Chapter Text
“He’s not getting out. You heard the judge. You and Villanueva gave powerful testimony, and the judge did what was right. You’re safe…” Neil Melendez looked at the woman in the passenger seat. Lim looked back with tears in her eyes and weak smile. He took her hand, kissed it and continued, “both of you are safe. He didn’t win. Now, let’s go get some dinner.”
Audrey laughed, “How about we go checkout the food truck festival over by the hospital. Then we can just walk around for a bit and then go home for some dessert.”
Neil smiled, “Audrey Lim, are you asking me out on a date?”
“Yes, my favorite apple. I’m asking my amazing fiancé on a date.”
“Apple? I resent that.” He said with a chuckle.
“Right, I forgot…my favorite asshat.” She smiled, they squeezed hands and they continued onto to their magical date and then home for much satisfying dessert.
Several days later the couple were sitting Neil’s office with Glassman and Andrews early in the morning going over the day’s surgical schedule and other hospital affairs.
“Melendez, you have back to back bypass surgeries?” Andrews asked.
Neil looked up from his laptop, “That’s right, but after I’m free to help out in the ER.”
“Who’s on your team today?” Glassman asked while reaching for his coffee.
Neil checked his notes, “I have Powell and Perez with me.”
“I’ll be in the ER with Asher and Allen.” Lim said without looking up from her laptop top.
Marcus shook his head, “Good, good. Just a reminder that I’m leaving to go to the medical conference at the convention center after this. Villanueva will be with me to help demonstrate a few of our newer techniques we are using.”
The other doctors nodded.
“So, how was your date with Villanueva? Was there a lot dessert after?” Lim asked staring at Andrews with a cheeky smile.
Glassman choked on his coffee.
“Audrey!!” Neil choked out while laughing.
Getting up, grabbing his files with a sigh, “I’m not getting into this with you again. As stated before it was a thank you dinner.”
“Well there’s a thank you and then there’s a thank you.” Audrey rebutted.
Glassman stood gathering his belongings, “Seriously, it’s like you’re in middle school.”
Both he and Andrews left.
“What? Was it something I said?” Lim asked with a smirk and a shrug.
Neil stood up walked over to where Audrey was sitting in her wheelchair, “You Mi Amor are bad.” He leaned down and kissed her head.
Audrey reached up and grabbed his shirt, pulling him by down closer to her, “Yes, but that’s why you love me.” She tipped her head up and he tipped his down and their lips met for a passionate kiss. When they separated, Neil smiled, “I do. I forever and always do.”
Later that morning Andrews got out of his car that he had parked in front of St Bon’s to help make it easier for he and Villanueva load up his car. He looked towards the hospital and saw Villanueva struggling to come out doors as she was carrying multiple bags & boxes for their presentation later that day. She dropped a few coming out. Marcus ran over to help. Villanueva smiled, “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
The duo continued to talk, but completely unaware that they were being watched from one of the upper floors of the garage.
The brooding silent figure, was pacing and twitching.
“She’s mine not his.” He saw them laugh and Andrews placed a hand on Villanueva’s shoulder. That set him off. He stormed towards the garage elevator.
Audrey Lim was sitting in her chair riding alone the garage elevator up to the floor where she and Melendez had parked. She was frustrated, “I can’t believe I left my wallet in the car. That’s what I get for having a quick make out session with that ass hat.” She smiled as she thought back to her and Neil making out in their car.
The elevator slowed, and Audrey focused on the task at hand. The elevator stopped. The doors fully opened. Audrey pushed her wheelchair out into the garage. She didn’t get very far before she saw him rushing towards her.
Lim recognized him,
“Owen.” She stopped her chair.
He stopped and stared at her. He quickly reached into his belt area behind his back and bright around a black gun. He aimed it at her as she tried backing away.
“Don’t move!!”. He stepped closer to her. Audrey stopped and was slightly shaking.
He walked behind her, grabbing the back Lim’s neck and pushed her forward.
“Don’t scream, make a sound or I will put a bullet into your pretty head.”
He pushed her over towards a beat up truck. He quickly opened the door. Letting go of her, he stepped in front of her.
He stared at her. “Get up.”
Audrey didn’t move.
Owen leaned in closer to her, “I said, get up…NOW!!”
Audrey was shaking and looked up at him with tears in her eyes, “I can’t asshole!! You should know, you put me in this chair!!”
Owens eyes went wide. As if he was finally truly seeing her for the first time. He smiled reached down quickly unbuckling her safety strap, picked her up, he tossed her in, locked the door and slammed it shut. He quickly ran around to and got in on the driver’s side. He started up the truck
Due to her being tossed and from the paralysis it took her a bit adjust herself into the seat. Owen reached over to help pull her up. He pulled out of the parking space knocking over her chair. He floored it out of the garage. When they made it out of the garage and floored it towards where Villanueva and Andrews were packing up his car.
Lim could see what Owen was about to do and reached over as best as she could to pull the steering wheel. Owen struggled with her as he fought for control of the truck.
Andrews saw the truck barreling towards them, and he grabbed Dailsay and dove away from the car and the speeding truck.
Owen weaved and swerved, before getting control.
He punched Audrey in the side of her head and face, drawing blood.
“Don’t ever do that again.” He shouted to a seriously dazed Lim as they pulled onto the Main Street and out of sight….