Her hands were shaking again, the small digits hitting against her legs from inside her trouser pockets. Breathing deeply she tries to stop them from shaking, her weary eyes glance around the plane at the fellow passengers to see if they can see them shaking too. When no one returns her gaze she drops it to her lap, the fabric of her trousers moving gently with the continued shaking of her hands.
Just stop shaking, why won't you stop shaking.
She watches the fabric of her trousers move against her skin for five minutes, just sits and stares at it whilst her hands continue to shake. Soon it get's too much and she forcibly rips them from their prisons, the sound of material ripping following the motion. But she doesn't care she just wants the damn shaking to stop. Why won't it stop?
A pressure is placed on her shoulder and she jumps before snapping her head upwards, her eyes landing on those of the stewardess. She can see that she just surprised the stewardess and made her scared, her wide eyes and the crinkle in the stewardess' nose giving it away to her critical eye. Her eyes flick to the Stewardess' name badge and tries to force a calm smile on her lips.
"I'm sorry Grace, I was lost in my own thoughts and didn't mean to make you jump"
"Don't worry about it" Grace says with a forced smile "We'll be landing soon so you need to put on your seat belt"
"Okay"
She watches as Grace walks away to tell some others who didn't hear the announcement before dropping her eyes back to her hands, they were still shaking. Taking deep breathes she reaches for the seat belt and goes to buckle herself in, the metal of the belt clanking against the holster as she tries to put it home. After the fifteenth try the small click signaling the belt is fastened ringing in her ears and her gaze once again returns to her hands.
As the plane begins it's descent she tries to focus on her breathing, the short labored breaths coming out like small hisses as the air is pulled in and over her teeth and out again. As the plane wheels of the plane hit the tarmac of the run way she slams her eyes closed as an explosion of light filters into her brain, the smell of smoke clogging her nose causing a chocked gasp to leave her lips.
Through the clogging of her ears she faintly hears people passing by her on the aisles as they are finally allowed off the plane after a twelve hour flight, not one of them paying attention to the female still rooted in her seat with hands gripped so tightly her short nails were currently cutting into the skin of her palms, eyes slammed shut and her breath leaving her lips so harshly it could be mistaken for the wind that accompanies a hurricane.
A familiar voice sounds to her left before hands are gently lifting her from her seat, her belt undone in record time, they coax her into the body connected to the arms before leading her gently down the aisle and off the plane. The cool air clearing some of the anxiety eating away at her chest, her breaths become more shallow and controlled as she pulls the fresh air into her lungs greedily. She feels herself walk for around five minutes before the hands loosen on her arms and she's gently coaxed into a car, the smell of leather filling her senses.
As the silence of the car seeps into her bones she tries to focus of coming back from inside of her head, the flash of lights giving way to darkness. As the darkness begins to seep away to reality the sounds from outside the car filter in. She hears a man talking to someone about bag collection, the sounds of planes landing and taking off in the distance also feature.
The car door behind her opens and she hears something hit against the leather before the door shuts and footsteps walk around the car and to the drivers seat, the door opening and the sound of clothes shuffling as someone climbs in before the door is shut again. She cracks open her eyes to see a blurry outline of a man with light brown hair. Closing her eyes again she tries to focus on the darkness, focusing enough to push it out of her mind and back into the dark crevices of her mind that it had climbed from.
Chancing another attempt at opening her eyes she almost cries in relief as the blurriness leaves allowing her to see her surroundings, the darkness sticking to the edges of her vision threatening to once again overtake her, but she ignores it for now. Her eyes once again land on the driver of the car and she smiles, the familiar face acting like a balm to her weary heart, his hands are steady as he sits facing out the window of the car, his breath calm as though he was merely waiting for an order a fast food take out, not a broken woman to escape her own mind.
"Mitchell" she breathes, her voice too quiet but the stoic man beside her hears her, he turns to look at her and smiles softly.
"Ma'am" he nods "Are you feeling better?"
She stares at him her eyes locked on his olive green ones, the concern written there was a surprise. The only emotions she was used to seeing directed at her recently was pity, sympathy and grief. Those she had come to handle but no one had been concerned about her in a long time. It was refreshing in a scary way.
"I am" she nods "Sorry about that"
He just flashes her a small smile before starting up the car, he fluidly pulls the car away from the parking spot and across the tarmac towards the exit, her brown eyed gaze drifts towards the window as she watches the scenery unfold beside her. Soon the streets of New York begin to dribble in and she can't help the small smile that curls the corners of her bow shaped lips.
"Mitchell" she says softly not wanting to disturb the comfortable silence with too much noise.
"Yes ma'am"
"Could we please stop somewhere to get something to eat" she asks timidly "Before I am to go wherever it is you're taking me"
"To the tower Ma'am" Mitchell replies "And of course we can"
"The tower" she clarifies, confusion coloring her tone
"Yes" he nods
She just nods deciding not to ask anymore questions, they could wait. For now she just wanted a good old American burger and beer, everything else could wait until she had that in her body. Mitchell pulls the car into a space outside of an old fashioned diner, the white and red design of the building call to her like a beacon. The moment the car is parked she undoes the seat belt she didn't know was fastened across her body and opens the car door.
Stepping onto the sidewalk as Mitchell comes to stand beside her closing the car door she pulls in deep breaths, the smells of New York assaulting her senses bring up memories both good and bad. Mitchell leans over and places a hand to the small of her back and leads her towards the front door of the diner holding it open as she walks in first. Glancing around she notices a booth near the window and begins to walk in that direction, Mitchell following like a silent but steady shadow.
The two of them fold themselves into the worn leather, a chirpy blonde waitress walks over to take their orders and without looking at the menu she orders the two things that brought her here, Mitchell passing on the food. The sounds of the waitress writing down the order on the pad fills the air before she walks off.
She lifts her eyes from the downwards look they had fallen in to look at the man sitting across from her. He was older then she remembered, the crows feet in the corner of his eyes giving the smallest indication to his life as well as the splattering of gray hairs mixing in with his honey brown. His olive green eyes were moving around the diner at a face but calculated pace before flicking outside to check on the car, a rolls royce phantom she now notices, before they once again return to looking around the diner.
She had known him since she was born but as they both sat there in silence she felt as though they were nothing more but strangers. Two people who had been forced together, if she was honest she hated it. Raking her mind for her memories of the man she tries to broach a conversation, anything to keep her out of her mind for a little while longer.
"How is Belinda" she asks
She watches a small smile lifts Mitchell's face at the mention of his wife and he turns his olive eyes to her.
"She is doing fine, still working at the hospital"
"Still" she chuckles grateful for the noise "How long has she worked there now"
"Nearly 30 years" He replies adding a chuckle of his own to his tone
"And the kids" she presses "Max and Ollie wasn't it"
He nods "They're fine, Ollie has just completed his medical degree and is due to start as a doctor at the hospital in a few weeks. Ollie is still unsure of what he wants to do but he'll figure it out"
She nods as she remembers the one child of Mitchell's that was closer to her age, she was three years his elder but that didn't stop the pair from playing when they were younger, or getting into trouble together either. Mitchell's other son Max had been older than her by five years and never wasted his time with her, he was always near his mother when able asking questions. She had assumed from a young age that he would become a doctor, she guesses she should have put money on it.
"Ollie was always a free spirit" she speaks the silence once again creeping in "Whatever job he chooses will have to hold him down long enough for him to care"
Mitchell looks at her for a second before throwing his head back and laughs, the sound loud and raucous and completely male, his features lighting up with the emotion making her smile timidly as he lowers his head back down and turns his amusement riddled gaze to her again.
"Nothing will ever tie Ollie down, I fear he might jump from job to job"
"Makes for one hell of a resume" she shrugs causing Mitchell to laugh again
"That it does"
She goes to add something but the waitress walks over and places down her burger and fries as well as a pint of cold lager. She smiles at the blonde before reaching out her hands grasping the cold glass bringing the beer to her lips, the tangy taste welcome as the cold liquid slips down her throat. After a few mouthful's she moves the glass and settles it back down on the table smacking her lips slightly before she pulls the plate of food closer.
"Take it you missed this" Mitchell asks lightly as she reaches for the salt
"No one does burgers as good as America" she shrugs "the beer is debatable"
Mitchell chuckles as she reaches forward and grabbing the burger with both hands takes a rather large bite of it, her whole body humming at the taste. Chewing delectably despite the way she had initially started eating she lets her eyes drift out the window as Mitchell's return to his categorizing of the diner. She gazes at nothing in particular as she finishes her burger and fries in record time despite stopping a few times to finish her warming beer, her stomach protesting and the full sensation as she leans against the cold leather of the booth.
"Is he expecting me" she asks Mitchell
"No" Mitchell replies pulling his gaze away from whatever he was looking at "He doesn't know you're coming. He wasn't around when you phoned"
"Pretending to be busy"
"He doesn't have to pretend anymore" Mitchell replies cryptically his eyes darting to the waitress who had walked over to collect the dirty plate and empty glass of beer.
She nods not answering as she knew what he meant, they both watch as the waitress walks off before the one who served them the first time places down the bill. She waits awhile enjoying the comforts before sighing and reaching inside the pocket of her trousers to pull out the money to cover her order. Leaving the bills on top of the table the two of them climb out the booth and head towards the door, Mitchell once again holding the door open allowing her to walk ahead first, his hand a steady anchor against her lower back.
She walks over to car and when the lights flash to indicate Mitchell has unlocked it she climbs inside, settling herself back in the cream leather as Mitchell shuts the door. As she's fastening her seat belt she glances up at the scenery of New York and a small smirk lifts her lips as she spots a rather large building sitting high above the others, the name plastered on the side making it hard to miss.
Mitchell climbs in beside her silently, the only noise he makes is a small snort no doubt noticing what she was looking at as he starts the car. She sits back in her seat shaking her head as Mitchell starts the car and pulls out onto the road behind a steady stream of traffic. The car is filled with silence as the car drives behind traffic, every now and then stopping at lights and behind queue's of cars before Mitchell pulls into the opening of an underground garage.
She takes a deep breath before undoing her belt and reaches for the door handle, before she can open it, someone else does and she looks up to see another old face. She smiles kindly placing her hand into the one offered allowing him to help her out of the car.
"Hello Graham"
"Ma'am" he nods smiling politely "Pleasant flight"
"Minus the sickness" she replies a fake, too fake smile slipping onto her features
She glances to Mitchell to see if he was going to say anything to reveal her words as a lie but he just grabbed her bag from the backseat and shuts the car door before walking around to come stand at her side, his stoic mask once again gracing his face.
Graham nods before moving aside so Mitchell could lead her towards the elevator tucked in the corner of the garage. Her sneakers make no noise against the concrete as she walks, her eyes glancing around at all the cars, the four black SUV's almost invisible in the shadows. Leading her into the elevator she leans back against the cool metal wall as Mitchell presses the button to whatever floor she was supposed to go to. She'd never been here the whole place was an enigma and with a glance at the floor buttons she could see there was over forty floors which meant she was going to get lost.
A lot.
The elevator comes to a stop silently, the doors swishing open and she steps out, stopping short as the sound of voices filter into her ears. The noise sudden after all the silence causing her breath to catch in her throat and the darkness to prod viciously at the side of her vision. A warm hand on her back snaps her eyes open, she didn't know she'd closed them, and with a glance at Mitchell who sends her a small comforting smile she is able to get her breathing under control and place one foot in front of the other leading her closer to the voices.
Mitchell leads her round a corner into what looks like a living room,the room occupied by six bodies seated in a circle formed by the couches. There was a fire burning against the back wall casting a strange orange glow around the room as she lets her eyes take in the people, no-one having spotted her stood there.
Her eyes land on the only other woman in the room and she could see this woman was going to be someone she had to watch. The woman had pale skin and bright red curly hair which was cropped to her chin, she was sat tensely in her seat her eyes glaring at the men sitting around her. Her nails hitting against the arm of the sofa in an agitated beat.
Next to her on her right was a older man, his brown hair freckled with gray, his clothes looking as though he was much too small for them. His leg was bouncing to its own beat as he wrung his hands in either nervousness or discomfort. His brown eyes were dancing to and from the people in front of him like a spectator watching a tennis match.
Seated on the edge of the sofa was another male, who unlike everyone else in the room seemed to be relaxed and slightly amused by the whole situation. He was lent back against the back of the sofa, he leg thrown over the top of the other bouncing it slightly as his nimble fingers twirled what looked to be an arrow next to his head. He had light brown hair and slightly tanned skin. She couldn't see much more due to him not directly looking at her but she could tell he was probably a feature in quite a few naughty dreams for imaginative women.
Across from him on the sofa in front of the fire sat two more males, both alike but different in completely different ways, one of them was rather large in stature, his arms looking as though they could crush her if he applied too much weight, his long blonde hair coming down to brush against his shoulders as he lent forward leaning his elbows atop of his knees, his hands supporting his chin.
Next to him sat someone she could only guess had a military background, his back was rigidly straight his head held high as he observed everyone seated around him with a critical eye, no doubt his mind was running over different scenarios and coming up with ways to avoid them. He was also blonde haired but instead of the golden blond of the larger guy his was a darker bordering on light brown. His blue eyes were emotionless and he was also rather built but not overly done. They suited his stature in a way that seemed seamless.
The sixth man in the room she couldn't see the profile of due to only being able to see his head over the back of the chair he was sitting in but she could see his hands moving animatedly as he tried to get the others to understand his point, his voice husky with emotion as he spoke every word in a way that was almost pleading.
She glances to Mitchell to see him as amused with the scenario as she was and turns back to look at the six people again before clearing her throat loudly causing six pairs of eyes to snap towards her. Five out of six sit a little straighter as they stare at her, their eyes critical as they trail from her feet up to her face and back again, assessing whether or not she was a threat. She'd had the action done to her enough times to recognize it as what it was.
The person who's face she couldn't see previously stands from the chair and moves forward, his face splitting into a large grin as he takes in all of her features slowly as she does the same to him. He was older than when she had last seen him yet that was the only difference she could spot, his brown eyes still gave away his emotions, his dark hair as rough-edged as always and his chin was still covered by his beard, mustache and goatee combination that was completely him. Her gaze drops from his face and runs over his body stopping as she comes to his chest and notices a strange light glowing from underneath his top, shaking her head deciding not to dwell on it she snaps her eyes to his as he stops a breath away from her, his arms extended wide.
She smiles sadly before launching herself into his arms her own wrapping around his body holding on as though he was going to disappear any moment. As his arms come around her in the same fashioned hug she feels tears begin to well up in her eyes and buries her head into his shoulder breathing in the smell of gunpowder, oil and wood that was completely his own.
"I've missed you so much" he breathes into her ear his voice thick with emotion
"Missed you too, so so much" she replies her own voice laden with the same emotion.
She loosens her arms as he pulls away and looks over her face again, his eyes wet from un-shed tears as he categorizes every movement and pore on her face. He smiles widely before moving to the side and looking over at the other five people in the room.
"Guy's I would like you to meet my daughter" He smiles widely once again looking back at her, his hand tightening its hold on her waist"Isabella Stark"
As five pairs of eyes snap back to her she idly notices that her hands are still shaking.
End note - So new story. I would really love to know what you guys think. I know you all with favorite and follow if you like it which is great and lets me know that you want more. But i would really love if you could take the time to tell me what you think, I haven't written a first chapter like this before and I would love to know what you guys honestly think.
All mistakes are mine and If you see any let me know.
Anyway let me know what you guys think
Nikki x