Chapter Twenty Six

veritas valebit - 'The truth will prevail'

January 8th 1989

15: 36pm

Elizabeth sat on the floor in Henry's lounge as she groaned in frustration over the stack of books in front of her. She diverted her attention towards the window for a few moments and scrunched her face up at the rain that lashed down outside. It pinged onto the window and bounced onto the ground with such force the windows shook. It sent a shiver down her spine as she thought about the fact she had to head back to university tomorrow and had to venture out into the rain. The rain at times can be therapeutic, it has the ability to wash anything away if it had enough force behind itself, but there were also times where venturing into the rain would just leave you with a cold, dark and damp feeling; a feeling of dread and uncertainty, much like the feelings which had consumed Henry since Christmas Day.

'Penny for those' Henry interrupted her as he walked through into the lounge holding a mug of tea for her. She turned and smiled upon seeing him and held out her hands for the mug.

'I was just thinking that were heading back to normality tomorrow, back to classes and studying and not able to spend all day with one another' she smiled a little sadly

'Hmm, I was thinking that, but I am sure we will slip back into our older routine and we will see one another regularly' he tried to offer her some reassurance

'Oh I know that, Its not an issue I have just really enjoyed spending time with you, and your family. It just made me feel so happy, it's contentment I suppose'' she admitted shyly. Henry placed his mug onto the coffee table in front of them and cupped her face in his hands

'You Elizabeth McCord make me the happiest, most content i've ever felt in my entire life' he whispered and her heart smiled. 'and Don't forget, I finish classes completely the end of march, then I have two weeks off so we have all that time together'

'Yes but then you've got to move down to the marine base for your thirteen weeks training, and then god knows after that, I just know you're going to be deployed' she sighed heavily, she broke away from Henrys hands on her cheeks and looked down into her mug, the steam rising and hitting her face as she inhaled.

'We don't know about my deployment yet' he lied. Elizabeth shook her head and her eyes walked back up his body towards his face

'Its so stupid, will they not tell you soon? I mean I looked it up and protocol suggests that for your first deployment you should be told months before, it shouldn't be like this, they're not following policy and procedure' she argued

'I know babe, come on let's not stress about the finer details, we will deal with it when it comes, we cannot do anything about it if we don't know yet can we?' He spoke and Elizabeth watched as his nostrils flared.

'What?' He asked as her eyes narrowed and her facial expression changed

'Nothing, just studying your face, your nostrils flare when you're talking about your deployment….Sorry I've been reading a lot of literature about body language and things like that ahead of my tests for the CIA in a few months. Ignore me' she brushed it aside thinking the literature had gotten to her. Most people flare their nostrils when lying, and Henry wouldn't be lying to her. Would he?

'Well lets get your head out of those books, time to put these ones away and sit and relax for the evening' he ordered picking up her note pads and closing some books.

'Finnneee' she moaned slowing standing up

'ohh, ow cramp' she cried out as she gripped onto him for support. Henry laughed

'Honestly, how long have you been sat down there, you need to stretch more often' he shook his head laughing at her

'I do, in the summer. I am not exercising and stretching in this weather' she huffed finally standing up straight

'There are other ways to stretch' he teased her, whispered in a more seductive tone

'No McCord! We need to sleep tonight, Honestly when we first met I thought you were a real gentleman' she teased taking her things and putting them into her bag ready for the morning

'Who me? Oh I am a real gentleman, I'll treat you right but It won't stop me getting filthy in the bedroom' he heard her groan a little as images of their bedroom antics flooded her mind and her core.

'Henry stop it!' She laughed

'Fine, I'll try another form of dirty talk on you. Chinese?' He asked and her eyes lit up

'Always!'

Henry smiled and walked into the kitchen to sort out getting a take out for them. Elizabeth walked in not too long after him and snaked her arms around his waist. Henry could sense an energy shift and turned in her arms to look down at her

'Whats the matter babe?'

'We will be ok won't we?' She questioned

'What do you mean?'

'When you're deployed, we will be ok won't we? We can get through it and still be as strong?' Her insecurities crept up inside her. 'I mean you're going to be away with the marines, as soon as we get used to that I'll be away with the CIA and what if this whole thing goes wrong, Henry I don't want that. I want you. Here, by my side, for forever, however long that is' her eyes glistened as she spoke

'Listen to me Elizabeth. I am not going to let anything destroy us. It doesn't matter If I am deployed for one week, one month or one year, my feelings will not change for you. You're the one for me and I will do everything I can to protect what we have' he smiled leaning down and kissing her lips tenderly. She rose up on her tip toes to meet his lips.

'Do you promise Henry? You promise that you being deployed won't ruin what we have?'

'I promise I will never hurt you Elizabeth'

Henry wrapped his arms around her tightly. A hug is always a nice gesture and sentiment. It allows you to feel safe in the arms of another, or to comfort another. It's a warm and comfortable embrace to lose yourself in for a moment. However it also gives you ability to hide your face, so the other person cannot detect your true emotions. Hugs can be just as deceitful as the person giving them. Much like the rain, it can look picturesque and sound like a steady rhythm but in reality its often cold, damp and leaves you feeling deflated once all is said and done.