Don't Stand By Me (COMPLETE) - Chapter 40: Chapter 40

A few weeks later
"Thank you for your statement, it will be filed accordingly. Do you have anything else you would like to add?"
"Can I speak off the record?" Elvis asked, leaning back in his chair.
The interviewer gestured for him to continue and he sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I don't understand how we aren't in jail cells right now."
"A deal was struck."
"A deal? What kind of deal?"
"The details of which are confidential. But you and your friends have been granted blanket immunity for your work in helping take down the Montgomery and the Price crime families as well as a very large drug shipment that was intercepted. Our service owes you all a debt of gratitude."
"Thank you?"
"You're most welcome. Thank you for your time, Mr Miller. There is a car waiting outside to escort you home."
"No need." He shook his head, "I've made my own arrangements." He shook the interviewer's hand, thanking her before leaving the interrogation room, rolling his eyes at the ridiculousness of the entire situation once again.
"Hi." Dixon smiled softly, jumping up from the uncomfortable seat in the hallway, "All good?"
"All great." He smiled back warmly, "How did yours go?"
"Alright. Apparently we have immunity."
"So I heard. I would say it's Violet's doing somehow."
Dixon hummed thoughtfully, reaching forward and grabbing Elvis' hand, "Let's go home, you still have so much packing to do, you know?"
"We can't all be as super organised as you, dear." He paused, "It still feels really fucked up to still be leaving when all of this is going on."
"Life moves on." Dixon shrugged, "Why can't we? Haven't we earned that much?"
Elvis nodded stiffly but quickly melted, accepting the gentle kiss from the other man as they walked back towards the apartment hand in hand as the sun blared down on them.
"Violet, if you fluff one more pillow I may be forced to put you under arrest."
"Not funny!" She growled, thumping Fitz with the throw pillow lightly, "I just want everything to be perfect."
"Well things aren't perfect. Everyone is mentally and physically all over the place, the media has gone into a tailspin and not to mention Kiara-"
"Alright!" She snapped, shoving the pillow into Fitz's arms, "I get it! I just wanted to pretend I had some semblance of control for five minutes, okay?"
His face softened as he dropped the pillow to the ground, sitting back onto the couch and dragging Violet down with him as she protested. She giggled, burying her face in the crook of his neck and inhaling deeply.
"I don't think I properly thanked you for everything." She mumbled, "Thank you. I don't know what we would have done without you."
Fitz chuckled, "I don't know, it seems like Kiara did most of the work." Then he grew stoic, "But I have you to thank just as much. The footage you got on that body cam at the Canyon? Proves everything we have been working for, since before I even joined the agency. His entire operation is gone, for good. Because of you."
"If only I didn't have to ruin everyone's lives to do it." Violet muttered.
"You didn't ruin everyone's lives. You got them all immunity, and the media circus is already getting bored of you all."
"But, Kiara-"
"You can't blame yourself for that."
"But I can. That entire trip was my fault. Charles' murder was my fault. I did this."
The pair settled in silence, comforting each other and ignoring the buzz of their phones in the background, content to be just them.
"This has to be perfect! Absolutely perfect!" Pearl exclaimed, going up on her tiptoes in order to affix the banner properly.
"Don't you think this is a little crude?" Brent grunted from his seat, wiggling his slinged arm uncomfortably.
"It's tasteful. I would be delighted to be thrown such an affair."
"I wouldn't."
"Well you're a grumpy bastard."
"Hey! I have a right to be! I almost died!"
"Poor baby." Pearl cooed, rolling her eyes. She climbed down from the chair and moved over to him, running her fingers through his hair and smiling as he closed his eyes and tilted his head back, "I'm sorry. I'm being mean again."
"It's okay." He muttered, leaning into her touch, "It's been a tough few weeks."
"I just want her to feel the love and comfort that we want to offer her right now." Pearl sighed, "And parties are the only way I know how to comfort people."
"Yeah nothing says party like hey your girlfriend's d-"
"Not funny, Brent."
"Sorry, sweetheart." He smiled, tugging her down to peck her lips softly, "You know I'm just trying to avoid it."
"I know. I heard what you did for Kiara."
He shrugged, "I promised I would have her back and I did. That's all."
"You can admit that you like her, Brent. It won't kill you. What she did seems a bit...miniscule in comparison to what's happened."
"Fine, I like her? Okay? Jesus." Brent grumbled, "Happy?"
"Thrilled." Pearl drawled, glancing down at her phone as it beeped, "Oh people are arriving!"
Cassie sighed, pocketing her phone and glancing up at the building in front of her. She was in no mood for anything that Pearl had planned and her request for a 'girls lunch' felt fake but she felt too awkward to deny the girl anything at that point, especially while she was still processing. Walking inside she was immediately greeted by a bubbly young man who directed her towards a ballroom without even giving her an opportunity to speak. She squared her shoulders and entered the room.
"Surprise!"
Cassie plastered a smile on her face as her friends stood in party hats, their own expressions quickly dropping as they realised she was alone. She glanced up at the banner and snorted.
"Your girlfriend's discharged from hospital? Really?"
"Kiara hates surprise parties!" Pearl pouted, "She'd never let me throw her one. This is as good as I can do."
"Where is she?" Violet said, eyes darting behind my shoulder.
"She walked in ahead of me. I think she had to pee." Cassie shrugged, gratefully taking the drink that Dixon extended to her, "Keep these coming."
"Hey guy- oh for fucks sake. No. I said one thing, no parties!"
Cassie's smile grew less strained as Kiara hobbled into the room on her crutches, expression grim as she took in the sight around her.
"This is for Cassie! Not you! Don't be selfish." Brent joked, chuckling from his seat.
"You almost died, excuse me for wanting to celebrate your life!" Pearl squawked indignantly, stamping her foot for good measure. Brent rolled his eyes and wrapped an arm around her waist.
Kiara snorted, her face softening, "Thank you guys."
"Let's get drunk!" Violet announced, smiling as everyone hooted in agreement.
"I'm out anyway." Kiara sighed, "The medication they have me on is too strong, I can't mix alcohol with it."
Cassie walked to her, helping her over to a chair and sitting down beside her as everyone else bustled around and readied themselves for the night ahead.
"Are you okay?"
Kiara bit the inside of her cheek and glanced around, "As strange as it sounds, I'm absolutely perfect right now."
"Me too." Cassie smiled, kissing her gently.
And they really were.