Elvirund | ✔️

Chapter Twelve

"Is that everything?"

"Yes it is. We're good to go." Chip called back.

I went back into the clinic and looked at the bare shell of what had been our room. The bed would stay, as with the night stands, but the clothes and the decorations were packed up and loaded into the truck bed. The realization that I would likely never see this room again was just dawning on me, and I felt an odd emptiness overtake me. It had been decided that only Fay and Cas would be coming with us down to Chesapeake. Beckett would stay to run the clinic here in New York City.

"Are you sure you're leaving me in charge? I'm not that great of a leader."

"You'll do fine. I promise."

I clapped him on the shoulder, meeting his gaze for a second. He nodded, a deep breath puffing his chest out. As much as I was nervous, I was confident in his abilities. Beckett knew many of the other doctors as well as I did, and he had the charisma to lead them well.

"Besides, the others already look up to you a lot."

Beckett shrugged with a chuckle.

"Thanks. Good luck down there."

"It'll all work out. I promise."

I hopped into the truck, an old flatbed with just enough room for four people, and gave him one last smile and wave before Chip began pulling out of the driveway. Even after I had turned to the road ahead I knew Beckett was standing there, watching us go. I knew I would miss him. I missed everyone that I left. In reality, it was harder for them to forget me than it was for me to forget them. While they were names and faces for me to remember, I was fame itself, a name and face ingrained in every corner of the States. I was everywhere. They were not.

"It's going to be hot there. Chesapeake is smack in the middle of Virginia."

"Chip, you know I can handle heat."

"That's probably a good thing. You'll need it." Cas laughed wistfully.

I peered into the rear view mirror and caught a glimpse of Fay's face, all smiles and wonder.

"I take it you never left, Fay?"

"No, I didn't. I'm really excited to see other places."

She was practically glowing, and I took comfort knowing I had chosen the right person to come with us. At least I could make decisions some of the time.

"Since it is basically the middle of the night, feel free to catch some extra sleep. It'll be a seven hour drive, so we'll probably take a couple breaks along the way." I rechecked the map.

"Sounds good."

I caught Fay mid-yawn and gave her a knowing smirk. To her credit, she shrugged and yawned again, raising one eyebrow at me. She knew exactly what I had been suggesting, then.

"Fair enough."

"I thought so." She giggled.

"Anyways, we should get to the new building at about nine thirty, so we have the rest of the day to move in and rest up."

Angels didn't need sleep on earth, which was how we managed to do our business without anyone noticing. Or, in my case, a time for me to stretch my wings. But I would have to pretend to sleep at some point, otherwise suspicions would arise very quickly. The headlights flickered briefly before resuming their steady train of yellow light, brightening the road ahead of us. It was a warm night, a light breeze tickling the back of my neck where my hair was knotted into one long braid. The birds were quiet, the only remaining sound the hum of the tires on the pavement.