Like No Other

Part 2

Note: This has turned into more than I thought it would be, I am also very nervous adding this chapter and I know its been forever since I first posted this story but I do plan on writing more.

Fair warning if you want them to talk in this chapter I am sorry but they do not.

Feel free to comment what you think, how you feel about it, what you think should happen next.  Please, feedback is really appreciated. 

.....

It's the early hours of the morning when you arrive in New York, the stars are still bright and the lights of the city remind you that not everyone sleeps.

You shrug off your coat and toss it on the bed as you stretch your sore body, your bag sitting next to the bed on the floor. You haven't looked around since you stepped inside.

The weight of your feelings don't leave as you sit down on the edge of the bed, hands clasped together with a sigh. You don't look up to notice all the things that aren't here, all the things that haven't moved.

The carpet is a nice distraction from the turmoil of your feelings, while also pointing out that one of your shoelaces came untied. You stare at the black lace for a moment while not really planning on fixing it.

You don't want to be here, in this house, in this room, in this state of mind. But you know what's waiting for you once you step foot into the compound, who's waiting and you know you're not ready to face the amount of emotions that will surface when you see her, when you hear her voice.

The flash drive is still in your coat, the other thing as well and you ignore both as you get to your feet and set a pace, back and forth.

Counting the steps until you turn and start again, ignoring that you want to get that drink Maria promised you, ignoring the way you still feel after finding the key that's not a spare when you first got here, how the bed is made the way she likes it, that this place feels hollow.

You ignore it all.

.....

"How are you?" She looks like she's studying you from where she's leaning against the front of her desk. Her gaze piercing and so very blue.

"Been better." You shrug nonchalantly as you pull the flash drive from your pocket and look it over once before holding it out to her.

Maria takes the drive and places it on her desk while not taking her eyes from you. "You look tired." She observes and you give her a small smile because she's right, you are tired.

"That's because I am." You take a seat in one of the two chairs that sit in front of her desk, a dark blue that reminds you of the ocean at night.

You know it's obvious, you haven't slept since you landed. Too many things going through your mind, too many thoughts of a conversation that you know is coming, one you don't want to face. Because facing it means you have to face her and the feelings you wish you could forget.

"I'm fine." You tell her even though your shoulder throbs and your muscles ache. You see the way she's looking at you, the concern she's not voicing, it's there just below the surface.

"I'm glad you're back."

"Me too," Not completely a lie, but not the whole truth. You give her a smile that tells her not to worry. The job is done, you came back, there is nothing more to it.

She's still watching you, still studying you. You have a feeling of what she's looking for but you give her nothing because nothing is the best you can do right now.

"Are you going to talk to her?"

"I am."

You don't want to talk about this, not with her. Because she knows how much it hurts, how much you run from it. But you also know she's asking something more with the way her shoulders tense just the slightest when you respond, how she's not looking at you anymore.