Chapter Forty-six: Coming To

She felt the tears come back to her eyes as she heard him call for his wife. It was a bittersweet blow. She had always wanted him to be happy and have a family and to find peace but she always believed that it would be with her. She swallowed hard as she watched him open his eyes. “Hey… I’m going to get the doctor.” She said putting on her bravest smile.

Before she could leave he reached out and took her hand. She turned to look at him. “Brenda… is she okay?” He asked. He had to know if his wife had made it.

She nodded. “Yeah. I think that she just stepped out for a moment. She should be back any minute.”

“How long… how long have I been out?” He asked.

“A little over two weeks.” She replied.

He nodded clearing his throat trying to ease the dryness. “Hey… is that water?” He asked motioning toward the pitcher that was across the room.

“Yeah… let me pour you a glass.” She offered retrieving him some water. She helped him sit up and placed the glass to his lips. He took tentative sips letting the coolness travel down his throat. He sighed when she took the glass away.

“Thanks.” He remarked getting his bearings. “How is Jason?”

“Good.”

“Is he with Carly and Courtney?” He asked.

She hesitated not believing that she should be the one to tell him this. He saw her hesitation and felt the twinge in his stomach. “What happened to my sister?”

She sighed not wanting to lie to him. “Sonny maybe you should take it easy. I’ll go get the doctor.”

“No, no, no. I want to know. Tell me. Is she all right? Did Jason get her to safety? He got her out of there right? He wouldn’t let anything happen to her.” He said.

She shook her head. “Jason got knocked out and so did Courtney… Jason is okay. He came out of it about a week and a half ago.”

“And my sister?”

She hesitated for a moment. “She uh… she’s in a coma.” She replied and watched the light go out in Sonny’s eyes.

Meanwhile down the hall…

“A coma? Well what did the doctors say? Is he going to be all right?” Courtney asked after Carly and Jason told her about her brother.

Jason sighed deeply. “They don’t know… They say that the longer he’s out, the less of his chances are for coming out of it.”

She nodded. “I can’t believe this… I can’t. Oh my God!” She felt the tears come to her eyes as she simply sat there not understanding how something like this could happen.

“Hey… listen to me.” Carly said walking over to her sister-in-law and taking her hand. “Your brother is a fighter. He is one of the strongest men that I know. Him and Jason don’t just roll over and give-up. They always fight for the ones that they love and I know for a fact that Sonny is going to be fine. He has way too much to live for. He has a family and friends and a little boy who is counting on him. He would never just abandon all of that. I know him. And I know that he’s going to come back to us. You just have to be strong and believe.” She replied looking over at Jason thanking him silently for giving her the strength to say these things and truly have faith in her words.

Courtney smiled slightly. “Okay.” She whispered still not as sure of what Carly said but willing herself to believe in it. “Well can someone please tell me exactly what happened that night? I mean the roof caved in right? What caused that?” She asked looking from one face to the other.

Meanwhile down the hall…

“I want to see her.” Sonny said. His words were a demand not a request.

“Sonny just listen to me. We need to get a doctor in here. They need to make sure that you are all right. You had a metal beam fall on your back. You just came out of a coma yourself after being out for over two weeks. You need to take it easy.” Brenda said as she watched him fight with his hospital gown and sheets.

“I’m not waiting Brenda. I want to see my sister. Now you can either help me or you can get out of my way. Either way I’m going!” He replied not willing to be deterred.

She rolled her eyes. “You know I hate when you get all stubborn and bossy.”

He shrugged. “You know you love me.” He smirked and she laughed a little glad that some of the tension had been eased.

“Come on.” She said offering her body as a crutch. He threw his arm around her shoulders and leaned into her as he slid off the bed. With her support and the little bit of strength he had they began the trip down the hall to Courtney’s room.

Meanwhile down the hall…

“I don’t think that we should get into this right now. I mean you heard what the doctor said.” Jason said.

“Oh come on. I promised him that I wouldn’t get worked up and I won’t. You’re going to be doing all the talking. I just want to know what happened. I mean people died that night. You could have died. I mean lives were destroyed because of what? Why did this happen?” She sat there looking into Jason’s eyes for answers knowing that he would always tell her the truth. He would always be honest with her.

“We don’t have any proof, but it might be Alcazar. At least that’s my guess.” He stated.

She sighed. “So he what… blew up the roof and tried to kill everyone in the club? How does that add up to him getting Brenda back?” She asked.

Jason shrugged. “I’m not sure. Like I said I don’t know all the details. All I know is that he had motive and means.”

“He believes that Brenda can live through anything…” All heads turned to stare at Sonny and Brenda.

“Sonny!” Courtney said with a grin. “I thought that you were in a coma.”

“I thought that you were too.” He said, a faint of a smile crossing his features. Carly took in a deep breath and crossed to her husband and stood in front of him.

“Hey what are you doing awake? I mean… what are you doing out of bed?” She asked tears coming to her eyes.

He smiled. “Nothing could keep me from looking in your eyes. I had to know that you were okay.” He whispered.

She bit her lower lip and reached out and stroked his face. It was an odd picture to see Brenda supporting him while Carly held his complete attention. “Have you seen a doctor?” Carly asked.

“No… I wanted to make sure that Courtney was okay.” He winced slightly.

“Help me get him to a chair.” Brenda said.

Carly flung into action and took his other arm and both women led him over to the hospital chair and helped him sit. He sighed glad to be off his feet. He looked at his sister who was smiling at him and then at his best friend who was staring at him. He nodded to let Jason know that he was okay.

“Now what did you mean by Luis thinks Brenda can survive anything?”

He sighed deeply. “I mean that Luis believes that Brenda can live through anything. She went over a cliff came out okay. She blew up his yacht and still managed to live through it. He kidnapped her, took her on a plane, it crashed and here she is, still breathing. He believed that she was 3and 0. So what was it to tempt fate one last time? He blew up the roof to the club knowing that Brenda was going to find some way to live through it. He was betting on me or Jax to save her. He knew it had to be one of us. I just happened to get to her first.” He sighed deeply. Looking around the room he saw the faces of the people that mattered to him the most. The only ones that were missing were his son and his father. He couldn’t let anything happen to them. They were too important and mattered to much to him. “Hey Jason could you help me back to my room. I’m a little tired.” He said.

Jason knew what he meant. Looking over at Courtney he smiled. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He said. She nodded and watched him take Sonny out of the room leaving the three women to their own business.

Chapter Forty-seven: A Shift of Drastic Change

Carly sighed, watching them go staring at the closed door. Brenda stood there with her hands clasped together in front of her that were lost somewhere in the sleeves of her long dark brown turtleneck. And Courtney simply sat up in her bed not understanding where all the tension was coming from but sensing it nonetheless. She sighed deeply and smiled slightly at Brenda and then to Carly.

“So how are you feeling?” Brenda asked trying to make conversation.

“A little weak, but okay now that I know that everyone is all right.”

Brenda nodded. “That’s good. I’m glad that you’re awake. Jason was really scared for you and so was Sonny. I mean he wouldn’t stay in bed or think about seeing a doctor until he saw you… That’s how he is about family.” She said.

Carly sighed deeply her agitation creeping into her pores. “You know what? Courtney needs her rest so I think that it would be better if you and I were to go. I mean the doctor said he only wanted one visitor in here at a time.” Carly interjected clasping her hands together to keep herself from strangling Brenda.

Brenda walked over to the bed and took Courtney’s hand. “I really mean it. I’m glad that you’re okay.” She whispered.

Carly rolled her eyes and walked toward the door and opened it. Brenda raised her eyebrows getting the unspoken message. She smiled once more before walking out the door. Carly turned to Courtney with a genuine smile. “I’ll come back okay?” She said softly truly glad that her sister-in-law was okay.

“I know.” She whispered. “Hey Carly… don’t be too hard on her. Sonny loves you, remember that.” She said.

Carly smiled slightly. “You’ve been hanging out with Jason way too long.”

“I am his fiance’. She replied.

“Get some rest.” She told her and then left. She found Brenda making her way down the hall. Catching up to her she grabbed the brunette’s arm and whirled her around. “Where do you think you’re going?” She asked.

“I was going to get something to drink, like coffee. Would you like some?” She asked sarcastically.

“Right so you could spit in my cup. I don’t think so. You and I need to get a few things straight.”

Brenda rolled her eyes. “Okay look, I was worried about Sonny. I mean I feel responsible for what happened to him.”

“You should. You’re the reason why Sonny almost lost his life. He was trying to save your life and got himself almost killed. This is your fault Brenda because you couldn’t deal with your life and your problems and you ran, right into the hands of an arms dealer and now he’s targeting everyone that gets close to you. And because Sonny feels this need in him to protect you and to feel responsible for you we almost lost him. This is your fault.”

Brenda simply stood there with her arms crossed shaking her head as she took it all in. But as Carly kept talking she just kept pushing her buttons until she snapped. “No! Do you want to know why Sonny was in a coma? It was because of you. He was trying to save you! You were standing in the middle of the club frozen… with fear! And he ran out without thinking to get to you and that’s when the beam hit him!” She screamed angrily.

Carly stood there as the memory came back to her. She did remember. She remembered hearing the explosion and then feeling the rumble beneath her feet. She saw the ceiling begin to give away and then she saw Sonny… he was running to her, calling her name and then… something came down and knocked him out. Brenda was right. Sonny was coming for her. The tears formed in her eyes at the memory.

“Yeah… you see if it wasn’t for me, Sonny would have been hurt a lot more. I went out there after him when you were too scared to do anything. I laid over his body to try and save him. I did that! So you could at least thank me for doing all that could to save your husband after he risked his life and almost died because of you!” She stormed off leaving Carly there with her memories and pain.

Sonny’s room…

“So what are we going to do?” Jason asked.

“This has gone too far. He’s not thinking like a rational man. He’s making decisions that are based off of his paranoia and his obsession. He’s taking too many risks… huge risks to get to her and we need to get to him first. I can’t let something like this happen again! We need to get rid of him as soon as possible! This has to end. He almost cost me everything that mattered to me to get to Brenda. That can’t happen again!” He stated angrily.

Jason nodded and sighed deeply. “So I’ll take care of him…”

“Tomorrow night. He’s been alive for sixteen days longer then he should have been. Tonight will be his last full night. It is over for him!” He said looking at Jason who understood.

Luis Alcazar had just signed his own death warrant.

Courtney’s room…

Jason walked in and saw her admiring her ring. She looked up and smiled at him. “Hey.” She said softly.

He took the room in quick strides and pulled up a chair to sit beside her. “Hey yourself.” He whispered leaning in and kissing her softly on the lips.

“Did you just get me this?” She asked.

He smiled. “Yeah…I didn’t know what you would like. I know it’s not fancy or anything but I figured that once you got out of here you could pick out what you liked…” He began when she cut in.

“No… this is perfect… and the inscription on the inside is beautiful. I couldn’t have picked out anything better then this.” She replied with a smile. “I just wish that I had a ring for you.” She whispered.

“I have this.” He said pulling out his angel. “And I have you. That’s all I need… I’m really sorry that you’re here again…”

She furrowed her eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”

“It just seems like ever since you became involved with me you always end up here in the hospital. I don’t know… maybe you and I shouldn’t be…”

“Don’t do that. I don’t want you to feel that this is your fault or that you have to protect me by staying away from me. I couldn’t stand it if you thought that I would be better off without you. I’m not. You told me that I make you a better person, well that’s what you do for me.” She said reaching out and making him look at her. “I love you and I’m with you for everything.”

He sighed. “I know. I just need to be sure that I can do this. My love and my words couldn’t keep this from happening to you. I don’t know if our love is enough.”

“It is… I know it is and all I need is for you to trust me. Can you do that?” She asked.

He looked into her eyes getting lost in her. “Yeah… I can do that.” He whispered. Reaching up he stroked some of her hair behind her ear and sighed. “I love you.”

“I know.” She smiled and kissed him trying desperately to kiss away his doubts and fears.

Chapter Forty-eight: Dark Premonition

The icy rain blew against her window as she watched the storm rage on outside. She sighed deeply feeling her stomach do flip flops. She had a bad feeling about tonight. She didn’t know why but she did. She heard the soft click of the door and turned to see Jason walk through it. She smiled. “You should be in bed.” He said walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her waist as he stood behind her watching the storm.

“And you shouldn’t have come out in this storm… but I’m glad that you’re here with me.”

He sighed. “I know but I can’t stay.” He said.

She turned to look at him with questions evident in her eyes. “Why what’s going on?”

He shook his head. “I can’t… I can’t get into it. It’s business.” He said letting her know that it wasn’t open for discussion.

She took in a deep breath and tensed slightly. “This is about Alcazar isn’t it?” When he didn’t reply she knew that she had her answer. “Jason… I don’t have a good feeling about this. I don’t think that you should do whatever it is that you might do tonight.”

“Courtney you know that this is my job.” He stated.

“I know. That’s not what I mean. Jason this isn’t about you doing your job. This is about a feeling that I have about this night. I don’t want you to leave me. Call it a premonition or whatever but I really think that you should just wait.”

“Courtney…”

“I mean what’s one more night? Whatever it is can wait one night can’t it?”

“You know… that you can’t do this. You can’t interfere like this.”

She rolled her eyes getting upset. “I’m scared for you. I’m scared about tonight. Please Jason just don’t go tonight. Just stay with me.” She pleaded.

He sighed. Reaching out he cupped her cheeks in his hands. “Listen to me. This is my job. This is what I do. I need you to trust me. Like you want me to trust in our love I need you to trust in my ability to do what I do.”

She took in a deep breath. “Okay… just be careful okay?”

“I will.” He whispered before kissing her. His lips moved across hers as though it were second nature. Every touch felt like the first. Every breath felt like the last. It was one of the most intense kisses they had shared and when they parted they both felt the effects.

“Come back to me.” She whispered.

He smiled slightly and ran his hand across her cheek. “I love you.” He replied and with one final kiss on her forehead he was gone.

The world seemed to stand still as she waited the night away. She hated to think about what was going on at that very moment. Jason was probably at Alcazar’s hotel at that very moment doing only God knew what. She sat down on the edge of her bed and looked over at the clock on the small desk. It was after eleven and still Jason wasn’t back. Taking in a shallow breath she got up and began to pace. This was so damn frustrating. She didn’t know how Carly did it. The waiting was killing her. Her mind was wandering all over the place and all the things that could happen to him.

“Stop it! Jason knows what he’s doing! He knows how to take care of himself.” She told herself silently. Flopping down into the hospital chair she brought her knees up to her chin and sighed deeply. She would just have to keep believing in him and what he told her. He would come back to her because he loved her. Everything had to be okay because they had their whole lives ahead of them.

Alcazar’s hotel…

Jason stood in the center of the room not believing his eyes. He had come here to do a job and take out Alcazar but someone had gotten to him first. There was Luis sprawled out on the front room floor face down in his own blood. His black silk pajamas were drenched in the red liquid as was the side of his face. The knife that stuck out from his back stood straight up as if being called to attention. All Jason could do for a moment was just stand there not understanding how this could happen.

With a quick survey around the room he left as quietly as he came and made his way out of the hotel room not seeing the watching eyes from around the corner.

General Hospital…

Sonny waited patiently as Jason went over his story as to what he found in Luis’s hotel room. He listened patiently and only when Jason had finished did he speak. “Well, it’s done.”

“I know… but who did it?”

“I don’t care! I don’t care as long as he’s taken care of. Whomever did it, did us a favor. Alcazar is out of the picture and you don’t have anything to hide because you didn’t do it! It’s over!” He stated with finality but Jason couldn’t help but doubt that something wasn’t right.

He nodded before leaving. He found Courtney snuggled in a chair. Her sheet wrapped around her small form as though she couldn’t get warm. Kneeling down in front of her he reached out and touched her knee. The slight contact jolted her out of her restless sleep. “Jason…” She said wrapping her arms around his neck glad that he was okay. “Are you all right?” She asked pulling back slightly to look into his eyes.

“Yeah… I am.” He whispered staring into her eyes. There was a moment of silence that passed between them as he simply looked at her. There was so much that he wanted to tell her. There was so much that he wanted to share with her. There was an ache within him that wanted to be with her and be close to her and have a life with her. He wanted it so bad that it hurt. God how he loved her. “I… I want…” He struggled with the words.

“What?” She asked.

“… I want to set a wedding date… tonight.” He whispered close to her.

She raised her eyebrows at him. “What? Are you serious?” She asked.

He sighed reaching out and grabbing her hands. “Yes. Let’s get married.”

She laughed slightly at his words and his smile. “Okay… okay.” She said. “Let’s do it!”

Chapter Forty nine: It Never Ends

The Next morning…

The media was all over the Alcazar murder. It was amazing how fast news spread. Courtney sighed as she watched the reporter relay the crime and how Alcazar had been stabbed in the back. She sighed deeply. She should feel remorse or at least pity but she didn’t. She was just glad that it was all over. Finally she could be with Jason and they could begin their lives together… yet that premonition hadn’t gone away. She sighed trying to push her thoughts away. She had to focus on the positive. She had to think about all the good things in her life and her upcoming wedding. Her and Jason were still debating on a wedding date. She had shot for something in December but Jason wanted something sooner, and warmer in his words. She smiled at how he wanted to marry her as soon as possible. The truth was she wanted to marry him too. She loved him more every day and now they had everything in front of them to look forward to. She turned off the television when she heard Jason come back into the room. He was carrying a tray packed with food. She rubbed her stomach and smiled.

“So tell me does every patient get to have a cute guy bring them their food every morning?” She asked as he set the tray down on the bed in front of her and smiled as he sat down on the other side of her so that he was facing her and the tray was between them.

He shrugged. “I want to make sure that you eat. You need to keep your strength up so that you can get out of here faster.” He stated.

“Oh… so your means are strictly selfish. You just want me back under your roof so that I can cook for you.”

He shook his head. “I want you back under OUR roof… so that you can cook for me.” He smiled as she laughed.

“You know… I still can’t believe that everything is okay now… I mean we can be together. We can go away together and have a vacation. It’s so… I don’t know… it’s crazy! I mean I am so happy Jason. I don’t think that I’ve ever been this happy!” She said giddily, grinning like a kid at Christmas.

He knew how she felt. He wasn’t as vocal as her or as expressive but the emotion was there. Reaching out he stroked her hair. “I know what you mean.” He whispered and she closed her eyes as he touched her.

“I know that you do.” She replied understanding him and how he dealt with his feelings. “Oh Jason… I can’t wait to do all the things that we said that we’re going to do. We have our whole lives ahead of us. Do you realize that?”

He shook his head. “Yeah… I’ve never thought about looking forward to my future… and now it’s all I can think about at times… You’re my future.”

“And you’re mine…” She sighed deeply. “I’m so happy I think I might cry.”

“No… don’t do that. No more tears… I’d rather see you smile.” He whispered.

“When I’m with you… that’s all I want to do.” She replied just as softly as she leaned in and kissed him. Cupping his face she deepened it getting lost within him. There was something so bittersweet about their kiss and she didn’t know why.

Just then the door opened and Sonny stepped over the threshold. “We have a problem.” He said interrupting their tender moment. Jason turned away from her and looked over at Sonny her hands still cupping his cheeks almost afraid to let him go.

“What’s going on?”

Sonny sighed looking at his sister for a moment. “Let’s talk outside.” He ordered leaving the room.

Jason turned to look at Courtney. “I’ll be back.”

She nodded the fear back and stronger then ever. He rested his hands over hers and smiled. “Everything is going to be okay.” He whispered kissing her forehead and then following Sonny out. “What’s happening?”

“There’s an eyewitness saying they saw you in Alcazar’s room. It’s in the paper.” He said handing it to Jason.

The younger man opened it and sighed as he read over the article. “Who is it?”

“I don’t know… but the point is we need to get you out of here right now! The PCPD are going to be here any minute to take you down to the station and you don’t have an alibi because you were there.”

“But I didn’t kill him Sonny. You know that.”

“Yeah I know that. But you think that Baldwin is going to give a damn about that? Normally I would have been up on this but with me locked in this hospital I can’t get out and do what I need to do. So until I can be released and handle this I need you to get out of town!” He instructed.

Jason nodded understanding. “Okay. What’s the next move?”

Sonny sighed going over the steps in his head. “First you need to lay low. Leave the hospital get on your bike and just disappear for the next few hours. I’m going to make a few calls and set things up… so that you can leave the country tonight!”

“Tonight?”

“We can’t wait on this. I don’t know what kind of false accusations Baldwin is going to trump and I’m not prepared to defend you yet! I need time and I need my resources and I can’t get to those until I get out of here! They are going to try and make you look guilty anyway that they can. I won’t let them lock you up! Not now. I know that you’re innocent and I’m going to prove it. But it’s not going to be easy and it’s going to take time. But if you stay here they are going to grab you take you, and book you. They aren’t going to investigate because they want you and me. So like always I’m going to have to do their job for them and find who is behind this!” He muttered frustrated. Just when he thought that they were all going to be okay for a change something like this happens. Flexing the muscles in his neck he sighed and looked up to see Jason staring at Courtney’s room door. “You know she’ll understand.” He stated.

Jason turned back to Sonny his eyes wide and fear in his heart. How would she understand this? How could she? “I just… I want to say good-bye.” He said softly.

Sonny nodded understanding how important it was to him. “Just be quick. For all we know Baldwin is on his way over here right now.” He replied.

Jason sighed and went back into her room. She was sitting on the edge of her bed waiting with her hands folded in her lap. Her blond hair was pushed behind her ears and she looked younger and more innocent than he had ever seen her. Letting the door close softly behind him their eyes locked instantly. She smiled with tears in her eyes as if she knew that their life had just come to a complete halt once again.

Walking over to her he knelt before her and placed his palms on her knees and looked up into her eyes. “I love you.” He whispered.

She nodded. “ I heard the words… but for some reason, it sounded like good-bye.”

He sighed reaching out and taking her left hand. His fingers caressed the gold ring. “I have to go away.”

“…Where are you going?” She asked softly desperately wanting to be brave.

He ran his other hand across his face. “I don’t know.”

She took in a deep breath fighting with her tears. “When will you be back?”

“I don’t… I don’t know.” He replied honestly not able to take his eyes away from her. He hated the thought of causing her pain. He hated this altogether.

She nodded taking her free hand and wiping away the tears that had fallen onto her cheeks. She stood up and walked away from him over to the window. “This is because of Alcazar isn’t it? You’re running because something went wrong last night… Didn’t it?” She asked.

He watched her from his place by the bed. He stood up as well staring at her back with his heart in his throat. “I didn’t kill him.” He said.

She turned to face him so that she could look into his eyes. She knew that he was telling the truth. “Well if you didn’t kill him then why are you leaving? I mean if you didn’t do it then you don’t have to run!” She pleaded with him walking back over and standing before him.

“Yes I do.”

“Why?” She was so frustrated at the whole situation.

“Because Baldwin isn’t going to believe that I’m innocent. I was in that hotel for a reason and whether or not I did what I was suppose to do doesn’t matter. Scott Baldwin won’t care because he wants to nail me and Sonny and this is the perfect way to do it. They have a witness that places me at the scene of the crime. And that witness is probably going to say that they saw me murder Luis and that is all the proof that Baldwin will need to lock me up and start a case.”

“Well can’t Sonny do anything? I mean this witness is lying obviously.”

“Yeah… I know but until they can find another suspect they’re going to come after me and lock me up… I can’t be locked up Courtney.” He replied.

She looked away from him tears forming in her eyes again. She flopped back down on the bed and put her hands up to her face. Breathing into her palms deeply she looked back up at him. “I know.” She replied brokenly. “It’s just… I don’t know what I’m suppose to say or what I’m suppose to do here… I’m trying to be supportive and say the right thing but… I don’t know what that is.” She said.

Walking over to her he took her arms and made her stand up so that she was looking into his eyes. “You say that you love me, that you’ll miss me…”

She smiled sadly. “Okay… I love you… and I’ll miss you.”

He reached out and palmed her cheek trying to remember the softness of it. “And then you kiss me good-bye.”

She furrowed her brow at his words and breathed in deeply. “Jason…” She began but he shook his head.

“Just… kiss me.” He said softly leaning in and placing his lips on hers. Reaching up with his other hand he cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her deeply trying desperately to be as close to her as possible. Her air became his air as he fell into her and lost himself. He didn’t want to hear anymore words or think about what was happening between them. He just wanted to kiss her and never let her go.

He felt the tears on his fingertips as they coursed down her cheeks and still he kissed her. He never wanted it to end. He knew that once it did he would have to leave her and he wasn’t ready to do that. He needed her in his life. He needed her love and her light. Finally when neither could hold out any longer they separated and breathed in deeply. But the air wasn’t nearly as good as the air between them.

She sighed deeply as they remained close together. “You should go.” She whispered.

“Yeah… I know.” He said letting his hands fall away from her face and taking a step back.

She felt the emptiness as soon as he put distance between them. Swallowing hard she held back the need to reach out for him.

He stood there and shoved his hands in his pockets not wanting to give in to the temptation to touch her. “I’m going to go.” He said scratching his cheek absently.

She nodded. “Okay.”

With one last look he turned away from her and made his way toward the door. It wasn’t until his hand was on the knob and the thought of not knowing when he would see her again began to choke his heart that he spoke. “Come with me!”

And suddenly the whole world changed for both of them.