Chapter Nine

Henry watched as everyone swiftly filtered out the door, his gaze brushing over Conrads as he inhaled deeply.

'Henry, I know this is tough-'

'Do you? Do you have any idea just how tough this actually is? Has Lydia ever been kidnapped? Has she ever been right in the middle of a coup in Iran? Has she been in India the moment an earthquake struck? Has she? YOU DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA!' Henry gasped, his anger infiltrating his thoughts. He paced the room back and forth, the palms of his hands covering his mouth as he took a few seconds to inhale deeply. 'I bet When Vincent Marsh's plane went down you knew what was happening within minutes, why can you not work at the same goddam pace now!' He snapped, his words echoing around the room as his hands trembled, his breathing shaking.

'I want to be in the situation room' Henry continued and Conrad sighed sadly, he slowly shook his head, denying Henry's request once again.

'I can't let you go in there Henry, Elizabeth would never forgive me' Conrad spoke

'Don't, do not use her as an excuse' his words were full of grit as they fell from his lips.

'Why do you want to be in the situation room? Do you really think you're going to be able to cope with any information that comes up in there? I sure as hell don't think I am going to stomach the information, and we don't even know what that looks like yet, let alone you Henry. For god sakes Henry, you need to be around I get that, I will read you in on everything that much I can promise, but you have to let them do their job. We're all emotionally involved in this, you more than anyone and any decision that has to be made in that room, even insignificant ones like, I don't know blowing a door open to get to her; Henry that's going to eat you up inside, you will agonise over every detail and you do not need that information in your head. The kids are going to need at least one stable parent on Elizabeth's return to Henry. Don't make it be her' Conrad's words fell on Henry heavily, like someone had placed his heart within a vice, slowly turning and tightening.

Henry dipped his head and used his fingers to scratch his forehead, words evading him. Conrad spoke the truth, he knew that, but he needed to be there, he needed to know what was happening, He just needed to know she was alive.

'What if she doesn't return?' The terrifying possibility wouldn't leave him. His vision blurred and his mouth dried instantly as the words fell from mind to mouth. He stood motionless, completely and utterly lost. That's where his anger came from, it was a secondary emotion to his feeling of loss and somehow guilt for letting this happen. Guilty that people let this happen to her, and as the hours continued to roll by and no answers surfaced he knew all too well what that meant; he was a marine after all, he had been in many search and rescue situations, the longer it takes, the less hope there is.

'It's not an option' Conrad cleared his throat. Henry's limbs felt heavy, his arms hanging at his sides as his back bent forward slightly, his gaze emptying as he looked at Conrad.

'But wha-'

'Not an option Henry' he repeated, refusing to entertain the idea that one of his oldest friends and secretary of state was not going to return. 'I can arrange for you to wait outside the situation room, I cannot promise how long we will be in there, it could be hours Henry but, if you feel you want to be around then that's ok with me' Conrad soften and Henry nodded, sniffling his emotions away, settling on the middle way.

'I heard you had words with Ms Tolliver and Mr Moran?' Conrad changed the subject, trying his best to offer some form of debrief before they both left the room. Henry chuckled nervously and pressed his lips together.

'A little, I might have been too harsh' he sighed 'I was acting out of anger I-'

'From what I've heard it sounds like you made a good judgment call. I have to admit I have been wondering how this has happened, and who is to blame. Ms Tolliver and Mr Moran should have been more focused and responsive. The thought of letting them go has crossed my mind' He twisted his face, trying to find his own peace of mind over this particular decision within Henry.

'I don't think Elizabeth will forgive you if you did that Sir, as much as I am incredibly angry at them, furious even. I know Elizabeth won't blame them at all, Deep down I wonder how we can even blame them. He had Chloroform, surely he'd just use it on them if they got in the way? They managed to get into the State Department and take Elizabeth with very little trace, they're smart' Henry concluded and Conrad chewed his lips, hesitantly sighing at the truth

``We just have to be smarter,'' he sighed.

'Please bring her home' Henry pleaded, 'I am going to go and get some air, maybe a coffee' Henry resorted, his body tired of the harrowing reality

'When you're done, make your way to the situation room, I'll let them know you're going to wait around for us' Conrad reassured him and watched as the broken man slipped outside the door.

Once outside Henry pulled his phones from his pocket, he placed his 'everyday' phone back into his pocket, keeping his personal one in hand, quickly tapping out a message to Stevie.

To: Stevie

From: Dad

Still no news, hope you're all ok.

Ring if you need me.

Love you guys. Dad x

He slipped his phone back into his pocket and fixed himself a fresh coffee before taking residence outside the situation room. His hands slipped around the coffee-to-go container, his head dipping as a moment of quietness approached him. His mind was plagued with thoughts about Elizabeth, endless questions and an infinite amount of scenarios playing on a loop, his only remaining thought was that he loved her, and wanted her home, no matter what. Of course with love comes worry, and Henry had an abundance of love for Elizabeth, his worry for her safety surpassing that threshold.

He squeezed his eyes shut as the tiredness attempted to creep in; the last thirty-eight hours had been harrowing, these next few, minutes, hours, days even would continue to test him. They'd either pass as a blip in the course of his life, or they would be the final trauma that broke him. Images of what could be happening to Elizabeth flashed repeatedly, the panic and uncertainty rising in his chest as he swallowed hard, willing his eyes to remain dry and his mind focused.

Hours continued to pass by, Henry constantly looking down at his watch, every single moment without her charted. Forty-hours after her kidnapping, he reminded himself. Forty-three hours, forty-seven hours; his mind swirled as his eyes became heavy, his eyelids trying to force themselves shut but Henry kept refusing, he couldn't sleep, not until she was safe. He shifted in his seat trying to release some of the numbness within his legs as he glanced at his watch once more; it was approaching one in the morning, fifty-two hours since she was taken. His frustrations grew immensely, they had been in the situation room continuously for they had been in the situation room with very little movement in and out for fourteen hours now. He knew that was never good news, either they didn't have anything, or they had something but it was a far bigger operation than anticipated. Henry didn't know which option he favoured.

His thoughts were broken by the sound of his phone ringing. He reached inside his jacket pocket slowly and glanced at the screen expecting to see one of his kids name's flash on the screen. Caller ID: Unknown Caller, the phone cut off after a few seconds, and Henry shook his head, assuming it was someone with the wrong number. He checked his messages, opening the one he sent to Stevie earlier, checking it had delivered before locking the screen and moving to slip it back in his pocket. Before it slipped from his fingers the phone rang again; Caller ID: Unknown Caller. Henry watched the screen light up before him, this time the ringing continued before reaching his voicemail, cutting off and ringing again; Caller ID: Unknown Caller. He didn't know how to explain it, he didn't know what but in that instant Henry knew something was wrong…