Normal | Rhekker

Chapter 51- End of Begining

Connor looked around the city, they'd only be here a few weeks ago, happy together. He had a plan. He knew she hadn't gone to Nat and Will's, they were both in work.
He figured that was the one thing about Ava not having many friends in Chicago, she was easy to track down. Connor walked up the steps to the terrace house, knocking on the door.
"Connor?" Jay answered. "Good to see you, I didn't know you were in town"
"Yeah, I was just stopping by, Ava hasn't been here, has she?"
"Why would Ava have been here?"
"She was in town, I just don't know where she was staying"
"Well I only flew in this morning, I was in Phoneix"
Connor met Hailey's eye behind Jays back.
"Hailey"
"Connor she wasn't here, right Hails?" Jay turned to her.

Connors eyes fell on something behind her, his hands finding the chain immediately.
"Hailey this is hers" he held up the necklace.
"Where did she go"
"Hey!" Jay barked at him, standing between them.
"Haliey please!" He begged.
"I don't know" she finally spoke. "She didn't say"
"She Just wanted somewhere to stay till her connecting flight"
She turned away, "not like you even deserve to know"
Jay looked to him, "look I'll talk to her, okey. but you need to go"
"I know, I'm sorry man"
He touched his hand that held the chain, "I hope you find her, I do"

Connor came down the steps to their house. The door closing behind them.
He walked down the street aimlessly looking for a glimpse of Ava in the shadows. He made his way up the back steps of their old apartment. Letting himself into the house.
Ava greeted him, pulling the coat from his shoulders she hung it up.
The furniture was mostly gone, just the basics left. They retained the apartment. The mortgage was paid off anyway, so why not? Another Rhodes property.
He made his was around the house, turning on lights as he went. Their living room, Ava was sat typing, bathroom Ava stood brushing her hair and finally their bedroom. She was sat up against the headboard, smiling to him. There was a bare mattress. The linen neatly folded away. He'd need that for tonight.

No daring to dent the perfectly preserved mattress he made his way to the balcony.
His phone ringing out. "Daniel?" He said as he picked up the phone.

///

She was sat In millennium park with her coffee, watching the people of Chicago pass her by.
"Ava?"
She turned her head cautiously. "Daniel"
"I didn't expect to see you today on my walk, May I" he nodded to the bench.
He sat next to her.
"I think you and I both know why I'm here" Ava looked away.
"I was as blindsided as you, I no longer speak to robin- or rather she no longer speaks to me"
"Did you know?" She looked to him.
"No" he shook his head, "i knew I was a grandad but that was it"

"Do you need somewhere to stay?"
"No" she said quickly, "I'm just passing through, I'm waiting for a taxi to take me to the airport"
"If I'm not over stepping, could I drive you?"
Ava thought about it for a moment, "okey" she said softly.
They stood, Ava picking up her duffel bag. "Thats all you have?"
"I left quickly"
"Don't worry my small pharmacy of meds are in there, I haven't completely lost it"
Daniel took the bag from her, throwing it over his shoulder.
"How are they working out for you?"
"Fine, I've dropped a few over the years- most of my doses are much lower"
"That's good"
"I'm in therapy, once every other week"
"Might be getting an emergency session when I land after this though" she joked.
"Thank you for this Daniel, really"

He drove her to the airport, they spoke lightly in the car before he dropped her off.
"I wish you all the best, Ava. Truly"

///

"Hey, this is Connor. Rhodes"
"I was just calling about Ava" he looked down to the city below.
"I know, I spoke to her yesterday"
"You saw her, did, did she say where she was going!?" He stood up.
"No, Connor"
"Why are you being so calm about this! I have to find her"
"Connor. Do you have reason to believe she would harm herself?"
"Well, I- I don't know?"
"Do you have reason to believe she would harm herself"
"No"
"Do you have reason to believe she has stopped taking her medication?"
"No" he sighed.
Daniel exhaled, "You want my advice, Connor?"
"Go back to Rochester"