The Pursuit

Twenty-Eight

⬻Maggie⤖

I watched the airplane cut through the sky. The black world around me sprinkled with the shine of the stars. I was drained, every ounce of me totally gone. I didn't know why I was still awake or how my body was moving me forward. I was done.

The day had moved like a hurricane from Haku's house, to the hospital and then to the airport. I was adamant on not staying in Hawaii any longer. My time there was over the moment Sam came for me. The idea of being there made me sick to my stomach. This day had so much grief attached to it and then the added trauma too. I was breaking and my world becoming a fraction of what I thought it was.

Innocent people were hurt because of me and my guilt was thrashing inside of me. I felt like I was drowning now. No one would be able to help me. I needed to do this on my own. I needed to get away from everyone. I needed to just get away from the chaos. Damien sat with me all day and held me and coddled me but I kept thinking about the pain I was causing everyone. I knew I would only cause him pain too. I was opening a world of heartache for him, with his uncle and friend both victims to the plague of hatred that came with Sam.

I knew once we got back to Boston hell would engulf me more. But I was trapped on a plane now. I needed to be able to do it on my own. I was not going to be dependent on strangers to secure my sanity any longer. I needed to be the one to stand up for myself.

I watched from my seat as the blackness continued. Damien was wide awake next to me pensive in his thoughts as well. I watched him inhale and exhale slowly contemplating whatever thoughts were swimming there now. The beating in my chest was thudding so loudly when I looked to him. I wondered what we could have been if this had all been a normal experience, if I had met him earlier, or under the different circumstances.

I had avoided his contact on the plane, trying to calm myself and reflect on my own. He seemed distant and sad and I felt as though I was only adding to his sorrow. I closed my eyes and willed myself to fall asleep. I needed rest if I was going to take control over myself again.

Hours later, the rocking of the plane woke me up. My lips were dry and my neck sore. I opened my eyes and noticed I was leaned over onto Damien's shoulder. I began to right myself but his hand came up and cradle my cheek sweetly. I kept my head in its position and licked my lips. I looked over to his table tray and saw he had a laptop out and he was working on something. The screen was blurry and I tried to wipe my eyes with my hands. I moved my head and sat up in my seat. My neck sorer than I thought. I looked up to Damien and he smiled at me with the most handsome grin. My chest pounded strongly as I soaked him in.

"Hi Sleepyhead", he said calmly. He moved his head and gave me a kiss on the top of my head. I felt his genuine compassion sprinkle over me and spread down my body. How does he do that?

"Where are we now?", I asked innocently. I moved my body up to press on the screen in front of me to show the flight map.

"New York" Damien said quietly. "Should land in forty or so", he said and then lifts the window shade up to reveal the sun. Another year done, a new one just begun. God I miss you mom.

I felt the lump starting to grow in my throat but I pushed it down. I was not going to be that girl any longer. I was going to be stronger. I looked
over to Damien and he went back to his typing. I scrunched my face and looked at him intently, "What could you possibly be working on right now?"

"Ah, a few new menus for some of my restaurants, and touching base with some managers", he paused and looked at me with the most sincere blue eyes. I found myself getting lost in them.

"Will you take me to one of them one day ?" I asked him with hope in my chest that I could see him again when this is all over. I hoped he wouldn't leave me high and dry. I prayed in my bones that I was right to trust him.

"Why not tonight?" he responded with confidence. He smiled and I melted again.

"You think we have time for a date tonight? Did you forget the predicament we are in?" I asked him with a quick bite of the lip.

He chuckled and looked over me to Detective Levi who had tagged along for security measures. "I doubt we'll ever forget this predicament." He laughed and moved his hand to my thigh. He rubbed it warmly and I curled into him. "Plus there a few good surprises lined up for us once we land", he said slyly.

"I don't know if I can handle any more surprises for a while to be honest Damien", I replied to him with all honesty.

"Maggie, I promise you these surprises will help us move forward", he said smoothly. "Oh and make sure you shower ahead of time", he said and waved his hand in front of his nose. I swatted him on the arm and laughed out loud, feeling the vibrations seep into my blood. He's got charm, that's for sure.

Once we landed Detective Levi escorted us off the plane and into the hands of two FBi agents. Agents Dias and Kenyon introduced themselves to us and ran us through the plan for the next few days. I felt helpless again in the hands of strangers, but Damien guided me the best he could through the airport and out to a waiting sedan.

Agent Kenyon told us that we were to be moved to Damien's penthouse in Cambridge for the next few days. I listened to the agent and took in his looks. He wasn't like the other officers we met in the past twenty-four hours. Agent Kenyon was shorter, with heavy black hair. His beard covered his face with wisps of golden brown flecks. He was younger than the other officers too. He had to be close to my age. He talked quickly and with such intensity. His partner Agent Dias was taller and lankier than the other officers too. He had a short crew cut with a defining swirl in the back of his head. He towered over all of us as we move through the airport.

The moment the chilled air touched my lungs outside Logan Airport I felt at home. I took a second and paused. The group stopped moving waiting for me to join them. I wished I didn't come back to the city like this, I wished I had come back years ago. For a moment I could forget the drama plaguing me , just for one moment.

Damien looped his arm around me and brought me close to him. I leaned into him and let him hold me as we moved to the vehicle waiting for us.

"The plan is to drop you both off at Mr. Williams' apartment and leave three police officers in the building for the next few days", Agent Kenyon started to rattle off. I looked to him and watched him effortless drive us off into the Boston skyline.

"What about Mr. Roberts," Damien interrupted him and I am thankful for his thought. My father has been god knows where for the past week.

"Mr. Roberts has been moved back to his residence where we have two agents stationed around the clock . In addition Mrs. Sarah Bryant has been detained and is in our custody", I felt a shift of the weight on my shoulders release.

I looked to the city again and thought of the amazing times I had here. I missed it so much. I couldn't believe how long it's been. My chest felt a bit more full when I'm here. I could feel my heart slowly coming back together, piece by piece.

Agent Dias looked back to us and handed us our cell phones. I grabbed mine with such force it fell on the floor. I retrieved it and hear Damien laugh at me.  "Hey, it's been awhile", I said shyly. "I want to call my dad", I confirmed and I turned the phone on but it went black. It was dead.

"You can call him when we get to my place", Damien said and lifted his eyebrow. It hit me then that I'll be alone with Damien again for another few days. I smiled at him and winked then turned to the window. Cambridge started to materialize and as we traveled down Memorial Drive. I could feel the lightness hit me square in the chest. This is home.