Bad Blood ~Rewrite~

Twenty-Three

This is a really long chapter, and I probably need to edit a lot of spelling errors/autocorrects, but I've kept you waiting long enough.

There's something magical about clouds, especially when you seem to be floating alongside them. Caitlyn stared eagerly out the jet window, feeling her heart beat wildly in her chest as she gazed longingly at the clouds. The ground below seemed so distant, and she had no clue where they were. All she could tell from her exhaustion and the lack of ocean was that they were no longer in the United States. The seat beside her shifted, breaking her out of her daze suddenly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nick sit beside her, staring at her intently. She felt her body stiffen as she attempted to ignore his presence.

"Glad to see I still take your breath away," he said smugly. "Honestly, Caity. I've given you plenty of space, we haven't pressed you or tested you the entire flight. You're clearly exhausted, and we have about an hour left... so do you want to talk, or do you want to rest?"

"I'm surprised she hasn't fallen asleep," Johnny added from across the way as his nose was stuck in his newspaper.

"I don't want to do either," Caitlyn said sharply, continuing to stare out the window. Nick groaned softly and sat back in his seat.

"I get not talking, but not sleeping? You've been awake for well over twenty-four hours... What? Are you worried you won't wake up?"

"No, I'm worried I'll wake up in the nightmare of still being engaged to you," she snipped, finally turning to look at him. Nick feigned hurt feelings as he grasped his chest in mock pain. His smirk grew once again as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Spoiler, sweetheart... I was the best year of your life. And you're still engaged to me. Maybe this is all the nightmare." Caitlyn's jaw tensed up, and she bit her tongue, trying her best not to speak out. She sunk into her seat slightly and returned her gaze back to the window. "Like it or not, these are the cards you've been dealt. You're still my loving fiance, and you'd better make it believable..." Caitlyn turned to look at him once again, a feeling of helplessness filling her chest. Nick looked over at his uncle silently, watching as the older man stood and excused himself to the restroom.

"Listen, Caity," Nick said in a hushed tone. "I don't like this anymore than you do. I don't like hurting you... I never wanted to..." he stopped himself as he turned his gaze back to her. "There's nothing we can do but follow orders. If we just do as we're told, the people we love won't get hurt. Just play your part and your friends, your family... they'll all be fine."

"Who the hell are you trying to protect?" Caitlyn spat suddenly. Nick stared at her silently for a moment, a look of pain flashing through his expression.

"You," he muttered softly. "You may not believe this... and I understand why you don't, but I'm still madly in love with you, Caitlyn. That was never the lie. I've only ever wanted to protect you..."

"Yeah," she muttered. "That's why you shot me..." Nick looked down at her stomach and brushed his finger over the spot where the scar was hidden by her dress.

"W-why couldn't you have just been pregnant?" He muttered. The bathroom door squeaked open, and Nick pulled away from her quickly as his uncle returned. "Don't forget the mission," he said, his voice harsh once again. "Get us the information we need, and everything will work out."

"And what information am I after, exactly?" She asked, looking down at her lap.

"Today is simply a social call," Depp said, turning to look at the couple with a wicked grin. Caitlyn glanced at him and felt chills run down her spine. "Your job today is simply to introduce yourself, put on the happy face of a soon to be bride, and do your best to get any bit of leverage from your three very specific targets." Caitlyn bit the inside of her cheeks softly as she contemplated for a moment.