She stood in front of the large glass container looking at him. He was such a remarkable creature, yet he was so far from reaching his potential. She remembered the day he got sick. Everyone said he was going to die, that it was only a matter of time. The heartache that followed had made her break down. She remembered clearly, how his skin colour had changed, how he suddenly became frail and everything he did seemed to take all the strength he had. And the pain she saw. That agonizing, torturous pain, that left scars in his pleading eyes. She had sat on the floor in the corner of her lab, her knees pressed against her chest as she moved back and forth. Screaming in misery as the pain her heart contained could not be released any other way. It was only as the air exited with the sound of her broken voice that she would feel relief. As soon as she breathed in again that overwhelming, all consuming ache would return. Each time she screamed it was as if a little more of her sanity escaped with it. If he died, surely she would as well. Suddenly she had become determined. She would not let him die. No cost was too great and she thought she knew exactly how to do it. Others told her that she couldn't, that what she was trying to do was not to be attempted for decades. Yet she did it anyway and despite the odds she saved him. Her life's work had become her only reason for living and thankfully others found it to be important. Others were willing to pay for her research, even as it had to remain a secret. Others wouldn't understand. They would find her creations freakish and disturbing. Not everyone would see the greatness of what she was trying to accomplish. There were still steps to be taken, but they would come very soon. They had to come very soon. One of her assistance came up next to her as she stared at her creation in the tank.
"Doctor we will have to move operations again."
"Very well, but before we do, contact our benefactor. We need to take the next step." She replied without looking away from the tank.
"I'll get right on it." The assistant replied, but she barely heard him.
She moved her hand over the glass of the tank, caressing it lovingly. Feeling the cool glass, but imagining the texture of his skin. Every curve and unevenness imprinted on her memory, as her fingers unconsciously moved as if they were actually blocking their path. She would succeed and no one would stop her.
- OOO -
Abe was angry with her, Louise knew this. He had every right to be. She had promised him that she would be careful and she had broken that promise. It was so strange him sitting in front of her, tending to her ankle and wrist and not talking. But they had nothing to say to each other as long, as Michael was in the room. A fact that did not lessen Abe's anger. Louise looked at Michael and gave him a look and a gesture for him to leave the room. To her surprise and relief he did. They had not spoken more than a few words since what happened this evening and he must have been feeling extremely uneasy, but he was not the important one. Abe was. She looked down at him, her sitting on the table and him on a chair in front of her, carefully attending to her ankle.
"I know you are angry with me." She said softly.
"I am not..." He snapped and then composed himself.
"I'm not angry, I was afraid." He said in a softer voice, not able to look at her.
"I know, but I had to get those people out... and I had to see her. The ghost I mean." Louise explained softly stroking his cheek. He looked up at her with a gaze and she could not determine whether it was pleading or upset.
"You didn't have to. It was not your responsibility to seek her out." He stated with a hint of concerned anger in his voice.
"Love, I had to. She looked like the woman I saw drown. I had to make sure if it was the same one." She explained patiently.
"And you think it was." He stated looking at her with understanding, but still fearful.
"Yes... she was so sad. So heartbroken. It was as if for a moment I could feel all her suffering. It felt as if I had lost you. I... I wanted to help her, but she wouldn't let me." She explained in a low voice. Sensing her distress Abe stood up and wrapped his arms around her.
"It's alright dearest. I am not going anywhere. In fact, after the little stunt you pulled this evening, I might not let you out of my sight again." He teased.
"I like the sound of that." She smiled and leaned her head against his chest.
"So know how I got stuck with a ghost?" She asked after a few moments, his arms still wrapped around her.
"Hmm... Did you touch anything or upset anything while under water?" He asked.
"Not that I remember. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until I saw her drown." She replied biting her lower lip, considering if she had missed anything. Abe smiled down at her, but she was in too deep in thought to notice. He lowered his lips to hers and though she was a little surprised she kissed him back. They heard someone give a discreet cough behind them and saw Johan standing in the doorway.
"Hello Johan." Abe said calmly and Louise had to smile as he showed no shyness at all. She liked seeing this more confident side of him, especially in relation to her.
"Hello Abraham. I just wanted you to know that we didn't find the ghost, but we did find plenty of evidence that it had at been there. No one was injured and if I heard correctly you had something to do you that Louise." Johan said in a kind voice and if he had a face he would have smiled.
"I did very little. Telling someone to run isn't exactly a rare skill set. Besides, most of the residents were already outside the building." Louise smiled.
"Still you showed a great deal of courage. As far as we have been able to determine the building has not experienced haunting before. Do you have any idea why the ghost might have appeared now?" Johan asked.
"I believe it might be haunting me actually." Louise explained, as a small shiver ran down her spine. Though she acted very composed she was still shaken by it. She would not react with fear when a situation occurred, but when realisation replaced adrenalin and survival instincts, she was as vulnerable as anyone else. Abe knew this and could instantly feel it from her, so he kept his arm around her. Protecting her.
"Really? Do you know anyone who has died recently?" Johan asked curiosity evident in his voice.
"No." Louise replied simply and looked to Abe hoping he could provide a better answer.
"It might have been something she stirred up by accident. I will have to go back to the place where she first saw the ghost, but with all that is going on I don't know if I will be able to get to the bottom of it." Abe said regretfully.
"I understand. I will search the dorm for anything I can find and I will assign some agents to help with your research. Your friend has been taken to a higher level and is currently signing come confidentiality papers." Johan replied.
"Alright... I was wondering do you need any other engineers besides myself?" Louise asked.
"Louise, please don't." Abe whispered, but she just stroked his cheek.
"We might. Do you think your friend a worthy candidate for such a job?" Johan asked.
"Yes, he is clever, skilled and tonight he showed courage." Louise smiled kindly, but she could feel Abe tensing.
"I will consider it. I trust you will be beginning next week?" Johan asked.
"Actually we were hoping she might..." Abe began, but was interrupted.
"Yes, I would like to begin as soon as possible." Louise stated.
"Alright then. I will make sure the arrangements are made."Johan replied in a cheerful voice.
"Johan, would you give us a moment please." Abe asked.
"Of course. I will see you next week, agent Moran." Johan replied in the same cheerful voice before leaving.
Abe pulled away and stood in front of Louise looking down on her, with an expression that was something between hurt and disappointed. He was about to speak when she put her fingers to his lips.
"Something is bothering you and it has been troubling you for the past few weeks. I know that it is eating you from the inside and you have no one to confine in. The sooner I begin here the sooner I can be informed about what it is and you won't have to deal with it alone. And don't you dare deny it to protect me, it was evident how you felt last night." Louise explained seriously.
"I thought I was the one who was supposed to be psychic." He teased.
"I'm just very intelligent." She smirked sarcastically and was about to kiss him, but he pulled away.
"And Michael?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"He is skilled and he risked his life to keep me safe, even when I asked him not to. He deserves this break if Johan finds him worthy of it. As for this jealousy of yours, don't
worry. I am all yours, surely you know that." She looked at him seriously.
"I know, it's just reassuring to hear you say it." He explained stroking her hair.
"Hey, you guys ready to leave? I don't want to be here one more minute longer than necessary." Red asked walking in the door.
"Yes." Louise replied, but then bit her lower lip deep in thought.
"We can go and get your things now. The bureau has the area sealed off, I am sure we can be allowed to collect them." Abe smiled at her.
"Thank you." Louise smiled.
- OOO -
She couldn't believe this. This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life and it had been, right up until this moment. Her mother was pacing back and forth in the study, giving her glances of disapproval from time to time. Edith kept quiet. She was sure that whatever her mother had to say would come soon enough. She just hoped she had the resolve to deal with it. Her mother finally sat down in a chair with a sigh. "You cannot be serious about this child." Her mother, Mrs. Howard, stated. "I am, I would not have agreed to his proposal otherwise. Everett is honourable and I care for him." Edith stated with defiance. "Mr. Caul might not be what you think. He is twice your age and from what I have heard he has some very disturbing obsessions." Mrs. Howard said with a concerned look. "I am not interested in gossip. Father has already given his consent, so I do not understand why I must suffer this interrogation." Edith snapped. "My dear girl, I am trying to protect you. I want to see you happy. I know how Mr. Caul seems like on the outside, but I am afraid he will make you unhappy." She implored. "You are wrong, he loves me." Edith stated angrily. "That he might, but how much? He will be travelling around the world, doing God knows what, while you will be left to your own devices. His passions and personal pursuits will always come before you. You have such a devoted heart and such a fragile mind, I fear he will break you." Mrs. Howard tried to reason. "I know you are concerned for me mama, but I assure you that Everett means to do right by me." Edith stated with resolve. "I hope you are right, my dear." Mrs. Howard replied with regret.
Louise awoke and sat up in bed feeling... uneasy. She looked beside her, but Abe was already up. She took her black robe and wrapped it around her before walking slowly down the stairs. She was deep in thought and did not noticed Abe looking at her through the tank.
"Good morning dearest. How is your leg?" He asked cheerfully, but he received no answer as she suddenly stood still, while biting her lip and was clearly lost in a world of her own.
"Louise?" Abe asked with concern and she finally looked at him, but with a little confused look.
"What?" She asked not quite looking at him as if she was still trapped in her thoughts.
"How is your ankle?" Abe smiled kindly.
"Sore, but better. Sorry... lost in thought I guess." She smiled apologetic.
"I could see that. Something you want to talk about?" He asked in a concerned voice.
"It was just a strange dream, nothing to worry about. I just need to focus on something else. Like unpacking all my stuff." She gave a dramatic sigh and fake pouted.
"From what I saw you don't have that many things." Abe smiled.
"Just you wait. Soon you are going to regret you ever asked me to move in." She winked at him.
"Never." He replied with absolute confidence and the look she gave him in return was one of sweet adoration.
She smiled and suddenly walked towards the tank with that glare of mischief in her eyes. She placed her hand on the tank and he did the same. The images that flared through his mind made him swallow hard. She was imagining kissing his neck and softly nibbling his skin as she went lower. Down his chest as her fingers caressed the inside of his thighs. Her kisses went lower down his stomach and abdomen. Abe had to close his eyes as he felt his blood boiling. Just as she was about to go even lower, to the place that was aching for her touch, it all stopped and she pulled away from the glass, with a bright wicked smile on her face.
"If you want to know how it ends you will have to help me unpack." She teased with mischief sparkling in her eyes.
Abe gave her a determined glare and then swam towards the surface fast. He then ran down the stairs and towards her and only then she realised the flaw in her plan. Her ankle was sprained and she couldn't run. He grabbed her around her waist from behind and held her in place as he kissed her cheek, neck and shoulder while she giggled in delight, even as the cold water from his body soaked her robe.
