AJ's pov:

When she left it felt like the world had moved from under me. I felt dizzy and drugged. Why did I do that? What's happening to me? She said I was hurting her. I hurt her.
I regained myself and walked towards the entrance. Ian was standing still, looking towards the beach. He saw and his eyes went wide. He came in and put one arm around me.

"Hey man what happened?" He asked.
His green eyes wide with curiosity.

"I messed up," I said..

"Don't worry, you'll find others?" He said unaware of how piercingly in love I was.

"Sure," I said to end the conversation.

"Are you okay, you don't seem well. You're all pale and sweaty."

"I'm fine Ian. Could you help me till the car?" I asked.

He nodded and helped me walk till the car. Cleo was gone. And so was Delilah.

He was about to go back to his spot near the gates of the museum. When I stopped him.

"Ian I have a question," I said.

He turned back and leaned near the car.

"Spit it out Aidan," he said smiling.

"Do you anything about this gala happening in the next week?" I asked.

"The Cresent Gala? Yes." He said.
"It's a big deal, loads of precious stones from everywhere. I think the biggest exhibit is this weird cursed Jewel or something. I heard two curators chit-chatting about it."

"Cursed?" I tried to sound intrigued.

"Hell yeah, I googled it after I finished my shift that day and it's so spooky man. Apparently it brings bad luck to the holder or something. Like the past few people who've tried to own have either died or had serious problems. Come on that's some messed up shit right?" He said all excited.

"Sure does," I said.
"What else about the Gala? Why is it happening?"

"Just some investment shit. Big investors coming in to see what the museum has to offer. It's buff right now. They need the money. And the biggest exhibit is a mind blower. So fingers crossed, I really don't want to lose this Job. They have some hot amenities if you know what I'm saying," he winked.

"You pervert Ian." I chuckled.
"Anyway thanks Ian. Later!"

"Hola A-man," he said giggling up the stairs to the entrance.
-
-
-

So the Emeralds were Cursed I decided after reading multiple Wikipedia articles.
I sighed.
What had happened to me in there. I was in the car and my head had finally stopped ringing. That stupid museum made me feel nauseous.

But that still doesn't make up for Delilah.
I screwed up this time. She was only trying to help. She's put her whole life on the line for me and this is what I do?
I can't screw this up.
This is the one good thing that had happened to me since the Takers.
I can't let her go.

It was afternoon now, and if I was going to do this thing with the Emeralds. I knew I needed her. I need her for everything. She's become a part of me. I love her God damn it. And I'm not messing this up.

I thought as I started the car and headed home.
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John's pov:

"Hey Johnny! I've missed you!" Lily gushed through the phone.

"I've missed you too Lils," I said.
"How's the hubby?"

"Fine, he sleeps longer hours now." She sighed

"Damn I really miss you guys."

"We do too John. And things are better. The money is distributed smoothly. Ghost is literally a ghost now. The news and Police have stopped talking about the heist. Life is sweet like mom's pie."

I sighed when she said that. Because God knows life is not sweet here.

"What's up hun? Something wrong."

"It's AJ, he's going through shit. Something to do with his family," I said.

"What? Spill," she demanded.

And I did. I told her about the letter and the implict U.E. About how AJ had been acting. I told her about everything but the one thing I really wanted to talk about.

"Shit John. That's so messed up," she said finally.

"Yeah babe I know. Everything's a bit shitty here."

"Is there something else too?" She fished around. As she always does. It was as if she could read minds.

"Pffftt no," I said making it more obvious.

"Pffftt yes," she said locking suspicions in her head.

I sighed again.

"It's Delilah isn't it." She said letting it out for me.

I stayed quiet.

"John you know you have to address this. It'll just screw things up more if you don't. God the house is full of two guys in love with the same girl. And one is going through a family mess. The other is going through inner turmoil. And the girl is blissfully unaware. Could it be more typical?" She vented.

"Lily you're doing it again."

"John, you need to set things right. Figure out whether you love her. Or is it just seeing her with AJ?" She said.

"I'll figure that out Lily. Right now I need you guys. We all do. I know this is stupid with the last heist and all but—" she cut me off.

"Say no more golden boy. Lily will handle it. You just prepare a honeymoon sweet for me. It's long overdue," she chuckled.

"You're the best babe."

"I know." She said and hung up the phone.
                °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

AJ's pov:

When I reached, I was trembling. It wasn't the weather. It was my wound. Something was going on inside me. There was a numb blueness around my healing bullet wound.
But I didn't care about that right now.

The house was silent. There wasn't anyone around.

I went inside, Sal was cooking as usual. He didn't hear me so I just went upstairs. John wasn't anywhere to be seen. Though I thought I could hear his voice from the rooftop.
I went into my room and stopped dead.

She was lying on the bed. With her blue sundress sprawled around her. Like an open Lily. Her hair was undone and spilling out in soft coco, honey curls.
Her eyes were shut tight, no fluttering. Then I caught sight of her hand. It was wrapped up. I felt a pang of pain and regret. I hurt her so bad, it had to be wrapped up?
Somehow it didn't feel right to touch her, she was mad at me and rightfully so. How could I touch her without her consent? Without her wanting me too?
I'm sure she didn't want me right now.

So I let her sleep. I didn't brush the hair from her face. Didn't kiss her temples or her eyes. Didn't draw with my fingers along her collarbone. I just covered her with a soft blanket and sat down on the ground.

My wound was really burning up. And my sight was tunnelling, I felt weak. I tried to reah my phone and call John. But my hands and arms gave way.
I tried to scream for Sal, but my voice didn't come. I even tried to will Delilah to see me. But she didn't budge.
And soon enough darkness engulfed me.
               °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Delilah's pov:

I woke up with a bitter taste in my mouth. I'd skipped lunch. I'd already told Salazar I didn't want to eat. He'd tried to pursue me, but I held my own. It was still afternoon and the sun was still filtering the day. I must have been asleep for an hour. I couldn't sleep for more today. I stretched out of the blanket and held my head. I felt bad, fighting with AJ was not easy.

I turned around to head for the washroom and was shocked to see AJ sitting against the wall. At first I thought he was just sitting there. But he was unconscious. He was limp, his fedora was sliding off his head displaying his golden locks. His eyes were closed and his cheeks red.

I rushed to him and kneeled to where he was. I touched his cheeks, they were burning up.

"What?" I muttered.
"JOHN!"

Then I lifted up his shirt and moved him to a side. His head went and fell on my shoulder. His wound was surrounded by a pale blue and the yellow of the medicine was seeping out.

"Shit shit shit! JOHN HELP ME!" I screamed again. And attempted to lift him up.

I was about to fall with him when John came rushing in and balanced us back.

"What's wrong with him?" He asked in a daze.

"His wound, I-I think it's infected." I said frantically.
"We need to get him to a doctor now!"

"Yes yes!" John said and helped me carry him down.
"Salazar please ready the jeep. It's AJ!"

When finally in the car, John helped us in and drove like a maniac. He thankfully seemed to know where the hospital was.

AJ's head fell on my lap and I brushed through his hair. His eyes were fluttering and he was moaning in pain.

"Hold on AJ," I whispered.
-
-
-
Turns out the wound was infected. John had brought us to a clinic, he said it's the best. The doctor seemed to know AJ and quickly took him in to inspect his wounds. He came outside shortly after and told John and I that we weren't doing the bandaging properly and that the wound was badly infected. Yet not critical. AJ had a fever and was trembling. The doctor said he'd be fine after sometime and that we'd have to come weekly for bandaging. Plus we got a list of new antibiotics, gee fun.

"I told him I'd do it for him," I said out loud as we were buying his medicines.

"Maybe even you were doing it wrong." John said.

I glared at him.

"I said maybe."

When we'd finished off everything AJ was barely conscious but the doctor said it'd be fine to take him home. So we took him to the car and to our suprise found Sal and Cleo right by it waiting for us.

Sal looked worried, and Cleo was leashed up and awfully quiet.

"Hello Miss, Sir! How is Aidan?" He asked just as he saw all of us haul him too the car seat. He was drugged because the doctor had to stitch up the wound again. He basically was delirious and out.

"He's going to be fine Salazar." John said as he kept in the medicine bag on the front seat.

"Oh that's just great news." Sal said smiling with relief.

"Sal how did you get here? And Cleo?" I asked.

"Oh we walk everywhere, Cleo and I. But we got a lift here. I needed to go to a nearby store to get some supplies. And I couldn't leave her alone." Sal replied.

"Why don't we go get the supplies you need. Then we can all head back. It's going to be dark soon. I'll help you. The girls and AJ and stay here." John said winking at Cleo.

I smiled, "That seems like a plan to me."

Cleo was handed to me as John and Sal walked to a store in eyesight.
"Well look how we always end up together huh Cleo beo? It must be meant to be?" I Joked. She ignored me.

Right, I thought. She must be the most awesome creature in the world but she was still just a dog, who could not answer me back. I sighed, talking dog fantasies started with my beloved Scooby doo. Darn that awesome show.

"Hop in Cleo. Let's wait in the car." I said to her.

But her whole body had gone alert. Her back was arched as if ready to pounce as she pulled me forward in a shock and started barking frantically at a man standing not far away.

He wore a black Coat in the summer heat. His hair was a golden with streaks of white. But I couldn't see his face.
Cleo was insistant on barking at him. She just wouldn't stop, she went all teeth bearing ferocious on the man. I tried to regain balance and pull her back, but she was too strong. I tried to apologise to the man, but in a speed of light he disappeared. All he left behind in all his hurry was a pen. Cleo finally stopped barking and jumped to the pen. She started sniffing it furiously.

"Cleo stop girl, what's gotten into you?" I chided her.

Then I pulled her back with all my strength and picked her up, to plomp her into the car. She sat right next to AJ. And curled up quietly.
-
-
-
After the others returned with the supplies we headed back home. AJ was on and off the whole time. I made him sit down on the sofa in the living room. And asked Sal to make him some soup. John smiled at me before he went up to bathe.
AJ was almost fully conscious now, but there was still some tension between us. He tried to bring up the incident in the museum but I instantly changed the subject. So he finally gave up and quietly sat down.

"Miss Lilah soup is ready. Yours and Aidan's," he said.

"Thanks Sal, what about John?" I asked.

"He said he didn't want to eat today." Sal replied with a irritated expression.

"Just pour some out for him too Sal. I'll take care of it. Thankyou."

I took the soup and put it in front of AJ, then went up to check on John. He must be out of the shower by now, I guessed.

I knocked on his door, he answered back quickly.
"Go away Sal, I told you I'm not hungry."

I rolled my eyes.
"It's not Sal, it's me." I said opening the door.

Which I shouldn't have. He was shirtless by the window. The moment he saw me he jumped for the bed where his shirt was lying. I closed my eyes. Though I'd seen him shirtless before. Then I thought why am I closing my eyes. So I opened them.
He was desperately trying to wear his shirt and was wincing while doing so.

I realised why. His arm, I totally forgot that he had a bullet wound too. He had been shot in the arm by Igor. His wound was still not completely healed. It must be painful trying to wear a shirt.

"Wait!" I said abruptly. He stopped in a second.

I had to stop his wincing.
I moved towards him. And he took three steps back.

"Woah, I'm not going to kill you. I didn't make sandwiches to back me up." I Joked.

He cracked a small smile.

"Let me help. I forgot about your injury," I said taking three steps forward to fill the space he'd created.

He was as still as a cat in a gutter.
I reached out and helped his arm move into the shirt sleeve. Then I made the collar proper and started on the buttons. I tried not to touch his chest. But my fingers brushed against them occasionally.
His skin was hot, and his chest was moving with heavy breaths.

"D-Done," I muttered and stepped back.

He was all red and I felt uneasy.

"Thanks, do you need something?" He asked.

"What?"

"You came up—"

"Right, you need to eat something—and I don't care what you say, but—" he stopped me.

"I'll be right down," he said.

"What?"

"I'll be right down. You go on."

My neck jerked back in suprise.
"You'll come down to eat?"

"Yes," he said.

"Hm g-good," I said and turned back to exit his room.

Once I closed the door, I quietly leaned against it and touched my chest.

My heart was beating very fast.
What was happening to me?
                 °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

AJ was all done with soup and was waiting for me to join in and have mine like a puppy waiting to be appreciated.
I took mine and sat near the kitchen instead of next to him. He let out a sigh and leaned back against the sofa he was sitting on.
John came shortly after and sat next to AJ. Then they both started a conversation. I felt guilty and left out. But I still didn't want to give in.

So I helped Sal with the dishes instead. Once I was done, Sal asked me to call Cleo for her dinner.

I call her twice, she didn't answer. So I went to her and bent down.

"What's up girl? Aren't you hungry?" I asked. She looked at me with her big grey eyes.

"What's up? Cleo beo—" then I noticed something in her mouth. She was holding something in there because of which she wasn't barking. Or getting up to eat.

"What is that girl?" I said and reached in to remove it. She didn't struggle she dropped the thing in my hand and sauntered to the kitchen for her awaited dinner.

I saw the drool covered object in my hand and realised it was the same pen that man had dropped.

It was dark green. And pretty fancy. But what really caught my attention was the initials engraved into it.

They were none other than,
U.E.
                  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

"AJ—" I was going to call but instead called louder.
"John!"

They both came however. Both of them worried as to why I'd called.
Then I showed them the pen and it's initials.

"It has to be the same person. Infact, I think this is the pen used to write those letters. It's gold ink." I said getting up and washing my hands.

John washed the pen and gave it to AJ to inspect.
"Did you catch a good look at the man?" He asked.

"Not really, he was tall, blonde and wore a black coat in the heat." I answered.

"Have you ever seen him before," John asked again.

"No, and I'm not exactly the perfect person to ask. But I've never seen him before. Cleo recognised him though, she went all bizerk barking at him crazily. She knew him."

"Maybe he's met her before. I mean he knows everything about my family. He even sent Cleo a bloody dog collar," AJ said.

"Emerald collar. Very expensive." John pointed out.

"I'm tired, we'll look into this tomorrow. I'm going to bed you guys, Goodnight," I said and turned back to head for the staircase.

"Yeah I'll take Cleo out for a final walk once. Before zoning in too. We'll figure this out AJ. I'm sure of it." John assured AJ before leaving.

I was half way up when I heard AJ groan in pain. I went back down to see what happened. He was leaning against the wall next to the main door and was most certainly in pain.

"What? What happened?" I asked frantically reaching for him.

"It's just so sore right now. When the stitches are stretching it's like the wound is opening up again." He said in a single breath.

"You know that's going to happen for sometime. Till the stitches are okay. Just don't move so much. Where are you going anyways?" I asked realising he was trying to leave through the door.

"To the guest house. It's right behind hidden in the vines. It has two bedrooms. I thought—you'd want to be alone." He said softly.

"I—Yeah fine sure. Go ahead. But wait here for now, when John comes back he'll assist you." I said turning back to go up again.

"Wait—really?" He asked baffled.

I turned to him mid staircase.
"What do you expect me to say? No please AJ I want you tonight. I forgive you. That's what you want me to say. Well I'm sorry. No can do."

"Delilah—" he called in a breath.

"Yes?" I said turning back for the hundredth time.

"I don't expect you to forgive me. I just—I want to apologise properly. I had no right to treat you like that. Or hurt you. I had no intentions to that. I don't know what came over me. And I was wrong, and I sincerely and positively feel like a piece of worthless shit. I'm sorry."

"Okay," I said flatly. Though the shit part almost got me.

"Okay? You forgive me?" He asked.

"It's not that easy Mr. worthless piece of shit. 'Okay' as in Okay you can sleep upstairs." I said and turned back to finally head up.
                °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

As I lay in bed, my eyes were drooping shut. They couldn't wait to close any longer. My mind however was wide awake with thoughts of the Emeralds, the strange man, John and AJ.

How was he always on my mind?

There was cool air spilling into the room and the white transparent curtains were flowing with the gentle breeze. Everything was lulling me to sleep.

Then AJ came in. He got out of his shirt and lay in bed. I acted asleep.

He was right next to me yet he didn't touch me, didn't kiss me. Didn't trace my lips or collar. Didn't play with my hair. But I could feel the intensity of his gaze on me. Like always. I felt naked.

I always had nightmares, unless I'd sleep around him, touch him. His touch was just so assuring. I didn't want to have nightmares today.

Gently and very discretely he intertwined our fingers. And when I didn't resist. He held my hand. There was a space between us tonight. But our hands were clasped together, skin to skin in unison.

I drifted off to sleep not long after, who knew what the next day would bring.

I didn't have any nightmares that night.
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PS: Ik the title is the same as the popular show. But it was the first thing I thought off. I might change it later...

This was a Quick update. Hope you liked it. It was a comparatively less eventful chapters. But rest assured, the next two will be action, humour and romance. Hope y'all enjoy it. Thankyou for all the reads and votes. Please keep doing so. It truly makes my day.
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