Ch 2

Within twenty minutes Kat had her suitcase packed and had a ticket booked on the next flight out of DC to Minneapolis. She looked at the clock debating on her next move. It was midnight. Sure she had a car, but she really didn't want to leave in in the airport garage as long as she was going to be gone. She could call a taxi, but the plane ticket nearly wiped her out, and she hated the idea of driving alone with a stranger at that time of night. So here she was staring out her window, across the parking lot to see if the light was still on in Eli's apartment. It was on, but that didn't mean that he was necessarily awake or even home. Finally deciding she didn't have much of a choice, she picked up her phone.

Waiting for it to ring she nervously tapped her nails on the glass of the window.

"Hey Kat." she heard Eli answer happily after two rings.

"Hi Eli." She said nervously.

"What's wrong?" He asked, knowing instantly she didn't sound like herself.

"I have a family emergency," she stated simply, not wanting to go into details. "Could you drive me to the airport?"

"Yeah, no problem. When does you flight leave?"

"In about an hour."

"Alright, I'll be right over."

"Thanks. See you when you get here."

…

It didn't take Eli long to arrive at her apartment, and they were on their way. He wasn't sure at first if he should ask what was going on. Kat had never really been one to talk about her family. They'd been dating for a little over a month now, but all he knew about her family was that she had an older brother, Sean, and a younger sister, Maggie. Finally curiosity got the better of him, "Kat," he asked taking her hand from where it rested on her lap, "what's going on?"

Sighing, she looked out the window mumbling something incoherent.

"What?" He asked squeezing her hand in hopes that it would get her to turn in his direction.

"My dad's dead." She said, still turned away from him, without any emotion in her voice.

"Oh, wow." He said, unsure of what to say next. "Are you ok?"

She shrugged, "Don't know why I shouldn't be." She answered coldly, "I don't know the last time I talked to him."

"Yeah, but Kat, he's still your Dad."

"Yes he's the man who gave me life so I have to be grateful to him for that, but really to me he's just a guy I knew once. The only reason I'm going home is for Maggie. She needs me." She said firmly.

Again Eli wasn't sure how to react to this. He'd never seen this side of Kat. She seemed so protective of her little sister, but where her Dad was concerned he got nothing. Not sadness, not anger, nothing. "Would you like me to go with you?"

"What?" she asked in surprise, finally turning to look at him.

"Do you want me to go with you?" he asked gently, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. "You might want someone there for you."

"No, really, I'll be fine," she said simply, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Like I said I'm only going back for Maggie. Besides you'll only be a phone call away if I do need you."

He looked at her for a moment, not seeing any signs that she was lying he nodded, "That's right, and don't forget it. My phone will be with me 24 hours so don't be afraid to call me for anything, I'm serious." He said letting go of her hand momentarily to turn into a parking spot.

"Thank you," she waited for him to put the car in park, then leaned in and kissed him gently, "for everything."

"You're welcome." He replied, gently stroking her cheek.

She gave him a genuine smile, then breaking their tender moment she turned away and got out of the car. He shook his head, joining her at the trunk and taking her bag for her.

It didn't take long before she was checked in and about to board the plane. Before she walked through the doors she stopped and turned to Eli. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held onto him as if he was her lifeline. Still holding onto her he whispered into her ear, "Are you sure you don't want me to come along? There's still time."

She pulled back from him, tears starting to form in her eyes, "I know, and I really would love nothing more than taking you with me, but I can do this. Plus they still need you here. And who would take care of Jake for me?"

He chuckled, "Ok, but call me. Anytime you want to, even if it's just to talk."

"I will." She hugged him again quickly, glancing at the clock she sighed, "I've gotta go. I'll see you soon."

He gave her one last kiss and watched her walk away.