The Secret (Book 1 of the Secret Series)

Chapter 35.

JESSIE

Jessie slowly sat up straight and opened his eyes. He sighed as he looked around the large airport lobby. Everything was so quiet, and the sun was starting to light the rooms up. He closed his eyes again and pulled the blanket tighter around him. He was kind of cold...

"Katara?" he said opening his eyes again. Katara was supposed to be laying down beside him. She was supposed to be there, but she wasn't. "Katara?" where was she? He stood, and nudged Nick's leg. He was up instantly. Jessie didn't even give him time to talk. "Katara's gone." he said. Nick got to his feet quickly, and this got Max up. He must be really good at his job, then again, he would have woken up to see her sneaking out.

"She's fine-"

"She was laying in your lap." Nick said. "How did she get away?"

"I don't know." Jessie answered.

"Guys-" Max tried again and Jessie looked at him, but he was already cut off. What did he have to say?

"She has spent the last twelve years sneaking out and running away guys." Cordel said as he came up. "She's very good at it, actually the best I have ever seen, with our luck, she wouldn't have gone far." Jessie sighed. She couldn't have gone far if she was still here, but if she was outside...

That was a whole new story.

"I'll check upstairs. Kyle and Jonathan, you guys come with me." Nick said. "Jessie, Max, Sam, look down here. Jarrod, Robert's Caleb... if you have too, look outside." he sighed. "We have to find her. Max?" Jessie looked at Max who was already moving. He was headed right for the girls bathroom.

"If there's one person who can find her, Max can." Jarrod said. "He's the best that I have ever seen at tracking anyone down." Jarrod sounded proud and Jessie looked at him. Sure enough, he was very prideful of Max, which made him wonder...

"Katara?" Max knocked on the door and Jessie looked over at him. Slowly, he walked over and stood by Max. "Katara, are you in here?" slowly, the door opened, and Katara stepped out holding her stomach. "Are you okay?" he asked her as he lifted his hand to her cheek. She nodded and stepped into a hug.

"Sorry if I scared you guys." she whispered and Max kissed her head.

"How did you know she was in there?" Jessie asked.

"I saw her walk in there earlier." Max sighed tiredly. "It was what I was trying to tell you guys, but no one would listen. I don't sleep well when someone is trying to kill the people I care about." he rubbed her back and held her tight. "Are you sure you are okay?" he asked her again. She looked up at him and then stepped back, out of his arms.

"I'm scared." she whispered as she lifted her shirt. "I don't know what's happening to me." Jessie stepped forward and looked at her stomach. She had been shot a few days ago, yet...

All that was there, was a pink scar, where she'd been shot.

"How-" Max looked at her again. "Katara?"

"I-I don't know." she choked on a cry and threw her arms around Max. He wrapped his arms around her again and she started crying. "I want to go home."

"We're going home." he whispered to her. "We'll be out of here soon, okay?" she nodded against his chest and looked up at him. "We will be okay Katara. I promise. We will get you home and I won't rest until you get there." she nodded and he ran his hand behind her head. He pulled her lips to his and kissed her and then he pulled back to look at her. "I love you." she didn't say anything, just let more tears fall and Max wiped them away. He didn't expect her to say it back, Jessie realized, he just wanted her to know that he loved her.

"Thank you Max." she whispered and lay her head against his chest.

"For what?" he asked her.

"For being... you." she answered and Jessie watched as she took his hand. "For being patient, and not pushing me."

"I'd never make you do something you weren't ready for, or didn't want to do Katara, you know that." she nodded and Jessie saw a slight smile on her lips. She did know. That was why she was so grateful. That was why she trusted him, because he cared for her, like no other person could. That was what she wanted.

Jessie knew that that was what she needed.

"Come on." Max said quietly. He pulled back again to look at her. "I'm going to keep you occupied while we wait for our flight." she scowled. "Come on, trust me."

"I trust you with my life." she whispered and that seemed to make Max pause. "I have every reason to." he looked down at their hands and then back up at her. She smiled a little more and started to pull him along. "What do you want to occupy me with?" she asked him and he smiled at her. He stared to lead her away.