The Vet's Life After...

Apologies

Alexander was sitting in a restaurant, looking out of the large window he was next to. 'How can I help Roger and get him out of his house?'

     Alexander turned his head to Suso, watching her inspect her hamburger with curiosity. "Mr. Franks, what-"

     "Just call me Alex, or drop the mister and call me Franks." He smiled wryly saying this, not wanting any more connections to his past than he already invited into his life.

     "Okay, Alex, do you have any plans for continuing our objective?"

     Alex sighed while shaking his head. "I have no plans, but I do have an idea."

     "Oh," Suso sat up and leaned forward, excited to hear the idea. "and what is your idea?"

     "How long are you willing to wait for this story?" He was nervous, but he knew that being nervous was not a trait he should allow to slow him down.

     "Well, I kind of ran away from my family to write the story.... so as long as I can afford a place to live, and have a way to pass the time, I can wait for as long as I need to." Suso turned her head to the side as she talked, obviously nervous about telling Alex about her running away. 'Afterall, he already hates Sangheili; why would he help a runaway?'

     "Why didn't you tell me about that sooner?" Suso didn't look back, assuming he was mad at her from the tone of his voice. "I would have made some improvisations to the apartment for you." Alex was now leaning back in his chair with his head hanging over the back. 

     Suso snapped her head to lookat him, her eyes and mandibles open. 

     "Alright, hurry up and eat your burger; we have work to do before bed tonight." Alex ignored her looking at him and quickly ate his own burger, taking the fries with him to eat on the way back.

     "Hey, Franks, where's Jason?" Alex didn't dare turn around, he already knew who was behind him.

     "Vic, please don't make me say it. You should already know." Alex wasn't one for crying, but he knew he couldn't hold it back for much longer; they were his brothers, brothers that looked to him for guidance and a way home.

     "No, you're going to tell me; you're going to tell me what happened!" The woman grabbed his shoulder and spun him around, staring at the male as tears started falling down her cheeks.

     "We.... I gave him an order, one that got him killed as he tried saving Aaron." He looked the female in the eye, trying to hold back his tears for just a bit longer. "I'm so-"

     The woman slapped him, not letting him finish, "You can apologize to my brother, when you see him in hell."

 

    "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Alex sat upright on his couch as he screamed, his hand reaching for a figure that was not there; his body shaking from both the cold and reality. "I'm so sorry...." His voice was much softer, saying it more for himself than anything.

     At that moment Suso walked into the living room, something Alex didn't notice. "Why? Why can't I move past this?" Alex began to cry, not bothering to wipe away his tears. "Dammit, why couldn't I have just died with them!?"

     Suso wrapped her arms around Alex, causing him to freeze out of shock.

     "Shh, it's okay, Alex. You are alive because you are strong, even if you weren't strong enough to save everyone." She had pinned his arms to his sides when she wrapped him in her arms, not allowing him to escape her grasp. "You need to forgive yourself, or you'll never escape these memories."