Chapter 10 - The Ties That Bind Us
"The vaccine shipment must be inspected within 2 hours of arrival….This is it… You know what to do…"
"I'm sorry; I did not know the room was occupied."
"I need to hang up, we'll talk later. No, no problem, just go with the plan."
"Dr. Rachel Scott." The woman said and smiled, but the smile doesn't reach her eyes. The woman in question is pregnant, has black hair and light blue eyes.
Rachel did not think it was strange that the woman knew her, after all, her picture was on the ration cards and that video of her healing the child was well known. In addition, the press had reported her return from the dead in big headlines.
Instinctively, Rachel squeezed the bag where the weapon was. Somehow the woman seemed strangely familiar to her, although she could not figure out why. "Yes, and you are…"
"We've never met before but I know you by reputation. So you're the great Dr. Scott everyone's talking about? You do not look like a big deal. Oh! I'm sorry…..."
Her tone of voice and her words say exactly the opposite; her eyes were filled with an icy contempt. "No, you're not," Rachel replied
"You're right, I'm not. I'm Sasha Chandler. You know my husband."
Of course, Tom's wife, she had seen a picture of them together. She looks different without the uniform. Or maybe it was her subconscious wanting to erase the image from her mind. The belligerent attitude now made sense. According to the press, Rachel was the woman who had had an affair with her husband.
"I know Tom, he's a friend."
You damned bitch. He's my husband. You can't take him away from me! He'll never be yours! Never! I'll make sure of that.
"Friend? Do you think I'm an idiot? He told me what happened, he asked me to forgive him, he was deeply sorry."
"That doesn't surprise me, that he told you the truth, I mean. That's who he is," Rachel responded calmly.
"Only a woman without morals or one desperate for attention would drag another woman's husband to bed."
"I'm not a woman desperate for sex, who dragged your man to bed like you said. We had sex because that's what we both wanted."
Sasha was furious at her response, but tried to hide her reaction. She hoped to make the woman feel guilty, nervous, or uncomfortable when confronted by her. The pregnant wife. But there was none of these feelings in Rachel's eyes, only challenge shone in her brown eyes.
"You were just an adventure, a mistake. I am the woman who is going to give him a child. We are going to have a boy. My son will replace the children he lost," she said while stroking her rounded belly.
"Ashley and Sam can never be replaced in Tom's heart. But I have no doubt that he will be a wonderful father. I'm happy for him. He deserves to have a baby in his arms again."
"You love my husband, don't you?"
"The short answer is yes." Sasha's surprise showed on her face. "What? Did you expect me to lie? Don't ask questions you don't really want the answer to, Sasha."
The next words were forced out between clenched teeth. "If you are harboring any hope for Tom, forget it. He's mine, he is off limits, Rachel Scott."
"I never said otherwise," Rachel replied.
"You act like you do not care, but the truth is that you're jealous of me, because I'm his wife, I'm going to have his son and you're nothing," Sasha declared. She took a few steps forward trying to intimidate Rachel in her personal space.
Rachel felt her temper rising to the fore. .What I have of him are not just memories of a night of passion. I have something more permanent from him; his seed grows in my womb. "I have more of it than you can imagine."
"What are you talking about? Are you ..." Sasha asks, looking at Rachel's belly.
Rachel resisted the strong impulse to lay protective hands over her belly as she could see the murderous glint in Sasha's eyes. You slept with her husband and now you are insinuating that you are pregnant with his baby. What did you expect?
"From our work together, what else would it be? Did you think I was talking about a baby? I would never get pregnant to trap a man. It's the oldest trick in the book. I'm not that kind of a woman," Rachel scoffed at Sasha.
"I did not do it, I'm married to him, sex is part of the package. Maybe you should get married, to know what it's like to sleep and wake up next to your man every day."
"Thanks for the advice, but I have other priorities and marriage is definitely not one of them." My priority will be to take care of the baby that grows in my womb. Tom's child. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
"He only needed sex, any woman would do but you were the only one available. Sadly, he just wanted to feel better at your expense. As soon as he knew I was back, he came running back to me and abandoned you."
A small hint of pain appeared in her brown eyes, it had been fleeting, but for Sasha it was a victory. It showed a weakness in the strong woman's armor that Rachel Scott had presented so far. She smiles with satisfaction, rejoicing in the discomfort of the other.
Rachel is aware that she showed too much and then she decided to hit where she knows it will hurt more. "We were together for months, in a confined space, but he did not cheat on Darien. He was already attracted to me at that time."
The unspoken words hovered in the air. He did not cheat on Darien, but he cheated on you.
Sasha opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't get any word out because of the fury she feels. Who does this whore think she is? I'll kill you, Rachel Scott, slowly and very, very painfully.
Rachel walked away towards the women's bathroom. Leaving behind a furious woman. She sighed in relief at the realization that the bathroom was empty. She opened the tap and threw cold water on her face. What on earth have you just done? Have you gone crazy? You almost told her the truth. Her emotions were so unpredictable and fierce, maybe it was because of her hormones.
She tried to distract herself, but just like a bad song, the discussion kept on repeating itself in her head. She regretted some of the things she had said. Confessing her love for Tom was at the top of the list.
How could she have been so incredibly stupid? Sasha Chandler is only acting as was to be expected, as a cheated wife, marking her own territory.
Nothing hurts like the truth.
The possibility of seeing him again, after everything that has happened, seeing another woman occupy a position in his life she would never have, it was very difficult. Although she had prepared for the possibility of meeting Tom's wife, it was nothing to what she had imagined the meeting to be. There will be no future for them, there never was, except in her wildest daydreams.
Just thinking about the two of them together makes her want to scream, or cry or hit something. That hurt like hell. She forced herself to take several deep breaths to calm herself. She cannot and will not break. At least, not here.
Brick by brick, she tried to rebuild her emotional wall, but her chaotic emotions were difficult to control, causing fissures in her fortress. The mission, her relationship with Tom and the crew of Nathan James. The frustration with each defeat, the joy and the hope with each victory, the sadness each time one of them left in the dangerous journey they had shared. What was. What could have been. The reality she cannot deny. For her the journey is over but a new one is just starting without them.
She put her hands on her belly. Tenderness, coupled with strength, filled her heart.
With determination, she made repairs on her wall, hoping it was enough to withstand the most difficult encounter she would face. She looked at the woman in the mirror, and she slid the mask back in place. The pain etched into her features being replaced by the strong, determined woman they were all accustomed to seeing.
"Rachel?"
She turned around to hear Kara's worried voice.
"Is there something wrong?" Kara asked coming to stand beside her in front of the large bathroom mirror.
"Do you want to know if for today or in the last few months?"
An expression of understanding passed through Kara's face. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Don't worry, there are certain things I have to work out for myself, but thank you," she turned toward the exit but she suddenly felt dizzy. Oh God! Not now!
"Rachel? Are you okay? You're as pale as a ghost. When's the last time you ate something?" Kara asked Rachel in a worried voice.
The fact that she skipped meals was well known among the Nathan James' crew. She could use that now in her favor with Kara none the wiser. "I guess at lunch, or breakfast, I don't remember," she prevaricated with a self-deprecating smile.
"Rachel, you're a hopeless case. How about a sandwich?" Kara offered.
"I'm starving, I would probably eat two."
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Rachel was on her second sandwich while looking at the pictures of Kara's baby while listening to the latest gossip about some crew members. As Rachel did not notice him arriving, Tom had a moment to collect himself as he arrived. I love you not for who you are but for who I am when I'm with you. The phrase came to his head, he doesn't remember who the author was but it did not matter. She could see the best in him and while they were together, he had been happy. Tom thought about running away... but to where? He cannot run away from himself.
Mike, as a good friend, realized his nervousness and drew attention to himself. "Rachel, I was very happy to hear that the news of your death was a farce. It's very good to see you."
"Thank you, Mike, it's good to see you, too. I'm glad to hear that you found your family," she greeted Mike, very aware of Tom's presence beside him.
"Thanks."
"Rachel…"
In a fraction of a second, when their eyes met, Rachel felt that feeling of butterflies in the stomach while he felt his heart beat so fast that he was afraid of others hearing it. Just friends, she tried to remember when she felt a crack in her newly constructed wall.
"Tom…"
He looked tired. His blue eyes were sad, and there were dark circles under them. She wished she could comfort him, but they are sailing in unknown waters now.
Looking at her, he could only think of those days on the island, the moments they spent together, the conversations, the stories they shared, the smiles exchanged, her words of encouragement and acquittal, the flirtation during the shooting lessons. The feel of their naked bodies pressed against each other. Passion. Desire. Need. His one-night stand that had been so much more.
His mind insisted on remembering that night, tormenting him with visions of a future he would never have.
He watches her face relaxed, bathed by the first rays coming in through the window, her hair scattered on the pillow, eyes closed, and a satisfied smile curving her lips, one hand resting protectively on her rounded belly. He puts his hand under her hand and feels the baby kicking. Then her eyelashes flutter and she opens her eyes and…
He had been lost in his own thoughts. Lost to such an extent that his mind did not record that she was talking to him.
The third time she called his name; he blinked in confusion and looked at her. Then he shakes his head, trying to erase the memories in his head. "W-What?"
"Tom, are you okay?" she asked, touching his arm and the warmth of her hand on his skin brought him completely back to reality.
He cursed himself internally as he noticed three pairs of eyes watching him with varying degrees of concern. Shit! He really needs a good night's sleep.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" Mike asked
"It's just…" he smiled at them, but it's a sad smile. "I think I fell asleep with my eyes open. I haven't slept very well lately."
"Are you awake now?" Rachel asked with a frown of concern.
"Yes. I believe so. What were you saying?"
"Well, I was saying that congratulations are in order. Your baby, he is very lucky to have a father like you."
"Lucky?" Tom paused. "Clearly, you have more faith in me than I have in myself."
"I have no doubt that your child will be much loved."
Her words touched something inside him. A necessity so poignant that it hurt. How he wished this child were theirs. The pain that Tom felt almost sent him to his knees. It is the pain that comes with losing something they never really had.
"So how long do you intend to stay here?" Tom asked.
"My work here is done. It's time to go back home."
"Where exactly is your home?" Kara asked.
"I have an apartment in London, but I do not intend to go back there now. I have not yet decided. Somewhere where there are no journalists."
"Good luck with that," Mike said. "But you can always shoot them."
"Oh, for Christ's sake don't encourage her, Mike!"
"As if she needed it. I can make a list of several things she did during the mission that requires nerves of steel. Brave is her middle name."
Despite herself , Rachel smiled. Much had changed between her and the Nathan James' crew.
"No, it's Isabelle," he saw the surprise on the faces of Mike and Kara and decided to explain further. "Her middle name. It's in the report I received before the mission. "So if we need you, how do we find you?"
"You don't need me anymore, Tom. Any scientist can reproduce my work or give a lecture."
"I disagree, Rachel. Nobody explains a subject like you," Kara said with an amused glitter in her eyes. "I remember that Miller almost had a heart attack when you demonstrated how to spread the vaccine. It was funny."
"He is a lovely boy, I mean man," Rachel corrected herself. "There is still a part of him that is very sweet; I hope the war does not change that."
War usually breaks everything and everyone in its path. Miller will change, it is inevitable, Tom thought bitterly.
Mike smiled. "The kid practically forgot to breathe. For a moment, I thought it would be necessary to call Dr. Rios to help him."
They are friends. That's all. He is lying to himself. His feelings for her are so deeply embedded within him that he does not think it's possible to pluck out.
He's already tried and failed.
"I think the President is ready to talk to me," Rachel said when she saw two men coming out of his office.
"Can we talk later?"
"Sure, Tom."
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"So, you are leaving without saying goodbye?" A familiar voice asked.
She sighed, realizing that her escape did not go unnoticed as she hoped. She was aware that she was getting away from the conversation with Tom because she did not know if she could look into those blue eyes and continue to lie to him.
After giving Rachel a look of amused understanding, Mike ordered the escort soldiers to wait for her in the car. They saluted and obeyed without hesitation.
"I'm not good at goodbyes, Mike."
"I suspect your inability has to do with Tom. Rachel, you two need to talk."
He knows. Of course Tom would tell him. Mike is his best friend.
"No, Tom and I have nothing to discuss. He has a second chance to be happy, it's better that way."
"Better? Better for whom?" Mike asked.
"For all those involved in this mess. We both had an interesting conversation; Sasha and I. I think I made her feel threatened. I do not want to cause problems for him."
"I've never seen two people so different and so similar at the same time. I'm sure of one thing: the tendency of the two to sacrifice yourself is annoying."
"Thank you, coming from you, is a compliment."
"I didn't say that as a compliment," he growled.
"I know. You do not need a scientist anymore. Soldiers are more important now, like her. Soldiers with combat training. She has that look, I don't know, "don't cross my path." Or maybe it was just the fact that she provoked me and I retaliated."
Mike raised his eyebrows at Rachel, as if to say, 'Did you two have a fight?' How he would have liked to see that conversation. Tom's women were strong, each in their own way. Rachel may not have the same abilities as Sasha - he has no doubt Tom's wife tried to intimidate Rachel, because Tom had already confessed his betrayal to his wife - but that does not mean that Rachel cannot be a worthy opponent in her own right.
"Yeah, she is a very efficient soldier; but it does not make her stronger than you."
Why did he choose her?
Jealousy. It was absurd, but she couldn't help it.
"What did she do before joining you?" she asked, needing to know more about the woman Tom loves.
"She was a CIA agent. She was in China when the pandemic began."
"She spoke Mandarin very well."
"How do you know that?"
"Unintentionally, I overheard her talking to someone on the phone. Something about a shipment of vaccines."
Mike frowned. He seemed in deep thought for a few seconds and then he murmured something under his breath. "It makes no sense."
"What does not make sense?" Rachel asked him.
He shook his head and said, "It's nothing. Don't worry about it. So…Do you speak Mandarin? You're full of surprises, Rachel."
"My parents were missionaries, I traveled a lot with them and I ended up learning other languages. This helps me when I have to do some research in other countries."
"In addition to a brilliant scientist, who likes to participate in risky rescue missions, first you operated on Cruz in the middle of a gunfight, and then helped rescue Tom on a ship full of enemies, you are also a polyglot."
"I was a bait, Mike."
"Without combat training, it took courage. The soldiers who entered there were armed and trained. You made sure that Tom got the weapon, interesting method, by the way. I do not remember we discussed that strategy."
"Did he tell you?" she asked, blushing furiously.
"No, it was Tex. He told me he almost had a heart attack while watching you kiss Tom like that, with such passion. He was disappointed that you had not chosen him."
"I'll miss him... it's so hard to let some people go, to realize suddenly that a part of yourself is lost. You think of all the things you would like to say, but you know that too late, that no matter how much you want, the outcome will not change."
He's pretty sure she's not just talking about Tex, who she had loved as a friend, who had not? It was easy to like Tex, humorous, sincere, a good soldier, and above all a very good man.
"Those we love will always be a part of us, no matter how physically distant they are. And something tells me that the story of you two is not over yet."
"You are a good friend, Mike. Please keep him out of trouble."
"Of course, but you know he doesn't make things easy."
"Probably not, but that's never stopped you before."
"You could stay you know!" he said. "You are one of us."
Maybe if she stayed around, his idiot friend would realize the bullshit he'd done. Tom's second marriage had been a mistake since the beginning.
A tear slid down her cheek and she wiped it away quickly. "I can't stay. Especially now."
"I see. Is there anything that could make you change your mind?"
With a sad smile curving her mouth, she replied, "No. Now I really have to go."
"Okay. If you need help, call me. I'll be in Norfolk."
"Thank you, Mike, I'll remember that."
"Do you want me to tell him something?"
"Tell him that I..." I love him. That I'm happy to have a part of him with me. That I will try to be a good mother to our son. That those days together were the best of my life. That I pray that he will forgive me for hiding the truth. "Do not say anything."
"Be careful out there, Rachel."
"I will. Goodbye, Mike," she said and walked away without looking back.
After Rachel left, Mike had a confused expression on his face. He was trying to assemble the pieces of a puzzle, but the pieces did not fit.
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"Thank you, Mathias, Aaron, I will never forget what you did for me. You two did more than your duty demanded."
"It was an honor, Rachel." Rodriguez and Jackson responded together.
"Where are you going?" Rodriguez asked.
"Home, Mathias, I'm going back home," she replied.
Sitting on small plane waiting for takeoff, she thinks about the little life that was growing within her. When she confirmed herself that she was carrying Tom's child, she felt a mixture of fear intertwined with denial and shock and then a joy so great that it left her breathless. She knew that from that moment on that she would always be connected to him. Unfortunately, he would never know, her baby would grow up without the presence of its father.
"Are you okay, Doctor?"
"Yes, we are well, thanks, "She answered, receiving a strange look from the pilot. That's when she realized that she had said 'we' instead of "I." She would have to be careful to keep her condition a secret until it was safe.
When the plane is already in the air and she saw the clouds through the window, Rachel caressed her belly and whispered, "It's just me and you now, my angel."
Meters below, Tom watched the small plane until it disappeared in the distance. "Goodbye, Rachel. Be safe," he whispered under his breath. A tear sliding down his cheek.
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Author's Note: Apologies for the delay in updating! It is totally my fault. I had to do some travelling for a few months. The writer, acalanto, had this chapter months ahead already. It was my editing that took a long time. I hope you all enjoy this story! - JOYS of October.