Part Seven

He rolled over one more time, tossing and turning. Jeff had been trying for hours now to get some sleep, knowing it wouldn't come. He turned over once again, looking over at the digital clock on the nightstand. The display read 3:35. So much for getting any rest he thought. Peering through the darkness, he looked over at Matt's bed. He wondered if his brother was doing any better at getting some rest. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he realized Matt wasn't there. Jeff looked across the hotel suite they were sharing towards the bathroom door. Nope, not there. The door was open and the lights were out.
Looking further into the room, Jeff caught sight of the curtains blowing slightly through the sliding glass door. Jeff relaxed a little, realizing Matt was out on the balcony. Pulling himself out of his bed, he walked over to the door.

Matt Hardy was sitting on the balcony in one of the posh patio chairs. The light from the full moon cast a beam across the area. He was awake, staring up at the stars, seemingly deep in thought. "You can't sleep either, little brother?" he asked, not even needing to look at Jeff to know he was standing in the doorway.

"No, not really. I try, but I just end up feeling guilty. I mean, I know I need to sleep for her sake, but it just won't come."

"See those stars Jeff?"

"Yeah"

"What's keeping me sane right now is that I just keep picturing in my mind that Lita is somewhere out there, safe, and she's looking at the same stars. I want her to take comfort in knowing that we are looking at the same sky, and that no distance is going to keep us from bringing her back."

"I hope that's true, Matt" Jeff said, sitting down in a chair beside his brother. "The part about her being comforted by the stars, I mean. Because you're absolutely right in that we will bring her back. It just might take a little while is all."

"We have to believe in ourselves Jeff. Faith is all we have right now. I know Detective Atkins is doing everything he can, but he doesn't know what a nut case Raven really is. I use to think he was just a little eccentric. Now I see he needs serious help."

Jeff was going to respond when he was cut off by a distinct ringing sound coming from inside the room. He instantly shot straight up, fear grabbing him and his heart pounding.

"That's my cell ringing, Matt."

Jeff and Matt shot through the glass door and into the bedroom, where Jeff's cell phone was still screaming to be answered. Picking it up, he read the name of the incoming caller on his display. Thank goodness he had took the time to program it during some downtime on a flight long ago. "Lita calling" read on his display.

Matt quickly gave Jeff the wire from the tracking unit to plug into his phone. Anxiously, Jeff pressed the Talk button.

"Hello? Lita is that you?"