - Of course. I wish we'd had a tracker on him. Would've been so much easier.
  - I thought we don't do easy. We do bombs, assassinations, and deadly biological weapons. We do crossfires some idiots almost get themselves killed in. We never do easy.
  - What she said! 
  - I'm going back to the computer.
  - Eggsy, help me with this stubborn mule please. 
  - Yes, ma'am! 
  - I'm still your boss, you know. 
  - Hardly means you're always right. Grudge continues tomorrow. 
  - Fine! 
                          
Andrea and Eggsy helped me walk the stairs. The wound hurt more than I've expected. We got outside, Andrea and I got in the car, and Tom drove us back to my house. Tom was looking at us every now and then. We were holding hands, and I just couldn't take my eyes off of her. She just smiled her mysterious smile..
                          
  - Funny, isn't it?
  - What?
  - Vale.. he's a psycho who could've got all of us killed but.. thanks to his psychotic plan were together..
  - Yeah.. but it's also scary. I just feel he's laying low, just waiting for revenge.
  - If he is, it's no longer against you. I'm the one who's fooled him. He'd want me dead, he'd want me to die slow and painful, maybe of his virus.. 
  - He'll have to make do with me. 
  - No, no.. he started with both of us. He'll find his end the same way. 
  - I can't possibly make you sit this one out, can I?
  - You said it yourself, I don't take orders.. And I'm not leaving you alone with Vale. I know too well what he's capable of. Well, we're here.. 
  - Yes. Tom, help me, will you? 
  - Sure boss. 
  - Tom, you can say it.. 
  - I'm just glad to see you smiling, sir. 
  - Thank you, Tom. Have a good evening. 
  - You too. 

Tom left, and we went inside. Andrea helped me upstairs. She sat me down on the bed and helped me out of the suit jacket. Then opened my shirt.. I smirked involuntarily.
                          
  - This isn't me trying to get into your pants. I just want to look at your wound. 
  - I didn't say anything..
  - You smirked.. I don't think that's a good idea, this nasty wound needs to heal. 
  - I can manage. What I can't manage without is you. All of you. 
                          
I pulled her towards me, and she ended up on top of me, laughing. We looked at one another, passion burning in our eyes, for a moment that seemed an eternity. We let the passion pour into a long kiss, desire taking over me. I thought about this morning, still afraid to tell her how I felt, afraid of consequences. And now.. 
With shaking hands, and clumsy movements, I started to undress her. I forgot about Vale, my wound, I forgot myself. Pain and anger tuned into pleasure and love as we became one, moving in unison, feeling in unison, loving in unison.