The Big D

*Sandra*

I watched as he tried not to smile at me. He tried to keep his jawline tight, and his dark eyes forward. I felt it still when I kissed the stubble on his cheek, his large tense muscles relaxed on his chest. His arms as well. I thought about running my fingers down that jawline and over the shape of his muslces sucking in a sharp beath. This was not the time to be pulsating and wanting. I Shook my head slightly as I crawled back into my seat. By the time we had sat back down in the vehicle, the pizza was gone. "We kept your plate, Sandra if you wanted to finish." Henry was reaching me the plate. "Thank You, Henry." I ate both pieces. When we pulled back up to the police department Joseph told me to look for Ryan's car. It was there. I took a sharp breath and shook my head yes. I was ready. We pulled into a spot. Joseph reached to Jay and he placed two small pieces in his hand. He moved my hair back and Stuck one of them in my ear and then put the other in his. His hand on my skin felt like electricity pulsing through me, but I tried to focus on his words. "These are comms, our guards always have them in to talk to each other on a mission, you will be able to hear and say whatever you need to say. We will all hear you out here as well." The other guys pointed to the devices in their ears. I could hardly see them. That's why I thought Jay was talking to himself. I laughed to myself. Jay got out and opened the door. Joseph got out and helped me out, then he quickly got back in. "It's going to be okay darling" I heard his voice in my ear and my heart started to beat fast. "Sure it is, I got this guys." I was trying to sound strong. Jay looked down at me waiting for my lead. I looked back at Mr. Coyan and he nervously nodded in agreement. I started to walk towards the door.

It was all hustle and bustle inside the building. Officers and dispatchers are everywhere. The lights seemed brighter than they usually did and the noise seemed much louder. "Sandra, Are you okay?" This time I heard Zeus in my ear. I reassured them all again that I was okay. Even though I didn't quite believe it myself. All of a sudden there was a booming voice yelling my name. "Sandra, Is that you?" Captain Monroe has spotted me. "Who is that? Are you okay?" I walked and announced his name so Smoke could hear who had approached me. "Are you okay? Did someone hurt you?" He said to me but he was eyeing all the men around me. " Mr. Coyan, I haven't seen you since you prosecuted that kingpin a year ago." He saw someone he recognized in our group. His eyes came back to me. He looked me over. "What happened to your neck Sandra? He gasped instinctively placing his hand over his gun. There were remnants of bruises from Ryan. "Tell him, darling." I heard that soft soothing voice ease my nerves again. I looked up at the captain and simply said "Ryan." He took a step back and examined me. He was speechless. He looked around quickly and then showed us to a conference room across the lobby. I sat down beside Mr. Coyan at the table. The guards stood by the door, except for Jay who stayed close to me. We waited for a few minutes and Monroe came inside too. He has a legal pad in his hand and a tape recorder. "I didn't tell him you were here" was all he said as he sat down in front of us.

He asked me to explain to him where I had been. I lied. I told him I had planned to escape all along. That I had gotten ahold of Mr. Coyan months beforehand. That I knew Ryan wouldn't stop coming for me. "Sandra, I didn't know you were not safe with him. I would have never imagined he would do something like this. Are you sure someone hasn't made you come in here? We can protect you. He looked around at the guards. If anyone tries to force you out of this room they will be facing the entire police force." I laughed. I don't know why. I guess I just didn't think that would be enough to stop the Hulk. I looked up at Jay and smiled. "They are from a domestic housing facility I found outside of the city," I said looking him straight in the eyes. "Fast thinking Sand." I heard Henry in my ear now. Then I heard laughter. It was hard to keep a straight face. "I'm sorry Sandra, I wish you would have come to me." He looked like his heart was breaking. I couldn't tell if it was because he was sad for me or because he might lose his star detective. "I frankly don't care what you do with him, sir. I just want him to sign these divorce papers. You should know though, he isn't the hero you think he is. You might wanna drug test him." I had to add that little bit of information, but I didn't want to go any further. That was for Joseph to handle in his way. Speechless again. "I will make sure he signs them today sweetheart." he looked like he could cry. I felt bad for him. I know he saw Ryan as one of his children. He got up and walked out of the conference room.

"How are you feeling darling?" I took a breath. "Im ready." I am not sure if I was convincing them or myself. I heard him before I could see him. He was already angry. He came through the door and started to walk towards me asking if I was okay. Jay instantly stepped in front of him. Like a well-practiced dance, the two guards from the door grabbed his arms and pulled him back. "Sit down Ryan." Monroe was not his usual bubbly self. He told me he would be back shortly. I guess he can be harsh. Ryan slowly walked around the table sitting directly in front of me. I suddenly couldn't breathe. I closed my eyes and tried to gain control of myself. When I opened my eyes he was still staring at me. I could see the rage boiling beneath the look of worry he was trying to show. I saw his hand move towards me and I froze. He grabbed my hand."My beautiful wife, what is going on, where have you been?" He tried to sound soft but I could hear the shaking in his voice. I tried to pull my hand back when he tightened his grip. "Where is your ring?" He growled. Jay looked down seeing him gripping my hand. "Let go of her hand or I'll cut yours the fuck off." I had never heard more than a few words from him at a time. Ryan instantly let go glaring at me now. I heard him call me a whore under his breath. "If someone doesn't control him I am coming in there and ripping his FUCKING HEAD OFF" Joseph was furious with what he was hearing. One of the guards from the door walked over and stood beside him. "Covered." I heard a voice I assumed came from him. "Where is Captain Monroe?" I asked Ryan trying to keep the fear out of my voice. Inside I had become terrified. "He needs a fucking incident form and my attorney. What are you doing Sandy? What did you tell him? Are you fucking stupid? You won't get away with this." Ryan was no longer hiding his monster. My ring not being on must have pushed him over the edge. I didn't respond.

"You can't hide from me, Sandy. You belong to me." He gave me a murderous smile. He slammed his hand on the table and I jumped. He laughed and the guard behind him grabbed his shoulders and slammed him back in his chair. "I am on my way in." I could hear the anger in his voice. "No Smoke don't.." I said it without thinking. "Did you just say Smoke you stupid bitch. Tell me that's not why you're here. Tell me you aren't sleeping with some crime lord. I will find him you know. I will rip him apart." This time I was the one who exploded. "You stupid fuck. You won't make it close. You're going to lose your job. You will never find me. You will never touch me again." I started laughing at him. I also heard laughter in my ear. Good, he wasn't coming in. He wasn't going to expose himself. "Wait, he can hear me can't he?" Ryan asked me through gritted teeth. I didn't answer. "I know you can hear me smoke." The comms got quiet. "I will find her. I will take what belongs to me. I will take her from you. I will watch your brotherhood crumble." Everything got quiet. No one spoke. "You won't live long enough." I heard Joseph, but it was a deeper tone than I had heard before, a different part of him I hadn't met yet. No one said anything else. Ryan sat in his seat glaring at me seething. I looked down at the divorce papers Mr. Coyan had sat in front of me. Finally, Captain Monroe walked into the room with a lawyer. He reached me an incident report. I instantly started filling it out. I wrote down everything I could think of. Everything but Mason. He waited for me to hand it to him and then he went and sat down beside the attorney. He didn't look at Ryan. I don't think he could without tearing up. He was so confused. I remember that feeling well. It's hard when you see a monster where you use to see a hero.

The lawyers went over the divorce paperwork. Captain Monroe went over the incident report I filled out. The lawyer sitting next to Ryan spoke up, obviously not knowing the whole story, telling him that this was the easiest divorce he has ever had to sit in on. Ryan didn't budge still staring at me. "All you have to do is sign where it's highlighted." His lawyer started to look uncomfortable. Ryan didn't move. They had already explained all of it to both of us. No contact. No court. Just a clean quick break. The lawyer cleared his throat making Captain Monroe look up from the incident report. " Ryan sign the damn paper or I will put you in a cell until you do." Ryan looked at him cursing under his breath. He picked up the pen and signed all the areas. Jay tapped my shoulder and mouthed "Let's go". I started to stand up. The captain got up to. He reached for my hand. I nodded at Jay allowing him to take it. "I'm so sorry Sandra. I promise this will all be handled. I hope you find a way to get past all of this." He kissed my hand before letting it go. The guard by the door opened it while the others followed me out. Once out of the conference room I felt like I could breathe again. We all heard a commotion coming from the room. When I looked back I could see an officer cuffing Ryan. I continued out the entrance.

When I towards the SUV Joseph jumped out and ran to me. He wrapped his arms around me, leaned down, and kissed me hard. I felt my whole body relax against me. I looked up at him and whispered, "Please take me home."