Pretty pretty please take the time to comment- I love reading all the comments I get, they motivate me to finish the story! Thanks so much!
"Mac- you can't expect me to sit here and do nothing. You're out there and you're going to need me if you want to bring these guys down. Mac! I understand! But from what you're telling me I could very well die anyways if they don't get what they want! Mac- be reasonable, wouldn't Robin do the same? Wouldn't you? So there. Fine. Call me back when you figure out where these men are and how to shut down the system- also have you gotten a hold of Luke yet? I told you! Sam says that they were after these guys when the crash happened as a favor to Luke. Luke must know something! Well call me back then. I promise I'll be careful. Bye."
Ewan watched as Elizabeth spoke on the phone with Mac. She had her hair in a loose ponytail and strands had fallen loose, framing her ivory face. She was trying to be calm about the situation, but her eyes were wide and betrayed the underlying anxiety he knew she was feeling.
"You know, of all people here with me right now, I'm glad it's you" Elizabeth smiled looking up at him.
"Really? Not even Jason?" Ewan nodded towards the sleeping man in the bed in front of them. He knew based on their sessions how much Elizabeth had trusted Jason.
"No. Jason- well, he's let me down. I understand why he did it, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt. Jason's good at being a hero, he thrives on it, but you can't be everybody's hero- then you'd be too busy to let somebody be yours. You on the other hand, you make me feel calm. I don't feel like you're trying to save me, in fact it's quite the opposite I feel like you show me that I don't need to be saved by anyone to survive. I don't know how to explain it but it's nice to feel like being alone, myself, doesn't mean that I'm messed up."
"Well once you take stock of who you are as an individual, then you can make room for somebody to share your life with. Relationships between a man and woman," Ewan gestured to them both as an example "marriages and such, they aren't healthy when either partner is "saving" the other. Relationships work when both parties "help" each other. The dependence isn't violent and ever-changing. It's as simple as falling in love- it's like breathing. You need it but it doesn't choke you. It's beautiful."
They both smiled and an electric moment passed between them. Elizabeth hadn't noticed before the honey highlights in his blonde curls and the way his blue eyes contrasted with his lightly tanned skin. Ewan admired how her lush eyelashes framed her sapphire eyes and how her light pink blush brought out the mahogany brown color of her hair. Her eyes so reminded him of the water...
"So" Ewan coughed, "that was Mac Scorpio?"
"Yeah" Elizabeth looked down, and Ewan noticed a darker pink blush shadow her face. "He wants me to be safe, but apparently the guys holding the building hostage have enough plastique to bring down the house. They're looking for two guys who were being operated on when the building was shut down."
"Wow- I wonder what these guys have that he wants them so badly?"
"That's what Mac's trying to find out. I know that Luke knows something about it. But I don't have his number and Lucky didn't leave me a way to contact him in Ireland."
"What? He didn't leave the mother of his child with a way to contact him directly? And he's in another country?"
"He probably didn't want to be bothered with calls from me. You know, after I faked the breakdown." Elizabeth looked up at Ewan guiltily.
"Elizabeth" Ewan placed his hands on either side of her shoulders, "that is no excuse for being an irresponsible parent! I wish you had told me earlier." He shook his head releasing her.
"You couldn't have done anything. Anyways, I'm really a single mom now. Whatever was left between me and Lucky I know now is dead. Going to therapy- and you- has shown me that. What I thought was love was my own fear of being alone. I needed somebody who would love me and save me from myself. I thought Lucky could do that because he saved me long ago. But now I know I don't need to be saved from who I am, especially not by Lucky. I just have to accept who I am- flaws and all."
"Do you think you can do that?"
"Well- I'm going to therapy aren't I?" Elizabeth laughed, smiling.
Ewan smiled. She was making a lot of improvements in the short time that they had been together.
"So what are you planning to do with Mac?"
"Well I want to see if I can shut down the system myself. Or at least open the operating rooms-"
"But Mac doesn't want to get you involved" Ewan guessed.
"Yeah he thinks it's too dangerous. He said that my boys need a mom to go home too- and he didn't want to be the one to tell them that I won't be coming home." Elizabeth frowned.
"He's right you know" Ewan said seriously.
Elizabeth eyed Ewan and chewed her lip thoughtfully.
"But you won't stop me?" Elizabeth questioned warily.
"No" Ewan beamed, dazzling Elizabeth momentarily "just the opposite- I'm here to help you."
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile back.