She pulled on a bra and a long sleeved salmon colored button up shirt, "I might pass on breakfast and just have coffee. I want to check in Sheehnan and see if he received the package." She turned to face me, sliding her long, thin legs into a pair of old jeans. Claire smiled at me, "Then maybe we can discuss some of your new attributes."
There was the thinnest hint of seduction in her voice, and it struck me hard. I shook my head as I moved closer to her, "First you eat, then you will come up here and rest some more, then lunch and dinner." I looked at her with tender but firm eyes, "No more of this running to the lab, talking long walks and hiding from eating and sleeping." I grabbed her hand, reaching up to her chest with my other, I pressed it flat against the heart darting against her ribs, "This has come home to you, I've come home to you. It's time to let yourself breathe, live again, Claire." I held her sea green eyes waiting for her to shut down or slide into one of her persona's to issue a hard disapproval of my words, but she only looked down squeezing my hand in hers, whispering faintly, "I know."
I watched her eyes fall to the chain around my neck, "I've just lived a certain way for the last year, Kit." She turned away, walking away from me and my hands. "When you lose an old routine in favor of a new one, no matter how destructive it might be, things are hard to come back to." Claire finished buttoning up her shirt, looking in the small mirror over the dresser she ran shaky fingers through her hair, attempting to straighten out wild stray hairs.
I stood still, folding my hands across my chest, "I'm not asking you to return to an old routine, Claire." I let out a sigh, "I'm only asking that you let me take care of you, like you have done for me." I felt guilty about everything, and wanted to do my best to make some sort of amends without making it evident I was. I chewed on the inside of my mouth trying to think of what to say without making Claire fall back away from me.
I finally gave up and shrugged, looking right at her as she moved to fix the bed, "I love you, Claire."
She stilled her hands; fingers curled around the edges of sleep wrinkled blankets. Her eyes fell closed slowly and I could see her take in slow, stunted breaths through her nose. I could hear her suddenly go from a normal beat to a sprint. I suddenly panicked and went to take a step towards her when she started speaking.
"For one year I longed to hear you say those words again, in my memories or my dreams." Claire continued plucking at the blankets, "I can barely remember the last time you said them to me. I was distracted and wasn't paying attention. Maybe because it was the fact we had already said it a hundred times to each other."
She ran her hand over the pillows, smoothing away the dents she had left, "Every day you were gone I would watch couples on the television or out on the streets on the rare occasion I would let Davidek take me into town, hear them whisper or announce their love for each other. It made me angry at how casually they threw the three words around." She straightened up, folding her arms tightly around her stomach, "I began to realize that after the first time you say I love you, the ones that follow after, they all somehow gets lost in the wind with the other simple things. Thank you, please, yes, no, and what not. But it never feels like it did that first time, the first time you own up to your heart betraying everything and pointing at that one person and saying you, I choose you."
Claire cocked her head in my direction, her eyes wet, "I would sit in silence, staring at the wall or out the window. Trying so hard to bring back the feeling of any of the times you told me you loved me. Just to try and make my heart feel something, anything. But I couldn't remember what it felt like the last time you said it. I couldn't remember anything, not even the way it felt the first time you told me you loved me."
Claire moved away from the bed, walking towards me, she dropped her arms from her stomach, "Say it again."
The tone in her voice startled me, but I didn't hesitate. "I love you, Claire." I spoke the words like I did that first time I uttered them, but with everything I had in my heart and void of the nerves I carried that day. I took one step closer to her, "I love you, today, tomorrow, the days that follow after that. I love you as you stand in front of me awake and as I sleep and you are in my dreams. I love you." I watched my words heal those final cracks in her heart and soul. If I had known this was all it took, three little words, I would have said them the first chance I could.
Claire continued moving, her hands reaching up to glide over my cheeks. The tips of her fingers resting at the edge of my jaw, she held my face still. Looking deeply, I saw the full sparkled of the magnanimous Claire Avondale I first met. I refused to hold back the grin as it spread, whispering one more time, "I love you."
Claire smiled, whispering, "And I love you, Caitriona." before kissing me faintly, quickly. Leaning back before either of us had an opportunity to take it further, Claire held my gaze, running the tip of her thumb across my cheek, only stopping it as it settled in my dimple, she gave me a half grin, "Now what were you saying about pancakes?"
You never know how much you actually miss the way food tastes and eating until you stop starving yourself and force yourself to eat. Enjoy the food for more than the basic nutrition it provides you. Kit's pancakes were nothing spectacular, but I ate two small stacks of them that first morning, until my stomach protested at the sudden onslaught of food I suddenly thrust into it. I couldn't eat for the rest of the day and spent most of it in bed, napping on and off with Kit lying next to me with her big book of Mozart. We said very little that first day, instead letting the closeness of being next to each other physically speak volumes for us. I found it hard to stay awake anyways with her warm body providing the best safety blanket.
Now, another week passed and I was shoveling the blueberry, strawberry or chocolate chip fluffy discs Kit made for breakfast, in my mouth eagerly. Kit had taken over breakfast, Davidek lunch and the two would rotate dinner. Both so happy that I was finally deciding to join the world and eat, they would not let me near a pot or a pan.
I sat quietly at the long kitchen table. Fidgeting with the spoon in the cup of coffee sitting in front of my hands, watching Kit make this morning's breakfast of banana pancakes at the stove, marveling at how just a few weeks ago this house was somber and full of a forced silence. Neither Davidek nor I knowing how to break or want to break it. Now it was coming back to life, I was coming back to life.
It was still a slow and steady gait for Kit and I. We had begun to fall back into what we once were while I was still shaking off the last pieces of darkness and there would be awkward moments. Me waking up in the middle of the night, confused by the warm body pressed against mine, or that I would still fall into long pieces of not speaking and retreating in my head, but Kit remained patient with me.
Even when I could see the internal struggle after I caught her by surprise in her bedroom the other night, kissing her and somehow things moved to the bed. She stopped us when her hands slid under my shirt and she literally picked me up with one arm. Making me gasp with surprise at her immense amount of strength as she apologized for going too far, murmuring with her head down that we needed to wait a little longer until I was well fed and rested.
I had to admit she was right, yet I was having a hard time keeping my word. Watching the edge of her shirt slide up when she reached for something in the upper cupboards, giving me a clear view of her bare back. The way her back muscles moved and flexed, my hands suddenly tensed at the memory of how those muscles felt under my fingers. I snapped out of it when she had grabbed the box of walnuts, her shirt falling back to cut off my view.
I turned away to stare at a knot in the wooden planks of the kitchen table. Focusing on anything other than how it would take me one second to stand up from this table, another four to spin Kit around, remove her shirt, her bra and that we had at least fifteen minutes before Davidek wobbled down the stairs, scratching his beard half asleep and grumbling how cold the house was.
Instead I focused on how intrigued I was by the changes in Kit physically and emotionally. G
one was the shy, brash and almost temperamental former agent. In her place was a strong, calm, and severely patient woman. I did still see glimpses of the fiery woman, mainly when Davidek irritated her and she had to hold back from bickering with him over their daily target practice in the barn.
Now I saw that the fear was gone in her eyes. A residual fear that had been there from day one and grew in intensity as we fell into this love. One she was always so protective over and afraid of that same time. It was that fear I saw in the museum that day I brought up marriage.
Kit turned to face me, leaning against the counter next to the stove, "How many today?"
I blinked a few times, looking up at her smile, "Maybe six?" I smiled back at her, my eyes flicking to the necklace around her neck. My jaw twitching on its own at the sight, another thing we had to talk about, but I had no idea how to bring it up.
It was such a muddled topic and I could clearly remember her asking me to marry her in the operating theatre of the Centre, but I wondered if she did. Then there was what she said after she explained how the clump of diamonds and metal came to be with her. I sighed, turning back to my coffee and running my hands over my hair as Kit turned back to the stove, swinging her hips as she spoke, "What do you say we do those tests you talked about a few days ago. The ones for my strength and healing." She glanced over her shoulder at me.
I nodded lightly, "We can do that after breakfast, it should take us to lunch." I sipped the warm brown liquid, "I was also thinking about maybe going into town. I haven't left this house in months and it would be nice to get out."
Kit set a steaming plate of thick pancakes in front of me, sitting down in the chair next to me she set the spatula down, waiting to speak after I had taken the first bite, "We can, I do need to grab some more clothes." She gave me an apprehensive look, which I had seen a hundred times before. The look of a bodyguard trying to think of last minute protection plan.
I chewed and swallowed the large bite I took, finding her hand I ran my fingers in hers, "Kit, trust me. The entire Russian mafia will be behind us. They do a really good job of staying invisible, but if I need them, they are there." I poked at another bite of food, "They have done their best by me and I am surprised and very grateful for them. Criminals or not, they have kept my bubble intact for the last year."
Kit smiled tightly, "I know. Davey told me a few things when I arrived." She pulled my hand closer to her, "I would feel better if we had an idea about where she was and if she is really in the wind like Davey thinks."
I turned my focus back to the plate, letting out a slow breath, "I have a plan for that. It will draw Halston out if it works." I loaded the fork and lifted it up, squeezing Kit's hand to keep her at ease, "It's time I ended this on my terms, by my hand." I met Kit's eyes, "I don't want to live like this anymore and am more determined to make sure I never do." I kept my tone light even though underneath it, I could feel the anger of needed revenge coming through.
Kit nodded once before taking a drink from her coffee and letting the conversation fall away to allow me to eat.
"Why is this house always so cold?" Davidek's grumbles hit the bottom of the stairs and floated into the kitchen well before he physically did. "Please tell me there is hot coffee and." He paused, making exaggerated sniffing sounds, "Banana nut pancakes?" He popped around the corner, grinning at the two of us with a freshly shaved face and dressed in a white button down shirt and fitted dark jeans.
I almost choked the food in my mouth, "What happened to the beard?" I waved at his outfit with my fork, "And the lumberjack look?"
He sauntered past me, kissing the top of my head and throwing a wink to Kit, before moving to the stove to fill his own plate. "It was time to get rid of it. Kept my face warm but it was always so itchy." He flopped down next to Kit, digging in to the steaming stack in front of him, "That and I have work to do today." Davidek glanced at the two of us, "Sheehnan called late last night."
He now had Kit and I's full attention. He smiled, drowning the pancakes with syrup, "Relax, it’s all semi good news. Sheehnan was able to do what you asked. He and Benson will be landing in Moscow by lunch time."
Kit released my hand, "Benson? I thought he was still in the custody of the San Diego police. Living in a plastic cage under heavy tranquilizers to keep the monster in control."
Davidek looked at me, "He was, but the good doctor here, fixed that." He winked at me, "Another success Claire. Sheehnan said it was a remarkable feat and that the NSA and Benson were both eager to form a partnership to help you."
I let out a sigh, feeling the high that always came with one of my scientific successes, "Good. I think Kit and I will go to Moscow with you. I want to see Benson first hand and work on the next move." I bent my head down to finish off the rest of my breakfast, "Can we use one of your friends restaurants for discretion and a little more privacy?"
"All taken care of. The pakhan has graciously offered up his own bar near the Kremlin." Davidek ate quickly, I could see the excitement of going back to the job he loved in his eyes. "We can leave within the hour."
I nodded, looking up at Kit who was giving both Davidek and I a look, "Can one of you fill me in on things, before I get irritated?"
Davidek chuckled, "You are already irritated, Kit. But yes, we can fill you in." He pointed at me with a fork, "She will fill you in since it was her master plan and connections that set everything in motion."
Kit swung her head to face me as I pushed the empty plate away. I had to hide my smile; I was amused by the return of Kit's stubborn agent demeanor. "The other night, when I sent Davidek off with a package, I had created a full working formula based off your blood work and the notes from Erich. With that new formula, I was able to create a new serum, a reversal serum of sorts. The blue serum could, hopefully, reverse the damage done by other mutations. Natural or unnatural." I leaned forward on my elbows, "At the last minute, I remembered that Benson was still in custody. He was the last bee and only subject of project Beekeeper we could get to, and he seemed willing to work with us by his statements when you last saw him. So, I sent the package to Sheehnan back in Washington with specific instructions to meet up with an old friend."
I paused, "Rebecca's." I bit back the sadness that filled the room at the mention of her name, "Ex-girlfriend, Jane, still works in the upper echelon of the agency and is deeply connected in ways none of us really want to know. Jane and I had remained good friends after she referred Rebecca my way. She basically agreed to drop all the charges against Benson if he came to work for her. It seems the NSA was also highly aware of Halston and the failed Beekeeper project, but left it to the CIA to clean up. The NSA doesn't want anything to do with super soldiers or messing with humanity, but they can use a man like Benson for his knowledge and military experience."
I stood up to refill my coffee cup, Kit's eyes following me with every step, "I knew deep down underneath the physical and emotional scars, Benson was still a Marine. A patriot and would do anything to bring his tormentor down. I offered him the serum in trade for his help." I looked over at Davidek, "It appears that it worked."
Davidek nodded, "It did, Sheehnan could not stop talking about the transformation of Benson." He dug out his phone, sliding it across the table to sit in front of Kit, "He sent a photo this morning for you to see."
Kit picked up the phone as I moved to stand behind her. She swiped the screen and pulled up a picture. Kit looked up at me with wide eyes the second his face appeared. "Holy shit Claire, you are incredible." She handed me the phone as I smiled tightly.
I held the phone in my hand, "It wasn't all me, Kit. It was you, Davidek, Rebecca and all everyone else along the way." I looked back down at the screen. Benson's face was free of the puckered burn scars that had layered his neck and over most of his face. His hair had started to grow back fully and his eyes were still blue, not the dead pigment blue, but a more lifelike blue. One that told me that I had been able to reverse the negative side effects of his mutations
and heal his wounds. The man was still massive and intimidating, only now he didn't look like a monster out of a horror movie. He looked like a man who was given a second chance at life and redemption.
I set the phone back down on the table, looking at my two protectors, "If this works, Halston will be on my doorstep and I know she will not stop at anything." I stopped, letting the silence fill in the rest of my words and imply if they were ready for another round with this madwoman.
Kit stood up first, "Let me shower and change, I will be ready to leave in a half hour." She walked past me, her hand running over my back, making me suck in a breath. I knew Kit was stronger than ever with her new body and by the calculations and formula, she was indestructible. I stared out towards the staircase she had just run up, my residual fear at what could happen next, rising quickly.
Davidek's voice broke my trance, "Don't worry about her. Halston could throw nuclear warheads at the girl and it would do nothing." He moved closer to me, glancing in the same direction I was just staring, "Kit is truly remarkable in her new body but still holding to her old ways, a deadly combination in my opinion." He bent down to kiss me on the cheek, whispering, "When this is done, I'm taking you two to the nearest wedding chapel." Davidek moved around me, heading to the back door. "I'll be out in the barn getting a few things and the car ready. I already gave the boys a heads up, they will be tailing us discreetly to the train station and on the train. Just in case."
I nodded once watching him exit. As soon as he was gone, I leaned against the counter behind me. Blowing out a huge breath at his comment about a wedding chapel. If only I thought it would be that easy.
_______________________
The train ride had taken almost ten hours for us to get to Moscow. I spent most of that sleeping, leaned up against Kit in the private car. It seemed now that I had welcomed sleep back into my life, it had its hooks in me and wouldn't let go so easily. I also didn't mind that she would hold me and let me curl up into her side. Davidek had disappeared to the bar car to return here and there to check on us and bring lunch. I fell asleep shortly after finishing the thick sandwich, listening to Kit read the newspaper out loud to me.
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