I Remember Love

When Amalia went quiet the two men in the room looked at her in a whole new light. The amount of pain she had suffered due to the loss of her father and the grief she had been struggling with since the death of her grandfather couldn't help but sympathize with her.

Her plan was dangerous though. She was talking about infiltrating another gangs territory and killing three of their members. They still had yet to determine who their leader was and which territory they were going to infiltrate. Of course, she didn't realize it then, but there was no way they were letting go into enemy territory alone.

The three of them sat for a while in awkward silence. Each of them digesting everything that had just happened and contemplating how to move forward now that Amalia's secret was out.

Hunter was the first to speak.

"I think it goes without saying, that we need to keep this under wraps. And I do mean all of it. I can't have any of the men knowing that Lia is a girl. To date, the ones who know aside from you and I are Cage."

Charlie took a moment to pause as he listened, shooting a questioning look at Hunter and Amalia. Did Cage know? He was looking at Amalia quietly, it was still taking time for him to think of her that way. It was starting to make sense.

The way Cage had always conveniently showed up when she was in trouble. The fact that Hunter had found out before him about her father. The fact he had even shown up at the bar when he was stabbed. Cage had been assigned as a shadow for her. Begrudgingly, he had to admit he was envious of Hunter. He had managed to succeed where he had failed.

It made him feel so ...helpless.

Amalia looked at Hunter inclining her head. All she managed to say was:

"Since when, how long has he has known?"

Hunter looked turned then to look at Amalia and sighed.

"Since the first night. Why else do you think I assigned him to train you? I could only put someone I trusted implicitly that close to you. Its been especially helpful now, don't you think?"

It was obviously a very pointed question. He was clearly implying that if it had been for his judgment things could have been far worse. It could have easily been her on the end of that knife. Amalia looked down at the ground staring blankly at the toes of her shoes.

"...You're right.." was all she managed to say.

What else could she say? It wasn't like she could refute him. Cage, and by extension Hunter, had managed to save her many time's thanks to his insightfulness. Now that she thought it about, it made perfect sense that he had managed to find her at the hospital. And then at her home. No matter how she tired, this man was always at least one step ahead of her.

Amalia felt a whole new sense of respect for him grow. All these feelings just seemed to stockpile inside her heart where she kept them under lock and key.

Then there was Charlie. Charlie had been by her side for so long. He had taught her how to protect and defend herself. He'd shown her what friendship was. And his presence had always been a source of comfort for her.

How had she gotten so lucky? To come across two such men in her life. If the circumstances were different. If only she did n't feel so broken. Maybe, things could have been different. As they were now she couldn't allow them close. She couldn't start going soft just because of her newfound admiration. She didn't deserve them, the men or their affection.

Charlie was sitting close to Amalia, so as she battled silently with herself, he had had a front-row seat to her conflict. He watched quietly, gripping her hand as a variety of emotions danced across her face.

He watched in silence while sadness, regret and self-reproach danced across her eyes. He could only imagine the war she was fighting within herself. He'd known her long enough that he could roughly guess what she was thinking.

Taking a deep breath he shook his head and squeezed her hand.

"Whatever you are thinking right now - STOP"

Looking up at her eyes as he wedged himself closer to her side he took her other hand, wincing as he did.

"I don't need to be a rocket scientist, to know what you are thinking. You can worry about the details later. Right now, go home and rest. I need to sleep too."

Charlie rolled to his opposite side, grimacing in pain. His eyes glancing at Hunter.

"Take care of her," Charlie said, as the two of them prepared to leave.

There was a part of him that was still so protective of her that it was killing him to watch her leave with another man. It should be him guarding her. He hadn't realized up till now how jealous he was becoming of Hunter. He seemed to have everything that Charlie wanted. That included her.

Ironically, if he had never found out, there was a chance he may have gotten over. But now that he knew everything. A lot of pieces were starting to come together. His protectiveness of Luke, his jealousy. Everything.

Sometime later, Hunter had returned to Amalia to her apartment. The two of them tired and worn out from the whirlwind of emotions of everything they had just laid bare at the hospital.

The first thing Amalia noticed was the lack of notes and photos on her wall. Immediately, she turned her eyes to Hunter, questioning.

Hunter raked ahand through his hair.

"Cage took it. I had him come and collect your data. He's got our best men on it and with the information you managed to gather, it shouldn't be long before we find them."

Saying that he walked up to her and patted her head. Amalia looked up to him and nodded, she had been on the brink of speaking when she felt pulled into Hunter's embrace. His arms wrapped around her firmly before she had an opportunity to protest.

Feeling the comforting warmth of his embrace Amalia felt her body relax. She had been so tense this afternoon from their confrontation that the minute she relaxed, she nearly collapsed.

Hunter gathered Amalia into his arms and lifting her up carried her into her room. He wanted to hold onto her the way he had at her grandfather's place but he knew the timing wasn't yet right.

Quietly, he pulled the blanket up to cover her shoulders. And because he was still not confident of her safety he opted to sleep in her living. Stretching out in a chair by the door, he pulled out his knife and left it sitting across his lap.

Ahead of them, a long quiet night stretched on.