This wraps up the previous 6 chapters starting from When Disaster Strikes to Undercover.

If you want to know who some of these new characters are I suggest reading It Happened One Night first. It's a novella and you'll blast through it.

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A strand of hair fell from Carter's hold and she swept it back up. But as she went to wrap the hairband around her hair, she found the task difficult with her hands shaking. She swallowed but the trembling didn't stop and more strands fell loose from her grasp. Before she could lose all control of her hair, Donovan stepped up behind her and took over.

Part of Carter didn't want to relinquish the task to him, all too aware of the last time he'd had to do it for her, when she wasn't even conscious enough to do it. She looked at him in the mirror as he deftly brushed her hair into place and tied it back. It hadn't been a skill he needed to learn, but had been forced to when she was trapped in shock from being tortured.

"Thank you," she whispered, clenching her hands in her lap, willing the tremors to stop.

Donovan kissed the side of her face, smiling.

"I think I do a better job than you do."

His teasing pulled a smile from Carter, even as her fingers remained in tight knots.

"I have something for you," he said.

Before Carter could ask what, Donovan left the bathroom and returned a second later, holding a black, velvet box. Kneeling before her, he held it out.

"If I didn't know any better I would think you were proposing," she said, her surprise at the gift helping her forget her nerves for a moment.

"I would, but I think my wife might have a problem with that."

"She would."

Donovan grinned and held the box out. Uncertain, Carter took it and opened the lid. Inside, sitting on a velvet cushion was a single diamond necklace. Carter looked from the gift to Donovan. Before she could say anything, Donovan cut in.

"Yes, I know you don't wear jewelry. But when I first met you, you wore a pendent necklace." He raised his hand, again stalling Carter's words. "Yes, I know it's cause it was imbedded with a tracker. But you made an exception to your 'no jewelry' rule for that necklace, I figured you could do the same for this one."

"Why? Is it imbedded with a tracker as well?"

Donovan laughed and it did more for Carter's nerves than anything else. She hadn't heard the sound in a long time. The pain he had seen her in had stolen it, but hearing it right then she felt that they could get back to who they were.

"No," Donovan said. "It doesn't have a tracker in it." He lifted the necklace from the box and unclasped it. "It's a reminder that you are strong and beautiful and can cut through anything."

He reached forward and clasped the necklace around her neck. Carter touched the single diamond, wanting to cry. Not because she was loved but because the man she loved still saw her as strong.

Carter kissed Donovan, even as tears trailed down her cheeks. When she pulled back, Donovan brushed the tears away.

"Today your testimony against the Castello family is going to put them behind bars forever. And I'm going to be right there with you every second."

"I know you will."

Carter kissed him again, drawing strength from him. A knock sounded on the hotel room door, breaking them apart. As Donovan went to see who was there, Carter finished getting ready.

By the time she stepped out of the bathroom, she felt her resolve hardening. After today it would be over. She could put this all behind her. She just needed to get through today.

Standing in the doorway to their hotel room - a necessity with Carter being one of the leading witnesses and needing constant protection - was a U. S. Marshal. When he saw Carter, he nodded.

"The cars are ready and waiting," he said.

Donovan studied Carter, reading the glint of determination in her eyes. His mouth curved at the edge.

"We're ready."

Holding out his hand, Carter took it, grateful that she wasn't alone in this. Though Captain, Maggie, Link and Maddy all offered to be there for the trial, Carter asked them not to. It was going to be difficult enough retelling all she went through, having the ones she loved forced to hear it would make it impossible.

In the lobby of the hotel, Carter found more U.S. Marshals waiting along with the two attorneys working the case. In the time they had been involved on the trial, Carter discovered the attorneys to be fierce, driven and dedicated to winning. It was a man and woman who made up the dynamic team and though they had never given any sign, Carter held no doubt they were a couple.

When Carter and Donovan approached the attorneys, Ezra and Liv stopped their conversation to greet them.

"How are you feeling?" Liv asked, her look direct but with a touch of sympathy.

"Fine," Carter said.

Though she liked this duo, she wasn't going to show them her weakness. Only Donovan could see that. To the world she would be strong and unaffected.

"Good," Ezra said, not one to remain on one topic long. "We've gone over everything about today you need to know. You've handled every counter argument we could throw at you well, I know you won't have a problem facing the prosecutor."

Beside Carter, Donovan cleared his throat, trying to cover up a laugh. Ezra's statement was putting it mildly. In the practice runs whenever Ezra or Liv had tried to trip Carter up she hadn't fallen for it, always remaining unfazed. At the sound, Liv smiled, clearly thinking what Donovan was. Ezra checked his watch and nodded.

"We need to be heading out, the trial starts in an hour."

All in agreement, the group headed out of the lobby and into the mild spring day. The clear blue sky overhead seemed to contrast the weight the day held. A caravan of three black SUVs lined the hotel drive.

Carter, Ezra, and Liv climbed into the back of the middle car while Donovan took the passenger seat. As the line of cars drove off, Carter stared out the window, breathing in slowly. After today it would all be over.

Next to her, Ezra and Liv talked with Donovan, speculating on every aspect of the trial. Carter didn't join in, instead watched the city pass by feeling the pressure in her chest grow with each second.

For the first time since being taken by the Castellos, she would be facing them again. Though she had worked through the ordeal, the thought of seeing them again pressed on her. Trying to keep her composure, she knotted her fingers together, the knuckles standing out.

"What do you think, Carter?"

The question pulled Carter from her thoughts and she looked over to see that both Liv and Ezra watched her. As she opened her mouth to respond, she froze, eyes glued on the front of the semi-truck charging towards them.

Before she could scream a warning, the truck slammed into the back of the SUV sending it spinning out of control.

Carter crashed into the door, knocking her head against the window. Her vision dimmed for a second, then cleared. Pain throbbed in her skull dulling her thoughts. Everything felt as if it were swaying around her. She pressed her hand to the headrest of Donovan's seat, trying to rebalance herself.

As the world righted itself, she heard the shout of voices and realized Donovan yelled her name. She tried to responsed but the words wouldn't come. Her door was yanked open and Donovan stood there, eyes filled with concern, his gun in his hand. The sight of it snapped Carter out of her daze. Adrenaline tore through her, clearing her head and tensing every muscle for action.

"We have to get out of here, we're too exposed," Donovan said.

Carter unbuckled her seatbelt, whipping her gun out of its holster and jumped down. Ezra and Liv followed suit, both wobbling as they hit the ground. Charged with adrenaline and the responsibility of someone else's safety, Carter felt calm and in control. This she knew.

"The driver?" Carter asked Donovan.

"Fatal blow to the head."

Carter nodded, not letting herself feel anything. Emotions could come later. Right now they needed to get out of there. Ordering Ezra and Liv to stay between them, Donovan crept around the back of the SUV, peering out on the rest of the destruction. It had been a well timed hit. The other two cars were totaled, flipped onto their roofs.

The semi-truck that had crashed into them stood across the street. Doors on both sides opened and men with their faces concealed and holding semi-automatics exited, making their way towards where the group took cover. Donovan retreated, looking to Carter.

"There's eight of them," he said.

"I'll round to the other side and take out the ones on the right," Carter said.

As Donovan nodded, gunfire filled the air and the windows of the SUV exploded, showering them with glass. They all crouched down, shielding their heads as a volley of bullets tore through the car. Keeping low, Carter edged her way around the car, glass crunching beneath her shoes.

At the front, she peered around the edge. The line of attackers walked towards them, unloading their weapons without thought. Raising her gun, Carter held one attacker in her sight when he jerked unnaturally and crumpled to the ground.

Startled, Carter paused and saw as the rest of the attackers spread out, taking cover where they could find it. The Marshals from the front and rear cars laid down fire, keeping the attackers engaged.

One of the leading Marshals made eyes contact with Carter and pointed to the sidewalk and the metro station only a few feet away. There was still away to get to the Court House on time. Carter wouldn't let the Castellos win and this attack proved more than ever they needed to be behind bars. Nodding, Carter ducked back to where Donovan, Liv, and Ezra huddled.

"We are going to make a break for the metro station," Carter shouted over the chaos of gunfire. "The Marshals will cover our escape." She looked to the two attorneys, surprised to find them more calm than she imagined they would be. "You ready?"

They both nodded, Ezra taking Liv's hand and squeezing it once. With a look at Donovan and a nod of encouragement, Carter led the group around the front of the car. She checked that the attackers were still focused on the Marshals then sprinted for the sidewalk, her gun up and ready.

They made it to the stairs of the metro and clattered down them. Carter's heart rammed against her ribcage, but her adrenaline heightened every sense, keeping her alert. As they descended the sounds of a fire fight lessened. Secure in the station, Carter and Donovan tucked away their guns, not wanting to cause panic.

"You're handling this a lot better than I expected," Carter said to Liv and Ezra.

They exchanged a glance, Liv fighting down a smile. "Well, if we make it out of this alive we'll tell you about how we meet."

If they were this in control in the face of a gunfight, Carter imagined it would be a story worth hearing.

Air rushed around them as a train roared into the platform. When the doors split, they climbed on, Liv and Ezra's manner relaxed while Carter and Donovan surveyed everything and everyone, prepared. They settled against a wall at the rear of the train car, giving themselves the best vantage point.

For this reason, Carter saw as a group of five guys stepped on a second before the doors closed. Though outwardly they didn't seem to be all that threatening, she noticed how each of them glanced towards Carter, their gazes more than passing curiosity. Those were confirmations that she was their target. Sensing the building tension, the rest of the occupants in the train shifted and stirred, not sure what felt off.

One of the men slowly made his way towards Carter, his movements casual, as if he were searching for a good seat. Carter glanced at Donovan and knew he saw what was coming. Everything seemed to slow as the man met Carter's eyes. They held each other's gaze, detachment in his, fury in hers.

When the man reached for his jacket, Carter sprung, crashing into him, both of them falling to the floor. The rest of the hired thugs charged and a woman screamed. Carter clamped a hand on the man's wrist, and banged it against the metal floor. He released his gun and it slid under a row of seats.

The man punched Carter in the face and pain exploded across her cheekbone. Gritting her teeth, she rammed her forehead against his. The man grunted and Carter used the moment of dizziness to take out her gun and crack it against the man's skull. He slumped beneath her.

Standing, Carter swung her gun around to eliminate the other man, but two were already unconscious by Donovan's hand. Another suffered a blow to the head by Ezra's briefcase while Liv flipped the final man over her shoulder and elbowed him in the face.

Taking in a steadying breath, Carter lowered her gun. "I guess we chose the right attorneys."

As Donovan knocked the man Liv kneeled on unconscious, Liv rose and sweep a strand of dark hair out of her face.

"Well, I'm the daughter of a police man," she said. "And you should see how Ezra handles a fire extinguisher."

Carter smiled at them. "I really need to hear this story."

Using the attacker's belts, Donovan and Carter tied them to a center pole while Liv and Ezra helped sooth the rattled train occupants. At their stop, the group exited the train looking a little worse for wear. After pointing the station security officer to the attackers, they hurried up the stairs, time ticking away.

Despite feeling battered, tired - the adrenaline leaving her body - and looking like the trim pant suit she wore had seen battle, Carter walked into the court room with a confidence that made these factors unnoticeable.

Murmurs rushed about the room and cameras clicked capturing the strange image. When Carter passed through the gate, she turned and stared the Castellos dead in the eyes.

Try as they might, they could not harm her. She felt the diamond necklace laying against her chest. She was strong, beautiful and would cut through them.

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🙃🙂😋🤪😝

(Yeah, I got nothing. But after a bajillion one shots I think I'm entitled to being unthreatening at least once)

Okay, drop plop dump lump dangle wrangle toss moss plonk bonk any ideas you have right here! 🗯💭💬

I must say that it still surprises me how Carter and Donovan act around each other even after all the one shots I've written. They really do support each other and I think it's the one thing I love most about their relationship, it's based on trust.

I wrote this...well cause I could and I wanted to do a crossover with Liv and Ezra because they are awesome!

Honestly if you haven't read my sister's novella (which is posted on my account, here) It Happened One Night you really should! It's a blast!

Anywho vote comment follow or stare at the ceiling contemplating life, I'll accept both options.