Chapter 5: Secrets
Five years and seven months. That is how long it has been since the Chronos affair. Consequently, that is also how long he has kept it a secret. Secret. There it is again, that word. In spite of his best efforts, it has yet again defined their relationship. Except this time, in the grandest of ironies, he is the one with the secret. In that instant, like a bolt of lightning, comes his epiphany. Now he knows what Shayera was going through.
For five years she kept her true mission and identity a secret from hom and everyone else. Then her former lover, no, fiancé, arrived and her secret was played out not in private, but in the most damning public way possible. Her secret manifested itself in the form of an advance army, shock troops and ultimately an occupational force. When the dust finally settled, she was branded the ultimate pariah - a traitor to everyone.
On one level he understood. She was a soldier believing that she was doing her duty. Was he not a soldier at one time? Is he not a soldier even now? She had tried to tell him, but he wouldn't listen that night in the Watchtower's infirmary. He heard the words, "It's not that simple. John, this can't go any further". She was crying out for help and seeking to escape her duality. Only in hindsight does he now have the wisdom to understand. If only he had let her explain, she may have told him the truth that night, but he didn't want to hear it and she was tired of denying her feelings.
So here we are again, except this time the shoe is on the other foot.
"Earth to John?" she says tapping her finger on the glass of the shower door.
"Huh?" he says, snapping out of his internal monologue.
"I was asking you a question and you kinda spaced out there".
"I'm sorry. Still trying to wake up is all" he says trying to smile sincerely. Stall, buy some time.
"What is Chronos?" she asks again staring intently at his face.
Too late. Even through the growing condensation on the shower door he can feel the penetrating stare of her green eyes.
"Where did you hear that word?" he asks, turning his back to the shower head.
"You told me".