The Airstream was cold. So cold that it was almost suffocating. The emptiness was so enormous that it was palpable. And yet, Patrick Jane didn't move a muscle. Not even to grab a blanket. He was sitting in bed, but couldn't even consider to lie down, because he knew he wouldn't sleep at all. Not without her.
He had left the cemetery three hours earlier, and took a long walk back to the Airstream. To think. But also to pack. He made a reservation for a cabin near the woods, a nice quiet place surrounded by nature. He needed to get away from all the pain that day has caused, and think more clearly.
At some point, the air inside the Airstream felt too heavy. He decided to go outside and breath some fresh air before going to his little adventure.
When he opened the door, he saw, only a few steps away, a silhouette. He would recognize this silhouette from miles away.
"Teresa", he whispered to himself, but he saw her moving her shoulders, indicating that she heard him.
He didn't move for a few seconds, just admiring her. God, he loved that woman so much that it was ridiculous.
Patrick took a few steps towards her, until he was only two feet away. She turned around, slowly, and the red tone of her eyes told him that she has been crying.
"How long have you been out here?" he asked, searching for her eyes. She was avoiding the eye contact, and to Jane that was a bad sign.
"I don't know" she said with a low voice. "An hour, two? I don't know."
"Why didn't you knock?" he asked gently, and her eyes finally met his. The sadness and fear he saw inside them felt like a punch in the stomach.
"I wasn't sure of what to say. I wasn't sure I had anything to say at all. In fact," she said, and a few tears returned to her eyes. "I wasn't even sure you would be in there. I thought you had left. For good."
"I didn't." it was all he could manage to answer at the moment.
"Yeah, I can see that." Her tone was ironic. Acid. Painful.
And finally, he realised. She thought he was leaving her.
"No. I would never leave for good. Not like this. Not without you." He said, and he could tell that she noticed the honesty in his eyes. "I had to get away from that pain and suffering, because it was suffocating me. I just had to leave that cemetery before I..." he gasped. She placed her hand on his shoulder, without saying a word. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too." She said, and he wrapped his arms around her. She held him tightly. "I know all of this is very hard for you, but is not that easy for me as well."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing." She said, letting go of the hug to look him in the eyes. "This is not your fault. And it's not something you can control that easily. I understand that. But you need to know that I'm not going anywhere. I belong right here, next to you." She places her hand to his chest. "You're not gonna lose me. You need to believe in that."
This time, he's the one whose eyes are full of tears.
"I try. I swear that I do, it's just..."
"Complicated?" she completed.
"Yes." He said, with a small laugh. "Complicated." He repeated, and they stared at each other for a few seconds.
"So... Do you need a ride to that nice place you were going to?"
"I would love the company." He said, honestly. "But I'm not so sure you'll like it, it's kind of... Rustic."
"As long as you're in there, I'll be fine." She smiled at him and he held her hand, pulling her closer for a sweet kiss.
"I'm not going anywhere too. Not without you. You need to believe in that." He repeated her last words.
"I do now." She kissed him again. "Let's go to that rustic place. We still have a lot to talk about."
"Yes we do." He agreed, and they went back to the Airstream to get ready for their little trip.