Uncharted: A Thief's Legacy

Chapter IX - What's In A Name

Nathan awoke to sun streaming in the window. Sam still slept soundly in the other bed, tangled up in the sheets. Nathan pushed himself up onto his elbow and checked his phone. It was about eight am and the only notifications he had were from when Elena had texted him their flight information and tickets. They would fly out around noon that day.

Nathan carefully sat up and planted his feet firmly on the floor before he stood up. His head swam and he reached one hand out, laying it flat against the wall above the bed. After a moment he made his way to the bathroom, staggering slightly but never feeling like he would fully faint. He was still getting dressed when Sam dragged himself out of bed.

"I feel like I got hit by a bus," Sam groaned, heading straight for the coffee maker.

"Or a grenade," Nathan replied.

"Ha, ha. Something like that." Sam filled the coffee maker with water and started it. "Ready for the world's most mediocre cup o' joe?"

"Am I," Nathan said. "Maybe it'll knock out this headache. We have got to buy some Advil in the airport. Or sooner."

"Yeah, how are you?" Sam asked.

"Been worse. Little better than last night. Full night of sleep sure helped," he said, laughing ruefully.

"Tell me about it," Sam agreed. "That was probably the best I've ever slept."

"Even with the threat of a powerful angry Brit breathing down our necks?" Nathan cast a sideways glace at him and Sam grinned in return.

"Even with that."

They ate the rest of the snacks from the night before and gathered their things together. The mercenaries' van still sat in the parking lot, and as they loaded their bags in the back, they agreed to ditch it at the airport.

Everything went as smoothly as it could as they drove to the airport and made their way through. When they got to their gate, Nathan slumped down in one of the chairs and closed his eyes.

"All good?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, I'll be good," Nathan said breathlessly. "Just, you know, lotta noise, lotta people. Did you buy Advil?"

"Yeah, when we bought our snacks. Need it?"

"Oh, I forgot about that. Yes, please." Sam handed him the bottle and Nathan opened it and knocked back four pills without a second thought.

"Is this what anxiety is like? And where's my water?" he asked. Sam raised an eyebrow.

"In your bag, and probably, but it's just your head, little brother. Just calm down."