Chapter 12 - Reconciliation

If Lara could have seen and heard what was being said at both ends of the conversation in Chase's apartment, she would have smiled - a lot!

"So Mr Carver, have you acquired the North and South pieces?"

"Not exactly"

"What does that mean exactly Mr Carver?  You either have or you haven't.  Which is it?"

"Well….errr"

"I thought as much.  Mr Carver….."

"Please, call me Chase"

"Mr Carver, we are not paying you to dally around in pursuit of your quarry or your fellow Tomb Raiders. We are paying you a considerable amount of money to find the pieces, find the key, and find out what Miss Munroe has to do with all of this. Do you understand me Mr Carver. You are in a lot of trouble with our council"

"Look..Mr, whatever your name is. You're paying me to do this job. I don't know how you know what's going on. I get paid to keep my mouth shut.  I just happened to bump into Miss Croft"

"You didn't keep your mouth shut to her. And you are being paid to find the pieces.  For years, myself and fellow members of the council that hired you have been in pursuit of the West piece, the 4th piece that went missing.  The East piece we believe is still with the key.  We know that the North and South pieces were acquired by Miss Munroe and she knows exactly what they are. It is important that we find the sapphire empire, before she, or Miss Croft do.  Do you understand. You have exactly 1 week to find the pieces, and discover the location of the key"

"Do you know where the fourth piece is"

"We are working to it…but it doesn't concern you"

The phone at the other clicked down. Chase put his end of the phone down.

"Sleazy fucking bastard"

The phone rang again.  Chase thought it might be some of his friends at the plant, helping him out on this project.  He had got back earlier this morning.  He had been at a meeting in Egypt, and he had seen Lara's jet there, and one lonely soldier.  He didn't say anything to the council member - as far as they were concerned, he was just after the Croft woman to get her into bed.  They didn't know she had teamed up with Lara, so he didn't mention it.  But the soldier on guard had seen the men, and recognised Chase from a description Lara had given him.  He had also seen them shoot the airport guard and hide his body.  "No Witnesses" was what the council member had said.  Chase hung his head when he thought of how the soldier has been heartlessly shot in the back from a point blank range.  He was just kid.  He felt even more guilty when he remembered they had given him the "honour" of torching the jet.  He felt so guilty.

"Shit!"

He had just remembered he had left his jacket on a rock by the jet. He'd taken it off when they gave him the rocket launcher to blast the plane with.  Lara, when she went back to the plane, would know that jacket, and she knew where he lived.  She was gonna be pissed off. 

"Time to get out of here" he said out loud to himself.  He got out of his rickety old chair, turned around, and pulled up short because there were the barrels of a couple of Desert Eagles pointed straight at him.

"Too late Mr Carver"

He gulped

"Hey Lara"

"You left something at my jet"

"I haven't been in Egypt. I swear"

"Who said anything about Egypt?"

"Shit"

"You killed him you bastard"

"I swear, I didn't.  That wasn't me.  That was the other guy.  They made me torch your jet but that was all. Oh Shit!"

"I don't believe you.  You fucking bastard.  You killed James. He was my godson. You bastard. I hate you I hate you I hate you!!"

"Lara please"

Lara was positively screaming now. Hysterical.  He had never seen her like this at all.  He thought he had seen her bad last time he'd pissed her off.  He looked at her closely, his feelings for her all coming together at once. Tears were streaming down her face, and yet, her hands remained as steady as ever"

"Get away from me"

"Lara..please, please.  I swear"

 "You scumbag.  Get away from me.  I hate you. I wish you would die"

"Why don't you kill me then"

"It's a good idea"

She primed the gun, held it to his heart.  But her hands started to shake.

"Come one Lara. Pull the God Damn trigger"

"I CAN'T!!!!!"  she screamed

Chase leaped to her as her hands dropped. He grabbed the guns from her and threw them across the room.  Lara sank to the ground, and he sank down with her. He cradled her head against his chest, while sobs racked through her body.  He rocked her like a small child, feeling nothing but pity for her.

The two of them sat like that for half an hour, Lara's sobs gradually becoming quieter.  Chase continued to rock her until her noticed that she was silent. He looked down.  Lara had fallen asleep. Chase somehow managed to stand up, picked Lara up, and carried her through to his bedroom.  He laid her on the bed, and then covered her with his duvet.  Kissing her on the forehead, he turned out the light, and shut the door.

~~:~~:~~

Lara woke up. The sun was shining through the window. She was in a strange bed, but fully clothed.  She noticed a faint scent…an aftershave which she recognised.  She leaped out the bed, and then shivered.  She was in Chase's apartment. Then she panicked.  Her guns were gone. She opened the door silently, and heard the noise of a shower running.  

"Good" she thought. 

"I can make my escape"

She tiptoed as quietly as possible, got to the door, when…

"Leaving so soon Cherie?"

She turned around.  Chase was standing there, only a towel wrapped around his waist.  His body was wet, and water ran in rivulets down his chest.  Lara noticed with an ache in her stomach, that Chase, although a total bastard, had a great body.  His tanned torso had strong muscles, and he didn't have an ounce of surplus flesh on him.

"Last night?" she said

"We didn't, did we?  I mean, nothing happened did it?"

"No" said Chase, completely honestly.

"You almost killed me, but nothing like what you mean happened. OK?"

"Yeah.  Ironic, isn't it?"

"What?"

"The one you just can't live with, ends up being the one you can't live without"

"What do you mean, you can't live without me"

Lara blushed

"Never mind"

She opened the door to go out. 

"Oh, Chase.  Thanks."

"No problem Cherie.  See you round?"

"Yeah"

Lara smiled, and walked out the door, shutting it behind her.

Chase stared in amazement, and went to get dressed.