"i will not be torn away,
i'd risk it all for you,
i'd die for you,
there's nothing i won't do."
- I Would Die For You, In This Moment

╳

"I see you, Dinah. No matter how many locks you put on your door." Billy taunts, after Dinah puts her phone on speaker. "And I see Frank, no matter how many cops you surround him with."

Frank is rigid, his face stone cold.

"Are you gonna visit him every day? Like you visited me?"

"Why don't you come down here, Billy? Join the party?" Dinah sneers.

"Can he hear me?"

"Yes."

"How's it feel, Frankie? To be locked up in a cage, like an animal? To be confined to a room with nothing but your miserable thoughts to comfort you? Nothing temporary about that pain."

I stare at Frank, watching him listen to Billy's taunts.

"It's like a waking death. Like you're burning in hell. You're your own devil now, Frankie boy." I can hear the smile in Billy's voice. "And you are no better than me."

I'm wracked with a shiver of anger and a desire to snatch Dinah's phone and hurl it into the wall. But I clench my fists and keep them at my sides.

"Are you done, Bill?" Frank asks flatly, the tone of his husky voice sounding uninterested.

"No, you- you're done!" Billy snarls. "And every day, you'll remember that I'm the one that put you there." he adds, a sinister laugh crackling through. "Isn't that just how it goes? I win, Frank. I win." Billy states before the line goes dead.

Frank's eyes shift back to the window and he remains silent.

I find my anger starting to dissipate as I become perplexed by Billy's words.

He didn't just ring to provoke Frank. Billy was.. gloating? Like he knows what Frank did, and knows how Frank would be feeling.

But Billy was gone by the time Frank was taken by the cops.. How could he know Frank's strife?

"Jenavieve, can I talk to you outside?" Dinah announces after a moment, breaking me from my thoughts. I flick a glance between her and Frank, and she raises her eyebrows expectantly. "..Frank will be fine for five minutes."

When I look at him, his dark autumn eyes find mine and the torment that swirls within them pierces my heart. He is anything but fine. Mentally, emotionally or physically.

"Jenavieve." Dinah insists.

I sigh through my nose, then reach down, gently stroking my fingers along Frank's arm all the way down to his fingertips as I leave his side and follow Dinah.

We move down the hall and away from the police guard.

"This is new. Those women, I don't figure Frank for that." Dinah comments quietly.

"Neither do I." I say, but then frown. "You don't have doubts, do you? Is that why you're here?"

"No. I'm here because this is as much my mess as it is his. I'm the one who brought him back." she acknowledges. "Maybe I'm just looking for ways to get us off the hook, but.."

"But?" I ask expectantly, leaning closer to her.

She looks at me with unconvinced eyes, a couple shades darker than Frank's, framed with thick, dark lashes and dark eye liner.

"But.. there are a whole load of things at the crime scene that don't add up." she whispers. "And Billy calling like that.."

"Do you think Frank was set up?" I ask, voicing my ever growing theory.

"I don't know.. Maybe if there was some way to see the bodies.." she comments, void of hope.

"What's stopping you?" I ask her, a fire igniting within. Knowing she's not sitting right with this situation is equally validating and motivating.

"This is Mahoney's case. He let me come talk to Frank because it suited him. There's no way he'll let me do anything else." she says, her shoulders slumping, eyes downcast, looking dispirited.

"Dinah, if there is even the slightest chance that Frank didn't do this, we have to check it out." I state firmly.

Her eyebrows furrow doubtfully. "Frank seems pretty sure in there."

"No, he seems to be convincing himself." I tell her. "The bodies are in this hospital's morgue, correct?" I ask and Dinah nods her head. "What if we get in there and take a look?"

"How the hell are you gonna manage that?"

A conniving smirk makes its way onto my face.

╳

On our way down to the morgue, Dinah fills me in on Mahoney's observations of the crime scene at Billy's warehouse.

Frank had entered via an underground tunnel and it appeared Billy knew he was coming. With lots of rock salt and rubber bullets found at the scene, it seems Billy had wanted Frank to suffer.

Majority of their battle took place on the ground floor of the warehouse. But there was one upstairs office that was sprayed with bullets as the gunfight raged below. That is where the three unarmed women were found dead, caught in the crossfire of Frank's raging bullets.

Or so it would seem.

With me in my white coat and green nurse scrubs, and Dinah with her DHS badge, we move through the corridors with ease. Until we reach the final office between us and the bodies.

A man stands from his desk, questioning our presence. I flirt, flatter and bat my eyes to make him nervous, all the while keeping him intimidated by speaking professionally regarding our purpose here. But annoyingly, and slightly admirably so, this nervous man remains a stickler for the rules, and without the proper paperwork and approval, will not let us in.

Allure and intimidation won't work this time around. First time for everything.

Which leaves..

I back down, gracefully admitting defeat, but as soon as the man's back is turned, I grab him in a headlock. Ignoring Dinah's shocked protests, I keep a tight arm around his airways, until he's unconscious.

Dinah frowns at me with extreme disapproval.

"What?" I shrug. "We don't have time to waste."

Being away from Frank has me on edge. Even if Frank's police guard did assure me that he'd allow access to no one. Frank is defenceless right now.

I set the man's body back at his desk while Dinah searches for files.

"They haven't been processed yet." she comments as she reads.

"Perfect." I grab the keys and some gloves, and get us to our bodies.

We locate the drawers and pull each one out of their cold boxes. I fold all the sheets back and examine their bodies.

My first thought upon viewing the women; suspicious.

They each have three bullet wounds in their chest and stomach area. That's quite some clean cut coincidence for being in a crossfire..

I take a reluctant sniff and pick up on a scent that has me leaning in closer to one of the bodies.

Gunpowder?

There's dustings of gunpowder grains around the entry wounds. Interesting.

I snake my hands under the body and lift, searching for exit wounds. After repeated glances back and forth at the exit and entry wounds, it's clear the bullets went straight through. I lay the body back down on the tray and examine the other two bodies just as closely.

Once I'm finished, I look to Dinah with wide eyes.

"What is it?" she asks.

"The way they were shot doesn't fit." I tell her. "The trajectory is parallel to the floor, and there's still gunpowder grains at the entry sites.. Someone stood right in front of these women and unloaded right into them."

Realisation fills Dinah's eyes.

"They were executed, not caught in the crossfire." she states.

"Frank didn't do this." I declare with a smile.

╳

I bounce on the balls of my feet in the elevator, waiting impatiently for it to arrive on Frank's floor, itching to return to his side and put his mind at ease.

The elevator doors finally open and as I step off, I can smell the scent of Frank's police guard lingering in the hall in front of the elevators.

The guard left?

He wasn't due to leave for another hour..

I leave Dinah behind in an instant, racing down the corridor for Frank's room.

As his door comes into view, I notice it's slightly ajar, and there's no guard posted outside.

Closing in, I see the new officer on shift standing by Frank's bed, a syringe in hand, ready to inject it's contents into Frank's forearm.

I burst into the room, and grab the officer from behind. With a deep grunt, I shove him across the room, away from Frank.

I stand at the end of Frank's bed, poised and ready to attack, watching the officer with a deadly scowl as he steadies himself. Claws itching just behind my knuckles, I fight to keep them contained and shift my weight, filled with anger I cannot release.

The officer looks between Frank and I, and snickers.

"So this is what five million bucks looks like?" he quips with a chuckle. "That wasn't hard at all." He grips the syringe tighter in his hand.

"You touch her, I'll kill you!" Frank growls from behind me, and my heart pathetically skips a beat.

Frank's words make me weak in the knees, while simultaneously make me feel stronger than I've ever felt.

The officer lunges forward and I jump to meet him halfway. As I clamp my hand around his throat, he stabs the syringe into my arm and pushes the plunger.

Frank screams behind me, strapped to the bed unable to help. But I don't need his help. I just need to figure out what to do with this man. He isn't an ordinary bounty hunter, he's a cop. I can't kill him, especially here in Frank's room.

The officer clutches my throat with both hands, leaving the syringe to hang from my arm. He squeezes tight, choking me, until I knee him in the groin. The second his grip falters, I grab fistfuls of his shirt and pull him into a head-but.

Dinah runs into the room as the officer drops to the floor unconscious.

"Jesus Christ!" she gasps, eyes wide as she looks at the officer.

Coughing, I pull the syringe from my arm and throw it at the his unconscious body. Then I whirl around and rush to Frank's bedside.

"Frank!" I pant. "You didn't kill those women." I tell him, taking his hand in mine.

"What are you talkin' about?" he asks distractedly, only half paying attention to my words as his eyes checks me over.

"They were dead before you arrived. Billy set you up. You're no monster, Frank. You never were." I say in one breath, soft smile on my lips.

Realisation dawns in his eyes and his jaw tenses. "..Get the keys and get these cuffs off me. I'm gonna take care of him." he mutters.

"Frank, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Dinah yells.

Frank wriggles and writhes, itching to get out of bed. "Get the cuffs off." he asks me, looking at my knuckles.

"Frank, we need a plan-" I try to reason, before grimacing at an uncomfortable feeling coursing throughout my body.

"I'll take care of it." he says overtop of me.

With a sharp inhale, I clutch at a sudden pain in my chest.

"Jen- hey, hey!" Frank worries, suddenly squeezing my hand.

"I'm okay." I breathe, eyes squeezed shut while the uncomfortable feeling subsides.

"Do you know what was in here?" Dinah asks hurriedly.

I open my eyes and look at her holding the officers' empty syringe with a tissue.

"Something lethal.." I groan before directing a scowl at Frank. Frank, who sat back, offering his arm up for the needle before I burst in.

Whatever it was, based on what I just felt, it would have stopped a normal persons heart. It would have stopped his heart. And he was just going to let it happen.

"We need to get you a doctor-" Dinah panics.

"No!" I cut her off as she heads for the door. "I'm fine."

"Jenavieve-"

I ignore her and lean closer to Frank. "We will get you out of here, okay? I will make sure of it." I promise him. "But you need to trust us. We have to work together."

"Are you okay?" he asks, concerned eyes flitting all over my face. I nod my head and his muscles start to relax. "That was meant for me." he whispers.

"I know." I reply with a pointed look.

"Jesus Christ. Jenavieve, you need a doctor!" Dinah insists.

"Dinah, do not walk out that door!" I warn.

"Jenavieve-"

"I don't need medical attention!" I state firmly, and Dinah keeps her feet planted. "Now, would you two stop freaking out?!"

Dinah and Frank both stare at me as I relax and let out a sigh.

"I have a plan." I announce.

╳

I send my fist into the little red box on the wall, the fire alarm wailing instantly.

Hospital staff immediately jump into action, preparing evacuations for their patients. I follow some of them back into Frank's room and help them wheel his bed out.

As soon as the opportunity presents itself, I leave the nurses with their assumed patient and dart into the stairwell.

It doesn't take me long to catch up to Dinah as she helps Frank limp down the stairs.

He looks hot as hell in the police officers all black uniform. But it's obvious he's in pain. He shouldn't be up and moving so soon, but he can't afford not to.

I discard my white coat and take over from Dinah in aiding him down the stairs. Pulling his arm over my shoulders and wrapping mine around his waist, I help him carry his weight.

As we descend the stairs, Mahoney's voice calls through on the radio attached to Frank's belt.

"All units, all units; Frank Castle has escaped."

Well, they've finally figured out it was Officer Bounty Hunter strapped to Frank's bed.

"All exits, I want 'em covered. Elevators, rooftops, stairwells. No one leaves this hospital. You understand? No one."

We finally make it to ground level, and head through the halls keeping our heads down. It's not too difficult to blend in since we're all in uniforms. Everyone around us assumes we're fulfilling evacuation tasks.

Barging through the emergency exit, the breeze hits my nose and I let out a gasp at the scent on the wind.

Shit-

"Freeze!" Mahoney yells. "Freeze, goddamn it!"

"Shit." Frank grumbles under his breath, reiterating my thoughts.

"Drop your weapon! Drop it!" Mahoney orders. He meets us halfway in the car park, gun drawn on Frank. "Drop the gun, Frank." he demands again when none of us move. He flicks a glance at Dinah. "You, too."

Frank slowly pulls his arm from around my shoulder and stands up straight.

"Don't test me, you son of a bitch." Mahoney yells, getting impatient. "I shoot you now, nobody's gonna bat an eye."

My scowl darkens to a deadly stare at Mahoney's words and a low grunt rumbles in my throat.

"Easy.." Frank whispers for my ears only.

Mahoney kicks Dinah's gun away while Frank undoes the holster around his waist. He drops it and Mahoney picks it up.

"Don't try no shit." he warns Frank, and reaches for his handcuffs.

"Mahoney, just listen.." Dinah tries, but he isn't interested.

"I've listened to you way too much." he tells her, sending her a pointed look while he blindly thrusts his cuffs at Frank. "Put one in your wrist." he instructs, and I move in front of him.

Mahoney finally looks away from Dinah, and flinches in surprise.

"Step aside, or I'll charge you with obstruction." he orders.

I don't even blink at his words.

"Go ahead." I challenge him flatly.

"Stand down." Frank whispers behind me, but I ignore him.

Dinah places a hand on my shoulder and tries to tug me back, but I shrug her off and hold my place between Mahoney and Frank.

Mahoney narrows his eyes. "Fine." he states, and snaps a cuff over my wrist. Then he snatches Dinah's handcuffs, snapping one onto Frank's wrist. "Both of you, get in the ambulance." he barks, aiming his gun back and forth between our heads as we start to move.

"You need to calm down." Dinah tries to soothe the man.

"I'm gonna fry your ass for this." he says to her, over his shoulder. He opens up the back doors to an ambulance van and orders Frank inside.

Frank limps up into the patient compartment and I follow him in. Mahoney hooks each of our empty cuffs onto the horizontal pole hanging from the ceiling of the van.

He turns to Dinah as he closes the back doors. "You're not the only one who gets to be crazy." he says. He holsters his gun and heads to the front of the van.

Oh, Mahoney, you have no idea about crazy.

A/N

I really wanted to include Karen in this scene, and potentially make Jenavieve jealous. But these two don't need another wedge between them right now. 😅  so I'm saving any Karen interactions for the "book 2" I'll eventually create.

references: adapted scenes and dialogue from "The Abyss," episode 11 of The Punisher, season 2.

- K