The New Assignment
Chapter 5
Maddie was thoroughly enjoying having Mike with her. He was easy to get along with, happy-go-lucky and very supportive of Maddie. He was dragging his feet on finding a place and Maddie wasn't complaining. While they slept next to each other night, they had yet to have sex, but Maddie didn't even care. For a change, it was nice to have a relationship that wasn't solely based on sex.
One night after she got off work, she smiled at the set dinner table and how Mike was in the kitchen; cooking something. He was a talented cook, shocking her a bit and she had enjoyed hot meals every night she got home. He gave her a kiss and helped her out of her jacket.
"Steak bites and baked potatoes, salad, and for dessert; chocolate soufflés. And the red wine you like." Mike told her.
"Sounds and smells delicious. Do I have a moment to change out of this?" Maddie asked.
"Yep. The potatoes aren't quite done yet. I also made cucumber Tzatziki for the topping on the potatoes." Mike answered. Maddie noticed then; he seemed a bit out of sorts and she wondered why.
"Perfect. I'll be right back." Maddie answered before giving Mike a kiss. She went into her bedroom and immediately noticed the suitcase laying on the bed and Mike's clothes sitting around. It worried her, but she changed into yoga pants and a t-shirt and walked back into the living area. "What's with the suitcase?" Maddie asked.
"I should have said before you went in there. I got a call that some remains were found in Virginia and Katie and Christine were positively identified. I have to go back and claim their bodies…remains, rather." Mike explained, sounding very clinical.
"Hannah?" Maddie asked quietly.
"Her…remains weren't found. There were only the two skeletons found but she is probably somewhere close…her remains…not her." Mike said, obviously struggling. Not knowing what else to say, she pulled him into her arms and clung to him. "I knew the call would come but it surprised me." Mike said into her shoulder.
"When do you leave?" Maddie asked.
"As soon as possible. I know you just went back to work, but I would really like for you to come along if you can?" Mike asked. It shocked Maddie.
"Me?" Maddie asked.
"Yeah. Only if you can. Its just…Tom is in treatment and Russ is busy, so I doubt he'll make it; so I'll be there by myself. I know that sounds insecure…but honestly; I'm not sure how I'm going to handle it. I know I was expecting it, but the reality?" Mike remarked.
"Okay. I'll call Mariah and see if she can cover my showing tomorrow." Maddie answered. She gave Mike another kiss before stepping back into the bedroom. Mariah immediately agreed to cover and to take as long as she needed, which helped Maddie. By the time she walked back into the living area, Mike was sitting at the table, staring into space. "She's going to cover me. Said to take as long as I needed. Once we finish and wash things up; I'll pack. How did you plan on getting there?...Where's there?" Maddie questioned.
"Virginia…literally five miles from our old house. They…the remains were found in the woods adjoining the park where I had searched for them." Mike answered. It was a bit disturbing how he referred to his wife and daughters as 'remains' and heartbreaking that he had to correct himself.
"You couldn't have known." Maddie answered, not knowing what else to say.
"That's the problem; I've always known. I just didn't want to accept it. I was a cop…so I knew. My instincts…I knew the chances of them surviving was nil, but a foolish part of me held out hope." Mike remarked.
"No, Mike; not foolish. If you had given up hope; you would have never been able to do the things you've done. I realize that you would have gladly sacrificed your career to have your wife and kids back, but you couldn't have done these things…saved the world, built and rebuilt the Navy countless times…you would have…been like Tom. The difference between you and him is that you continued to hope. You might have known the logical side as a cop but you were being a husband and father." Maddie said.
"And now?" Mike asked, with a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"That I don't know." Maddie answered.
"I keep hoping I get a call that they've found Hannah's remains too. So I can just go through this once. I have…done this so many times. When I was able to call home from the Arctic and found out about Lucas. When I couldn't find them at the park or house. When the private investigators told me to give up. When I wrote the last check to find them. When I hallucinated about them in the Med. This time feels final. But, without Hannah; there's an incomplete piece to the puzzle." Mike said.
"Mike; I remember after the cure was delivered, there was an article from Doctor Scott saying that as many as one in four people could be immune to the Red Flu. Obviously; Christine, Katie, and Lucas weren't and I could be wrong for even mentioning this; but what if Hannah was immune? She was awfully young so she could be absorbed into the foster care system easily." Maddie asked; knowing she probably shouldn't give him false hope.
"I suppose there is a possibility, but I would think she would have been located. They were testing all the kids in foster care to see if their DNA matched anyone's and mine would have popped because of being in the Armed Services." Mike mentioned.
"Unless they haven't gotten to Hannah yet? That was going to be a massive project." Maddie remarked.
"I can't do this again. I have to just accept that her body…skeleton…whatever; hasn't been found yet. I've been down this road a thousand times at least, and its not healthy for me. No, I prefer to just accept that my baby is at peace somewhere…if there's even a Heaven. That's where she would be." Mike insisted. Maddie had been a bit surprised when he slammed his fork down on the table.
"Right; sorry. I shouldn't have said anything." Maddie said. She reached across and patted his hand, hoping to calm him.
"Its…okay. I just don't want to talk about that possibility again." Mike answered.
"Understood. So, do you want to sleep and get a bit of a nap before driving…I'm assuming you want to drive?" Maddie asked.
"That was my plan." Mike answered.
"Alright. It really is delicious." Maddie answered, hoping to take Mike's mind off of whatever was going through it.
"Thanks. I would like to be on the road by three am so I figured we'd eat and then go sleep." Mike answered.
"Of course." Maddie said. She wasn't comfortable with how awkward things were now, but she hoped Mike would lean on her.
A half hour later, post showers and cleaning things up; Maddie settled next to him in bed. She was afraid he was still mad, but despite being half asleep; he wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled the back of her neck. It felt easy and natural, but Maddie still was very burdened for Mike. She just wasn't sure what he would accept in the way of reassurances but she knew she wanted to be there for him.