Will & Tessa \ Wessa

Captured \ 4

{Part 4 and the last part of Captured}

Will's skin was warm and had turned a light honey now from the time in the sun and Tessa pressed her lips to it, overcome with emotion.  He was real and he was holding her and she was holding him.

His arms were so strong around her that she could barely breathe as he crushed her against him.  She could feel the strong beating of his heart, the steady pulse in his neck where her lips where pressed.

She had thought about this moment since he had disappeared, overcome by the agonizing fear every day that passed and he wasn't with her.

She was in his arms again.

Tears burned the back of her grey eyes.

"Have they hurt you?" Will whispered and pulled away to look at her. "Tessa..."

"No. Will, and you?"

He was so bruised and gaunt.  The dark shadows under his eyes made the blue of them seem unreal as he gazed at her.

He couldn't help but smile. "I'm alright."  But a look of panic crossed his face.  "James?  He wasn't with you, was he?"

"No, the baby is fine.  He's perfect.  He misses you so much.  I left him with Cecily and Gabriel.  It's not their fault, don't be angry, they tried to discourage me, they all did, but the Clave wasn't doing their best  – "

"I don't understand." Will furrowed his eyebrows, searching her face. "You left him... Tessa, are you in this place because you – "

"I had to, Will!  I couldn't be without you.  It was torture for me. I just... I had to.  You would do the same for me."

"By the Angel! Tessa!"  His voice was heavy with frustration.  He searched her eyes and he saw stubbornness and determination, but she was trembling, and he held her again.  He wasn't angry at her, but her safety was paramount to his.  It always had been and it always would be.  "Torture." He repeated after a moment.

She pulled back to look at him, and his blue eyes were shining.  He had meant his repeating of the word to be humorous, but it was very true for Tessa: being without him had caused her physical pain.  It was tantamount to having a part of herself violently ripped away and she could not bear the agony.

She couldn't bear it.

But when their son went about the Institute searching for him...

Will shook his head, seeing the look of terror in her eyes. "Tess..."

"Torture." She repeated.

They both stiffened at the sound of voices behind the door.

Will pressed his lips to hers quickly.  "It'll be ok, trust me."  But she still held onto him, afraid to let him go, and he kissed her again.  He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.  "Tessa. Trust me."

She nodded and he moved to stand at the other side of the room to wait for the warlock. His heart was hammering in his chest as he looked at Tessa from across the room, everything screaming in him to get her out of this place immediately to safety.

Will raked a frustrated hand through his hair.

They stared at one another helplessly before the door opened and the warlock entered.

She appeared agitated yet smiled when she saw Will.

"My prize."  She sneered.  She glanced briefly at Tessa who was standing with her hands clasped in front of her.  "What beautiful presents I collect for myself.  She is nothing but a new toy for one of the warlocks, try to ignore her.  He'll collect her soon enough."