After it All

Angela

"Bye Izabel! See you on Monday!" I called as I walked out.

Jackson was leaning against the back of his car waiting for me. His hands were dug into his pockets and he was studying the ground. He looked nervous.

"Hey." I said walking over to him

"Hi." He took my bag off my shoulder and held it for a minute. "I need to tell you something."

"Okay?"

He reached into the car and pulled out a file.

"I'm not sure if you've heard already, but we got a file on it."

I raised an eyebrow as he handed me the folder, but he didn't say anything else.

All I really saw were the words "Melisa" and "missing," followed by "two guys," "gas station," and "black Sudan" before I felt myself cracking.

She was like a sister to me. We've always been close, I was just talking to her the other day. She was my maid of honor, she's the one I complain to and vice versa, gives advice, and is always there no matter what. How could she be perfectly fine one day, and completely gone the next. I refused to believe it.

I pulled out my phone and started dialing her number as Jackson took back the folder.

"She won't pick up. Jacob already tried."

Jacob.

How was he? What is he doing? How is he taking this? What if-

"You've reached the voicemail box of Melisa Nettleton—"

I started sobbing. Jackson's arms found their way around my waist and he hugged me tightly.

"It's going to be okay. They'll find her." He soothed

"Oh yeah, because that worked so well earlier!" I laughed still crying. "Who was it who found out who was kidnapping us? Melisa! Who is it you call whenever you need help on a case? Melisa! But yeah, the police will find her, because they are so good at that!"

"Angela."

"No, no, I feel so much better knowing the police are looking for her!"

"I'll get the case. I just need someone to transfer it over to the FBI. And there isn't enough evidence to do that yet."

"I just—"

"I know." He kissed the top of my head and hugged me tightly. "I want to find her too, and we will, but right now I want you to be safe. We don't know how many people these two have working for them, or what their motives are, so just be safe."

I could see the panic in his eyes. Raw and plainly visible.

"I will. I always am."

"I can't lose you."

"I can't lose her."

The ride home was quiet. Our hands laced together the whole way. His quiet way of trying to protect me. I no longer trust my voice. I've tried calling Melisa at least 50 times now. By the time we got home I'd cried myself out.

"I promise we will find her." Jackson said kissing my hand.

"I know." I whispered.

The two of us work silently as we got dinner ready for Charlie, Teddy, and Jacob.

Jacob was the first to arrive. I hugged him as soon as he walked through the floor and he shattered in my arms.

"I was talking to her just yesterday! I don't know what happened! She was perfectly fine, enjoying her new job, and now she's gone!" He sobbed.

"I know, I know, we'll find her." I soothed. Jackson stood awkwardly in the corner. We were all close with Melisa, we're a tight little family the 6 of us. Yeah, maybe Jackson wasn't as close to her as me and Jacob, but we all feel her absence.

Things just got worse when Charlie and Teddy arrived. Neither of them knew yet, and none of us wanted to tell them.

"Guys, we've got some great news to tell you!" Charlie said after dinner.

"We're engaged!" They said together. The room was up in commotion the next moment. All the "congratulations" and "who proposed first" and the "when is it" broke through the layer of pain floating through the room.

"It probably won't be until next year, lots of work stuff going on. I can't wait to tell Melisa! We should call her."

The happiness to the room shattered and we felt everything full force.

No one said anything, and no one had to. Jackson grabbed the folder off the counter and handed it to the two of them. The look on their faces broke me.

"So, she's—" Teddy started

"Yes." Jacob answered. "But we're going to find her. Once there is enough evidence we'll have it turned over to us and we will find her. For now, we need to be strong, we'll get her back I swear."

Our little party ended not long after that. None of us were in a celebratory mood anymore.