Memories

LXIII

IT'S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME

'Where have you been hiding out lately, honey?
You can't dress trashy till you spend a lot of money
Everybody's talking about the new sound
Funny, but it's still rock and roll to me'

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Hey, so first of all...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! also, we're almost finished with canon, and yes, I do plan on continuing the story post-canon, so don't think you're free just yet :) Alrighty, here we go...

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The interrogation was long, and Thalia found out information about her life she didn't know. Things like the fact that she was often travelling under the identity of a boy, and Neil under a girl's name. It was easier, Neil had said, for them to travel from country to country. Thalia learnt of her mother's death, and how Seattle was where their father had finally caught up to them. He'd been imprisoned, but had been released only days ago and sent back home to Baltimore. 

Neil and Andrew kept close together, and none of them told the agents who'd really killed Nathan Wesninski. They'd surely lock Thalia away forever. Kevin would be devastated, and that was why he could never know.

The name Hatford came up eventually, and Thalia didn't know much, but she understood from what little information Stuart had given that they were another big crime syndicate, though they operated in Britain.

They brought up the Witness Protection Programme twice on Sunday, and Neil and Thalia both refused each time. There was no way either of them were leaving the Foxes. Never again, and definitely not willingly. Thalia would never leave Kevin, especially, because she'd seen and heard how distraught he'd been when she'd both left for Evermore and then turned up again in Baltimore. He thought he'd never see her again, and Thalia wasn't willing to put either of them through that pain again.

Browning brought in some forms and spread them evenly between Thalia and Neil. She looked skeptically to Neil before down at the papers. When she saw what they were, Thalia's eyes widened. One was an official name change request. The second and third were for a passport and driver's license, and the final form was for a new social security card. 

"Shit," Thalia muttered. Most of the information was filled out already. They'd listened to her words the other day, writing Thalia Josten on the paper, instead of Warden. All Thalia had to do was sign the dotted line.

"Consider this a contract," Sykes said, making Thalia look up to where he was sitting opposite her. He looked slightly amused by her reaction, but sounded annoyed as always. "Once you sign this, we start the process to instate Neil and Thalia Josten as functioning and valid members of society. That means no more running and no more fake ID's. No more stealing cars or robbing convenience stores." Sykes looked directly at Thalia with that last bit. She shrugged, still stunned by the forms laid out in front of her. 

"You are going to be Neil and Thalia from now until death," Browning continued. "You are not allowed to change your mind. You so much as order a latte under a pseudonym and we are going to have a problem."

"I don't even like lattes, so I think we're good on that front," Thalia said, looking into Browning's eyes so he knew she was doing this on purpose. He ground his jaw, clearly wanting to leave the room.

"Pen," Neil said, holding out his hand. "I get it. Just give me a pen so I can sign it."

"Yeah, count me in on that one." Thalia reached across the desk and took Sykes pen off his paper. She clicked it and wrote her signature on the dotted lines on all four pieces of paper, then handed it to Sykes. 

"We're done here," Browning said, handing Neil's file to someone else. Sykes did the same. He stood. "If we think of anything else, we'll let you know."

"Oh I'm sure you will," Thalia said, standing up. She felt slightly dizzy from sitting for a long time and her wounds hurt. "But I'm just so sad to see you both go," she added.

"I'm sure we'll be seeing each other soon, Thalia." Sykes said. Thalia smiled and blew a sarcastic kiss his way before turning after Neil and Andrew to the door. "Stetson will give you a ride back."

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When they returned, Stetson lead Andrew and Neil to a room, and told Thalia to follow him to another. There, Kevin was sitting on a bed and Wymack was standing in front of him. They'd clearly been talking, but Kevin turned his head and stood as soon as he saw Thalia. Thalia looked between the two men and sent Kevin a quick questioning look she hoped he would understand. Kevin shook his head ever so slightly and Thalia sighed.

"You giving me a ride to the bus?" Wymack asked Stetson, who nodded. "I'll be back soon," Wymack added as he passed Thalia. "Let me know if we're staying or going." She nodded and made her way into the room. Kevin stood awkwardly by the bed, as if expecting Thalia to say she were about to die. 

"Kevin," Thalia whispered. He looked into her eyes and Thalia could see, even from across the room that Kevin had been crying. There were visible bags under his eyes and Thalia so desperately wanted to hug him and tell him everything was going to be okay. And for the most part, it would be. So that's what she did.

Thalia made her way across the room and walked straight into Kevin's arms. He held her loosely, careful of her injuries. But Thalia wanted him to hold her so tight that she could feel her stitches pop. She put her arms around Kevin and closed her eyes, breathing in the scent she so longed for over the past few months. 

"You need to promise you'll never leave me like that," Kevin whispered against her hair. "Never again."

"I promise, Kevin." Thalia whispered back. She squeezed her eyes tighter and willed the tears threatening to spill to hold in place. "I, Thalia Josten, promise you, Kevin Day, that I will never leave you again." she said when she pulled back. Kevin gave her a ghost of a smile. Thalia reached up and wiped the tears from under his eyes. "Alright. Abby should be here soon to patch me up, so hold me while we wait."