Chapter Fourteen:

Shaw and Ian stood over Kelsie's unconscious form while Ben and Riley tried to have a decent discussion.

"Ben, treasure hunting is dangerous. I thought Shaw's near death proved that to you," Riley argued.

"Treasure hunting also revises history," Ben countered.

"What is it with you and history? You're obsessed!"

"Passionate."

"No, obsessed! The world's gonna keep going even if you don't keep treasure hunting."

"Yes, but you know I don't work desk jobs."

"Then write a book."

"That's your thing, and according to Ian, Nathaniel's now armed and dangerous. He just needs page forty-seven."

"What's that got to do with anything?"

"Everything."

"Just leave that freak to the FBI, will ya? Anyone who attempts to kill the President is bad news."

Ian opened the door to the hospital room and said to the two, "She's awake."

"How're ya feelin'?" Riley asked when they entered.

"Okay. I'm not sleep deprived, so..."

"You're not dead either," Ian commented, adding, "I'd rather have you sleep deprived than dead."

"I got shot in the shoulder. How could I be dead?"

"You could've bled to death," Shaw supplied, to the amazement of almost everyone present. "What? I know a few things about being near death."

"The doctors say she'll be released tomorrow morning."

"Wait. Where do I-?"

"My offer still stands."

"Okay."

"You're letting her stay with you?" Ben asked.

"Is there any reason why I shouldn't?" Pause. "That seems to be settled."

AAA

The next morning, Kelsie changed into the clothes Ian brought her, and he again launched into a bout of worrying. "I'm fine. I will be fine. Stop worrying so much," she snapped, effectively ending the conversation.

She rode with Ian, all the while musing about what to do with her life. Step one involved catching up with Nathaniel, but where would she go from there?

"Kelsie, I have a question for you."

"Shoot."

"Will you...will you be my girlfriend?"

"I...I thought...you and Shaw were..."

"That's different. You and I in an official relationship is more socially acceptable."

"Is that the only reason?"

"That's one of the lesser ones. My main reason is this: I still love you. I love you in a way I couldn't love anyone else."

"I love you, too, but I don't want to hurt you."

"Shouldn't you know it takes a lot to do such a thing?"

"Yeah, I guess I should." Kelsie took a moment to dwell on the original question, trying to figure out what she wanted when it came to Ian. Finally, she said, "I can't. I'm going to leave the city, and possibly the state, soon. I need to find a new job, a new place, a new scene, and I can't stay here."

Ian sighed, already conceding his defeat in the matter. "Alright. Are you able enough to ride your motorcycle?"

"Yeah."

"Then with my luck, today is the last day you will ever see me."

AAA

Ian watched Kelsie ride away until her taillights disappeared from view before he pulled out of the GoldenView parking lot. He wanted to turn on the radio, but he feared the tear-jerking tunes that usually seemed to correlate with moments like this.

He pulled into a parking spot toward the end of his drive, closed his eyes, and willed his hands to stop shaking. Within the hour, he knew, Kelsie's heroic rescue of the President of the United States would be all over first the Internet and then every major news station in the country.

Eventually, Ian gave up and walked from the SUV to the front door of the mansion. The four other occupents all flashed curious, concerned glances his way, but no one wanted to comment. He ascended the stairs and crawled into bed, wishing to end the day as quickly as possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~THE END...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...FOR NOW.