NEVER ANOTHER
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ANNA'S APARTMENT
Anna paced around her living room. She was nervous; it suddenly hit her that she might die. She wanted to call her sister and her mother but at this late hour a call would worry them. But she had to hear their voices. She picked up the phone.
"Ma, hang on." She said and conferenced Teresa. "You both there?"
"Yes" They replied.
"Sorry about the hour but I had to call." Anna said.
"What's wrong?" Lucia asked.
"Pico, this better be important." Teresa said.
"Oh, I would think the engagement ring on my finger is important." Anna said.
Both women shouted into the phone. Anna could not understand a word they were saying, but silent tears ran down her cheeks and she listened to them.
"Listen, I'm sorry I called so late. We just got back and Clay had to leave. He plans on asking you, Ma. I love you guys and will talk to you tomorrow." Anna said and disconnected the call.
Anna wiped her tears and walked into her kitchen. "I need a drink." She said and opened the cabinet to get a glass. She prayed that Pierce was able to reach Clay before he left. She was about to open the liquor cabinet door when she noticed a wire running down the side. Carefully she put her snifter down and inspected the wire. It's the stereo, she thought as she exhaled. She decided against having a drink for the moment and went to the bedroom. She suddenly realized all she had on was Clay's dress shirt.
Anna called John Pierce she wanted to know if he contacted Clay. She was scared and Pierce could hear it in her voice. Ten minutes later John Pierce was pulling into her lot; he parked and stood outside his car waiting for Webb. The drive from Andrews was about 40 minutes. He waited patiently. He had already placed a call to the Bomb Squad; they were there when Webb arrived.
"What the hell is going on?" Webb demanded. "Have you talked to her again?"
"No, have you?" Pierce lied.
"I tried to call, the line was busy." Clay said. "I need to get in there."
"Webb, let the pros handle this." Pierce said.
"Why is this happening? Why did you get her involved in?" Webb shouted.
Pierce explained everything to him; including the fact that she had called him earlier to say she had changed her mind. Clay listened to everything. He wanted to wring Pierce's neck at that moment, but it would have to wait. He needed to keep his focus on Anna.
The men started to walk towards her apartment; a flash of light, which knocked them to the ground, blinded them. Webb was the first to get up and started to run to the debris. Luckily Pierce was there and grabbed him.
"Webb, stop." Pierce shouted.
"I need to get in there." Webb shouted.
"Look at it. There's nothing there." Pierce said sadly.
"This is your fault." Webb yelled and belted Pierce. Knowing the pain that Webb was in, Pierce did not strike back.
Pierce started shouting orders to the men. "Webb, I had no idea this would happen."
"You knew her history. You knew they had tried to kill her before, you saw the same file I did." Webb stated. "How could you do this?"
"Think for a minute, don't put the personal spin on this. Think about it from a professional view. You would have done the same." Pierce said.
"I would have never endangered a civilian life." Webb shouted.
"Webb, I hate to say this. You've done worse." Pierce said calmly.
Webb couldn't speak. He stood there and watched as the flames consumed Anna's home. His Anna was gone.
Daylight came and the flames were gone, there was smoke and debris everywhere. Whatever bomb had been used; destroyed everything; there was nothing left. The unit next to Anna's had also been destroyed; luckily the residents were on vacation.
Clay stood there watching them work. It had been hours since he spoke. Pierce had called the Director of the CIA and advised him of the situation. Pierce wasn't surprised when the Director said he knew Webb was in love; everyone had noticed the change in him. The Director in turn placed a call of his own, to AJ.
Bud and Harriet were the first to arrive. They saw Clay and immediately went to him.
"Clay, if there is anything you need just ask." Harriet said. She got no response.
"Clay, do you want us to call anyone?" Bud asked. Silence, he just stared at the smoking embers.
They saw Mac and Harm drive up and walked to them. "He's not saying a word." Harriet told them.
"He won't." Harm said shaking his head.
"Where's the Admiral?" Bud asked.
"He drove to tell Anna's family in Fredericksburg." Harm replied.
"He knows them?" Bud questioned.
"It's a long story, one that I thought would have a happier ending." Harm said. Mac didn't say anything; she simply nodded to the group and walked over to Clay.
"Clay?" Mac said taking his hand.
"She loves the ring." Clay said without looking at Mac.
"Clay, I'm sorry." Mac said.
"I should have left her in Italy." Clay said.
"No, you did the right thing." Mac said.
"If I had left her in Italy…" Clay began.
"You would have never given her the ring, you wouldn't have had this past week." Mac said with a small smile.
"Please don't give me that better to have loved and lost crap." Webb snapped.
"I wasn't." Mac said softly. "Clay, I don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything." Webb stated. Mac turned and walked away.
"Sir, I think I found something." A fire inspector called out.
Webb walked closer to the wreckage, followed by the group.
"This area must have been the bathroom." The inspector said.
"It was." Clay replied.
"I found this in the debris." He said and handed over a ring. "Wasn't sure what it was at first, it just shined up through the smoke…"
"Thank you," Harm said cutting him off.
Webb looked at the ring. It was her engagement ring. "Did you find any remains?" Clay asked walking towards the spot.
"Sir, I don't think you want to go there right now, it's not a pretty…" The inspector said.
"Thank you." Harm said again cutting him off. It wasn't the inspector's fault; he had no idea that for Clay this was personal. "Clay, wait."
Clay ignored Harm's request and walked over to the spot. Under the debris, he could see a figure face down. It wasn't recognizable but the singed hair was all he needed to see. He bent over and tried to move some of the debris. It was at this point that Harm and Bud moved to his side.
"Clay, don't." Harm said quietly.
"Back off Rabb." Clay snapped.
"Don't do this to yourself. She's gone." Harm said sadly.
"She's not gone. We're getting married." Clay shouted and tried to lift some debris.
"Mr. Webb, let us get you out of here." Bud said reaching for his shoulder.
Clay shook him off and just glared at Bud. He stood there until the recovery crew removed Anna's body. He followed them to the Coroner's car that was waiting.
"Hold it a minute." Clay said. He was about to pull back the tarp that covered her when Mac stepped in.
"Clay, don't." Mac said. "Let it be."
Somehow a bond had developed between Mac and Clay since Switzerland; he looked at her and nodded. How was he going to continue? His friends stood around him in silence, there were no words that could be offered.
NEW YORK CITY
One week later – Church of the Blessed Sacrament
The church was filled with more flowers than anyone had ever seen. There were offerings from family as well as friends. At the front of the church was the casket; it was covered with a beautiful blanket of Sterling Roses. They were from Clay. He sat in the first pew with Lucia, Teresa and her family. Behind them sat Mac, Harm, AJ and Porter. The members of the Paparini family, members of Anna's extended family and more friends than you can imagine occupied the rest of the church. Father Michael came over and offered comforting words before the service. The Mass began and soft weeping could be heard throughout. Clay sat there and listened; he had no emotion on his face. At one point during the service he turned his head and looked up to the balcony, he could hear Anna singing "Oh Holy Night." Teresa noticed and gave his hand a squeeze, but got no response.
The service concluded; Harm and AJ along with Angelo, Vinny and some other cousins serving as pallbearers, escorted the casket out of the church. Clay followed directly behind with Lucia. They followed in limos to the cemetery for the interment.
Anna was being buried next to her father. Clay stood there as Father Michael spoke; he had yet to shed a tear. He heard the words "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…" and just shook his head. That was the most expressive thing he did. Father Michael ended the service with the Lord's Prayer. After he said Amen, he motioned to the mourners to place a flower on the casket. Lucia indicated that Clay should go first; he shook his head and watched as everyone else went before him.
After the last person laid their flower, Clay was alone at the gravesite. He placed a single red rose on the casket. "There will never be another." Finally, tears rolled down his face. "I love you Anna." He turned from the grave and walked away, never looking back.