RIVER'S POV

"Co-ed jail cells. Are there co-ed prison cells as well?" Dean asked me as I lay my head on hi lap looking up at him.

He was seated on a cold steel jail bench holding my head on his lap as he braided strands of my hair. He was doing a poor job of it but I was enjoying the feeling of his fingers in my hair so I did not stop him.

"I think so. I am not really sure." I replied.

"Well the US is much more progressive than Kenya so I would not be surprised." Dean said.

"Is this your first time getting arrested?" I asked Dean.

"You have met my best friend Dishan, what do you think?" He challenged.

"Yeah what was I thinking?" I answered with a chuckle. "It is my first time though and if it wasn't for the fear of something wrong happening and me losing you, I would be enjoying this and crossing it off my bucket list." I said with a grin.

Dean arched an eyebrow at me but he winced since there was a cut on it. He ad not escaped unscathed as he had a few cuts and bruises on him but his dark skin helped to hide them better.

"I just beat three men up to a pulp, there is nothing to celebrate here." Dean scoffed.

"They are alive and you were doing it to defend me. You are not the only one to blame though, I did start the fight and knock one of the guys out." I assured him.

Dean stopped his ministrations on my hair and looked down at me meeting my eyes. "I did not see that."

"You were too busy with the other two. I did not know you could fight like that. I've never actually seen you like that." I expressed.

"I am sorry if I scared you." Dean apologized.

"You didn't. I was worried you would get hurt at first but after watching you it was like watching a lion go feral or something." I replied.

"I've never been like that either. I just went crazy after seeing that man push you. You are the most important person in my life and I would give my life to defend you." Dean said caressing my face with his fingers.

"You did and I love you so much for it. My husband, my hero." I grinned at him.

Dean smiled back and leaned down to kiss me. I could still taste the coffee on his tongue but it did nothing to erase the fact that we had been in jail for hours. My father had been there when we got arrested so he was already aware of the situation.

"What's taking dad so long. We have been here for hours. I think its daybreak already." I cried even though I could not tell the time.

Dean and I had not been able to sleep in the cold cell so we had been talking all night.

"It was a pretty serious offence that we committed so it's probably taking longer than usual to get us cleared. Also, I wouldn't know how all this works remember. I am not from around here." Dean answered.

"I know you are not from around here that's wat got us in this mess in the first place but I would do it all over again with no regret. That bastard had no right calling you the 'n' word." I grunted getting angry when I remembered the events of earlier that evening.

I knew the world was dark and ugly, Dean and I received hate anytime we were out in public together and I was always able to ignore it because they didn't directly address us. Until we had ran out of luck and come across Captain Jerk pants and his idiot friends. When thy used that ugly term to refer to Dean it had pissed me off beyond measure especially after the ordeal we had survived. They had chosen the wrong night to mess with us and I just couldn't take it. I had lost Mateo. Adrian and the other guards who had given their lives for us and even though it was their job it still hurt. Then some dick had decided to bully us just because of Dean's skin. The thought of it just made me angry all over again.

"At least we are together, stop thinking about it waridi, it is doing you no good." Dean advised tilting my face towards him so I could look into his eyes.

I lifted my hands up and cupped Dean's face rubbing my thumb over the bruise that was hardening under his eye.

"If anything had happened to you tonight, I would have hunted all of them down and killed them without remorse." I declared my voice unwavering and filled with promise.

Dean did not even blink because after seeing me in action earlier he knew I was more than capable of that.

"I know but thank God it does not have to come to that. You are here, I am here and we are both alive and safe." Dean reassured me.

"Yes, we are. I love you." I confessed feeling as if I never said those words enough times.

"I love you more waridi." Dean smiled comfortingly kissing my nose.

Those bastards were indeed lucky but I hoped it took all of them a long time to recuperate so they could always remember the consequences of their actions. If they learnt their lesson then well and good but if not then next time, they would not be so lucky.

The sound of the jail block doors opening had me sitting up a moment before one of the officers who had arrested us came into view.

"River Mae Anderson, your bail has been posted. You are free to go." He announced unlocking the door of the cell we were in.

"What about my husband?" I asked sitting up.

"He is an undocumented immigrant, his case is much more complicated. Ice has been notified and they will be taking his case on from here." He replied pulling the rug from under my feet.

The one thing I had been afraid of happening from the moment we got arrested was happening. Dean was going to be detained because he did not have the right papers on him.

"What no? he is my husband. We got married in Kenya and came here for our honeymoon." I defended taking a protective stance in front of Dean as if that would solve anything.

"Do you have any proof of that?" The officer asked

"No." I mumbled quietly at a loss.

"Then it is out of my hands, I'll give you two a few minutes to say goodbye." The officer said stepping back and leaving Dean and I alone.

"This can't be happening." I cried turning to bury my face in Dean's chest.

He didn't say anything in response not that there was anything to say. Dean was going to be taken away from me.

"This is all my fault." I whimpered.

"Oh no baby, it's not. It's just bad luck." Dean consoled.

"But it is, if I had not picked a fight with that guy you would not have felt obliged to defend me and we would not he here right now."

"Obliged? Defending you is not an obligation. Waridi look at m." Dean demanded softly tilting my head up to face him.

"Defending you is an honor not an obligation. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I don't know what is going to happen now but I want you to know that I love you so much. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are my rose-red lipped beauty, my waridi, forever and always." Dean declared kissing me gently.

"This is not goodbye. I am going to talk to my father and we will get you out of here." I promised Dean.

He looked at me doubtfully and I did not blame him because my father had made it clear that he was not a huge fan of Dean. If anything, Dean getting deported was working in his favor. But I would not let it happen, if Dean left Kenya, then I was leaving with him.

"It's okay baby. You are still my wife and I know that will never change. We will see each other again." Dean consoled pulling me in for a tight hg.

I held onto him for as long as I could until the officer came to let us know that it was time for me to leave.

"I love you husband." I whispered knowing our time was over and I did not want to leave Dean until he knew just how much those words meant to me.

"I love you more my beautiful rose." Dean replied kissing me.

The officer cleared his throat behind us and I knew that it was time to go. He had already been patient enough with us so with one last quick kiss I literally ran out of the cell since there was no need delaying the inevitable.

"The ICE officials will be here in a few hours, sit tight." I heard the guard say just before the cell doors were locked shut caging Dean in without me.

I felt like a zombie as I went through the release process being handed back my belongings which weren't much since I had lost my phone and purse during the shooting. I was surprised that the officers did not question me about the ankle monitor but I did not care about that. I did not have a criminal record and for all they knew it could have been a kink thing.

"Stay out of trouble now. Those men are not going to press charges so you've gotten a free pass. Use it wisely and stay safe out there." The officer said as I signed my release forms.

"Thank you. I'll be back for my husband." I declared.

"Okay ma'am." He nodded sympathetically.

I did not want his pity, I wanted a solution.

I walked out of the police station and found Demi and Evan waiting for me with a couple of my dad's guards. Like I had predicted I had been in jail all night seeing as it was morning, the beginning of a brand-new day. Demi ran towards me and pulled me in for a hug. I had not wanted to cry in front of Dean but as soon as I was in my best friend's arms, I broke down.

"It's okay babe. I've got you." Demi cooed rubbing my back comfortingly.

I cried because I was overwhelmed from the shooting, people dying in front of me and the fact that my husband was probably going to be sent back to Kenya. It's what we had been wishing for ever since we arrived but the plans had been to go back together.

Evan approached us and pulled me in for a brief hug. "IT's going to be okay darling." He consoled.

I desperately wanted to believe him but things were not looking good.

"Where's dad?" I asked Demi pulling back.

"He's still dealing with last night's mess so he sent us to collect you." Demi answered.

"Just me? What about Dean?" I asked even though I already knew the answer.

"Just you. He said that Dean's case is much more complicated because he is undocumented." Evan explained.

"That's bullshit. Half of his staff is undocumented. He is doing this to spite me and taking advantage of the situation to get his way. Take me home, I will deal with him." I demanded.

Evan nodded and led us to the car getting the door for us. Demi sat in the back with me while Evan drove us home with the rest of the guards in two cars following us. Demi held my hand the whole ride back home but no words were exchanged between us which was okay.

Nothing they could say would be of much comfort to me unless it was a solution to help Dean out. I was grateful to have them with me as a support system since I would have spiraled if I had been on my own.

The drive back home took less than half an hour but to me it felt like an eternity. Time was of the essence if I was to save Dean before the Ice officers got to him.

When we arrived, I didn't bother waiting for someone to get my door and immediately got out myself taking the steps up to the hose two at a time. I ran into Claudia dusting in the foyer. She dropped the clothe she was using the moment that she saw me and rushed to my side.

"You are okay! I was so worried." She cried hugging me.

"I'm okay Claudia. Where is my dad?" I asked.

"In his office. He asked not to be disturbed." She answered as if I cared what my dad wanted at the moment.

"That's unfortunate." I replied.

Claudia knew better than to challenge me so she let go of my hands and stepped aside to let me pass.

"I'll make you some breakfast." She yelled after me but I did not respond.

Food was the last thing on my mind at the moment. I rushed up the stairs and into my father's office barged in without bothering to knock. His office was full and all eyes turned to me as I got irritated looks for whatever I had interrupted.

"Everyone leave. I need to talk to my father." I demanded.

A few got up but the rest remained seated as if my words bore no weight.

"Did I stutter? I said leave." I bellowed and all of them got to their feet.

"River what is the meaning of this? You do not get to barge into my office and start barking out orders. Everyone sit down, river please excuse us. We are in the middle of a meeting. I will deal with whatever tantrum you are throwing later." My father retorted.

Some men sat while others remained standing confused as to who they were supposed to listen to. My father was the capo but I looked like a deranged woman ready to snap which was much more dangerous.

"Okay fine, why don't you all listen I do not care if we have an audience. We are all family, right?" I asked moving closer to them.

"River, I said I will deal with you later." My father demanded.

"No later will be too late so you are going to listen to me now or so help me God the hell I will unleash on you will make the Mexican Cartel's attack look like a picnic." I seethed.

My father had chosen the wrong person to mess with. He had been underestimating me when I told him how much Dean meant to me, well he was about to find out.

"Okay gentlemen excuse us, give me a few minutes to deal with my brat of a daughter. We will reconvene in twenty minutes." MY father ordered glaring at me.

"No! Nobody moves. You wanted them to stay then you shall all stay and listen to what I have to say." I demanded and once again they all looked between my father and I confused.

I didn't care if they sat or stayed as long as my father sat and listened to what I had to say. I leaned over his desk clutching the edge as I tried to reign in my anger.

"I need you to get on your phone and call all your police contacts and tell them to release Dean." I demanded.

"Seriously? That boy is the cause of all this ruckus?" MY father cussed looking offended.

"That man is the love of my life and my husband so you are going to do everything in your power to make sure that he does not get deported." I yelled.

"Why should I he has been yearning for the chance to go back to Kenya ever since you got here so this is it. He is getting his wish." MY father said with a smirk.

"Not like this. Dad please don't let them take him away from me." I begged getting off my high horse for a minute.

I could feel the pitiful looks of all the men in the room on me but I did not care as long as in the end I got what I wanted.

"No. I am in the middle of cleaning up the mess you two made last night. I lost my men out there and you want me to focus my attention on someone who is alive." My dad scoffed.

"That attack was not our fault and we survived. I am sorry for the loss of your men but that does not mean you get to punish Dean for something he did not do." I defended.

"Well, too late. I am not listing a finger to keep that man in this country. Kenya is where he belongs and that's where he shall go. It's good riddance if you ask me." My father declared looking smug.

I resisted the urge to leap across the desk and pummels him to the ground because first he was my father, two his men would come to his defense and three my anger and fists is what had gotten me into this point in the first place.

"Is that your final word?" I asked straightening up.

"Yes." My father asserted.

"Okay fine, I will not beg you again but don't say that I did not warn you." I replied and with that I turned around to leave the office.

"Stop her." My father commanded and immediately four men jumped into action blocking my path.

"You are not leaving this house. Take her to her room." My father instructed once again and they all started closing in one me.

Before they could get too close, I lunged forward and grabbed a gun one of the men had tucked into the front of his pants. I removed the safety and shot three rounds into the ceiling.

"Any of you come any closer and I will put a bullet through your brain." I screamed turning to face my father who was looking at me horrified.

"River what are you doing?" He asked.

"Protecting what's mine. One your men dares to touch me or stop me and I will kill anyone who stands in my way." I retorted.

I could feel my heart drumming against my ribcage, my blood boiling with anger and my eyes narrowed to slits as I glared at my father. He sighed and slumped back onto his seat in defeat. Seeing that I had subdued him, I left his office with the gun still in my hand and headed directly for my bedroom.

I wanted to back to see Dean but I reeked of gunpowder residue, blood that was not mine and jail cell so I needed to take a shower first. I was thinking of ways to save Dean and coming up short but maybe a meeting with the ICE officers in charge of his case would help me figure out a solution.

I found Demi and Evan in the kitchen having breakfast when I walked back down. They all turned to face me with worried looks.

"Evan, can you drive me to the police station?" I requested him.

"Yeah of course," He nodded pushing his plate away and standing up.

"Miha you should eat first." Claudia suggested.

"I am not hungry." I replied.

She looked a me as if ready to tear me a knew one but she stopped herself short probably after seeing the devastation in my eyes.

"I'll come with you." Demi said getting up as well.

We all piled into the car and Evan drove us back to the police station.

"What are you going to do?" Demi asked after I told them both that my father had refused to help me.

"Probably ask them to deport me as well." I chided knowing it was impossible since I was still a US citizen.

"We will find a way River just like we did last time." Evan consoled.

I could only afford a nod as we sped through the streets of LA.

When we got to the station, I immediately got out and went in to look for the officer who had been in charge of our case.

"Miss Anderson you're back." He said surprised to see me.

I did not even bother correcting him.

"I told you I would be. Where is my husband?" I asked.

His face fell at the mention of Dean and I immediately knew that something bad had happened.

"I'm sorry miss but they already too him." He answered.

"Took him where?" I asked feeling my heart drop to the pit of my stomach.

"To the airport. They are sending him back to Kenya." He answered.

"What/ but I was barely gone two hours?" I chocked out feeling the tears begin to fall.

"Your husband's case was pretty straight forward and we did call it in last night when you two arrived. They saw no need to delay the process so they are putting him on a plane to Kenya as we speak." He explained and my whole world came crashing down.

"Which airport?" I asked him in a whisper.

"I don't know miss but his flight was leaving in forty five minutes and its already been half an hour. You will not be able to make it in time. I'm sorry." He apologized as if his words meant shit to me.

"Thanks." I mumbled numbly and left the police station.

My friends were still there waiting for me. They looked confused to see me emerge so fast as they rushed to my side.

"Where is Dean?" Demi asked.

"Back home." I replied just before my legs gave out from underneath me but Evan was quick to catch me.

"Oh River." Demi cried and she cradled my head in my chest crying with me.

My world had just crashed around me because my husband was on a flight back to Kenya and I was all alone in LA, a place I once called home but wasn't anymore.