The Burden of Love: Mile High Club

by tarskeewee08

Evangeline put her magazine down in her lap and looked over at John. He had been brooding since they left the hotel. It was barely five in the morning and she knew that they both were groggy but something else was bothering him. The flight attendant offered them something to drink and she agreed to coffee, John barely noted her presence.

Looking at his jaw was clenched with anxiety and that scowl she knew of when he was deep in thought. She frowned at him concerned over what could have him in such a state.

"Okay baby tell me what's wrong…" she said reaching for his hand.
John looked over at her "I was going to wait until we landed"
She smiled "I know you were….and I was going to let you, but if it's got you this upset lets talk about it now."

John sighed "Ryan O'Reilly committed suicide yesterday"
Evangeline sucked in her breath "What…"
"Yes, and I think it wasn't an accident."
"Barnaby?"
"Has to be…"
"John oh god" Evangeline said shaking her head.
"I don't know where we go with this Van but I'm not giving up"
"He's dead! I mean everything leads to him and he was the only lead to Barnaby. How do we go anywhere from here?"

John cut his eyes in frustration. Something was there underneath it all, something he missed. Maybe the key was to go back to the beginning. How did Ryan know Barnaby 30 years ago? What was my dad working on?

"Something is up with Ryan and Barnaby and if we could figure out the root of their collaboration we got this creep."

Evangeline glanced out of the window at the now rising sun "That means we need to go back to New Jersey sweetie. The road starts there"

John nodded "But first I need to see what was left in O'Reilly's home. The man would have to have known that we would search his place."

"That's true"
John grabbed her hand "Hey look at me..."
Turning she looked at him and smiled.
"We will beat him at his own game, it's just going to take some team work. You up for it?" he asked sweetly

"As long as I'm at your side I can face it all."
"That's my girl" he said leaning over and kissing her gently on the lips. She touched his face and kissed him back. John lifted the arm rest between them and moved closer to her. Evangeline giggled as he slid his hand across her belly up under her sweater. "John…stop!" she said pushing his hand away.

"I want to make you part of the mile high club" he said now nibbling on her ear.
"Are you serious? We have to deal with…"
"I know we have to deal with the murder and murderers. When we land we will be full speed ahead…this is my last chance." He whispered seductively in her ear as he grabbed her breast tenderly.

"I'll meet you in five minutes" she said submitting to his advances and enjoying it.

John let her go kissing her nose. "Three minutes" he said getting up and heading to the back of the plane. Evangeline shook her head laughing softly watching him go. She looked back out the window of the plane thinking about O'Reilly, his death was disappointing to her. She wanted him to suffer in the same way he made Charlotte suffer. Swallowing her bitterness and accepting the fact that matters of life and death were beyond her control she undid her seatbelt and rose from her seat.

Going down the isle she saw several passengers look up at her as she passed and she smiled sweetly thinking of her horny devil that waited for her. Arriving at the closeted bathroom and seeing the in use light on she giggled and tapped on the door lightly.

John opened it and pulled her inside quickly shutting it behind them. She hadn't realized how small and cramped the bathroom was. The two of them were facing each other and the metal toilet was right behind her calves. The wall was right behind his back and the sink made it impossible to move. "John we can't…."

John kissed her forcing her to be quiet reaching down and undoing her pants. She grabbed his face kissing him back as she felt him forcing her pants and panties down urgently. Laughing at how he struggled to get her out of her clothes she kicked her way out of her pants feeling his hand on her bare butt as he lifted her to the metal sink.

Snatching his pants down to his knees she parted her legs and held onto his neck as he positioned himself to enter her. She always wondered what the mile high club meant. When he pushed his way into her she finally knew the answer to that question.

The blood rushed to her head and her heartbeat quickened making her gasp loudly. The feeling of floating took over her senses and she dug her nails into his skin as a reflex reaction. John was so needy he pulled her closer to the edge of the sink and grunted loudly in her ear while devouring her neck. "Oh god…" she panted grabbing the handles on the wall of the narrow space tightly because the orgasmic rush was so powerful she couldn't hold back.

Her lover could control his urges and drove himself in and out of her long after she shook with orgasmic spasms. "Oh God!" she screamed out as he stuck his tongue in her ear "Baby be quiet" he whispered afraid they would get caught from her loud cries.

She giggled realizing that she was yelling more in this experience than she did when they were in the hotel. Unable to stop herself and feeling her chest pound as her adrenaline rushed through her veins she moaned loudly again tilting her head back.

He kissed her neck and found that the urge to cry out with her was over taking him. So he kissed her forcefully to silence them both and held her tightly as he squeezed off his seed into her. She relished the feeling of his powerful organ vibrating inside of her as the feeling of weightlessness made it all the more intense. It was something she wanted to do with him over and over again.

Just as they exhausted themselves they heard a knock on the door.
"Is everything okay in there?" The flight attendant asked concerned.
"Yes….I'm fine! I'll be out in a moment" Evangeline said and John laughed quietly into her neck.

Evangeline pinched his butt "Shhhh…"
He pulled out of her and grabbed tissues to clean himself and her. They struggled to dress and finally it was John that had to pull her pants and underwear up. "I should go out first.." she said

"Either way we're busted baby"
"Nope you will be busted! I will be in my seat by the time they catch you" she giggled
He shook his head and turned sideways so she could squeeze by. Before she reached the door he pressed against her and slid his hand over her breast holding her close. "That was so worth it"

"Mmmm yes it was" she said leaning into his strong hard chest.
Kissing the inside of her neck he inhaled her scent "I'm sorry that he's dead Van, but we will figure it all out"
"I know baby." She said turning around. Kissing him on the lips she smiled in his face. "We'll do our best John, but we won't stop living because of our disappointments. Our love is always going to be priority"

He bumped foreheads with her and slid his hand down her back "Damn right" he said chuckling.

Evangeline walked into her apartment dropping icy snow flakes in her wake. She and John took two separate cabs from the airport. He needed to get to the station to see detective Grey, so she agreed to take their luggage to her place and wait to hear from him.

"You can drop the bags over there" she said pointing to the left of the room for the cabby.

He dropped all of the luggage and she paid him. Closing the door behind him she smiled to finally be back home. Funny how now that she and John were together she felt at home. Dropping her mail on the table near the door she shed her coat and caught a glimpse of her blinking answering machine across the room.

Going to her answer machine she pressed the play button then walked over to her windows to pull open the blinds and let light into her place.

Message One: "Ms. Williamson its Cletus. They let me out and back at my grandmothers. I really need to see you ummm…it's about Ms. Pryce. Please call me." End of Message.

Message Two: "Ms. Williamson its Cletus again, I need to talk to you. I saw on the news what happened to Mr. O'Reilly. I think we should talk. Please call me back it's an emergency." End of Message

Message Three:"Ms. Williamson its Marble. They came and took Cletus. They just won't leave my boy alone! He's a good boy. Please call me! I went to the station and they won't let me see him" End of Message.

Evangeline now on the other side of the room thumbing through her mail froze at the desperate message from Marble. Dropping the mail she went back to the answering machine and played the message over again. Hearing it correctly her heart began to sink with dread. Grabbing the phone she called Marble.

"Hello" Marble said sadly into the phone.
"Marble it's me Evangeline..."
"Oh baby…" she said her voice cracking and choking on her tears. "They took my grandbaby again. They came in here and dragged him out"

Evangeline began to pace. "They? Who took him Marble?"
"The police…they came in here around four in the morning breaking in my door. They dragged him from bed. Ms. Williamson he's been here since he got out, he hasn't done anything wrong. They already beat him when he was in that place. What are they doing to him!" she wailed.

"Calm down Marble I will find out what's going on" Evangeline said feeling the makings of a panic attack gripping her. She went and grabbed her purse then worked her coat back on.

"I just don't understand why they would want to hurt my boy" she whimpered
"Did they say what he was charged with?" Evangeline asked concerned.
"No, they pushed past me and dragged him out"
"Okay…I'm on my way to the station and I will call you from there"
"Thank you.."
"No problem and Marble he's going to be fine. I promise you."

Evangeline hung up and raced out of her place. She didn't have time to call a cab and would have to brave the storm in her Mercedes. It didn't matter she needed to find Cletus and figure out what was being done to him. Something was terribly wrong.

John walked into Detective Grey's office. He'd already been down in the evidence room checking over the things brought from O'Reilly's home. The list was like the one planted in Cletus's room. The only thing that may have been genuine was Charlotte's purse. Everything else was too damn convenient for his liking.

Grey looked up at him shocked "Lt. I didn't know you'd be here so soon."

"What's going on Grey…how did our suspect commit suicide on your watch?" John sasked glaring at him walking toward his desk. Grey sat back in his chair agitated. The D.A. already chewed his ass out and if it wasn't for the Chief he damn near would be on suspension over this. He had no idea why or how that asshole did what he did but everyone sure as hell thought he did. He's been asked that question seems like every hour on the hour since O'Reilly's body was found.

He glared at John sick of the implication that he was negligent. This wasn't his fault dammit. He didn't cause this and sure as hell couldn't have prevented it.

"The gravity of what he was facing got to him sir. This was something that couldn't have been prevented." Grey said trying to downplay the severity of his screw up.

John glared at him placing both hands on the back of the chair in his office. "Cut the shit…I want to know everything you do!"

"Welcome back!" Barnaby said walking in behind him. John turned around to see his nemesis smiling at him. "It sure is good to have you back at work. Doesn't seem like you put in a full day since you accepted the position"

John smirked "Well I heard since I left you had an inmate kill himself, guess I was more needed than either of us expected."

Barnaby nodded "Look son, I know that O'Reilly's death hit home for you"
"Has nothing to do with that Jacob. Like you said this wasn't personal right? The man was the main suspect in a murder, I think you and he department need to be very thorough in the investigation of his death."

Barnaby narrowed his eyes on him "And why is that?"
John smiled confidently "Because we could have other victims of course. We don't know how many cold case files could be resolved."

Grey shook his head "From what I can tell he's been killing cops and only cops"
John looked back at the detective. "That's why you investigate. What you can tell from a surface scan has nothing to do with what lies beneath…isn't that right Jacob?"

Barnaby looked at John amused and the war between them was declared in the heated glare they exchanged.

Grey cleared his throat nervously "I don't know what more can be done on this one Lt…"
"Don't worry detective I will assist you, we won't leave one stone unturned" John said smugly still glaring at Barnaby.

Barnaby folded his arms and stepped in front of John "Don't you think you need to catch up on all the other cases in this department?"

John shrugged dismissively and before he could say something smart Evangeline burst into the office. "John…"

They all turned and looked at her surprised. John stepped around Barnaby. "What's wrong?"

"Can we talk" she asked frowning at Barnaby who was smiling evilly at her. John looked back at Barnaby then Evangeline confused. "Yeah let's go to my office."

She walked out her hands in her coat heading quickly to his office. He knew something was wrong. Terribly wrong with the desperate way she raced toward his office. He could see panic in her face and it scared him. Walking in behind her he closed the door. "What…"
"It's Cletus John"
John blinked at her surprised "I told you they released him"

Evangeline began to pace running her hands through her hair nervously. "He left me several messages saying that he knew something about Charlotte's murder and to call him. Then I got a message from Marble that he was taken. I spoke to her John and she said two officers came to the house before dawn today and took from his bed."

John looked out of the glass window in his office. Barnaby was standing in the bullpen talking to another officer watching them. "Have you checked to see if he's here?"

She nodded her eyes glistening with fear "He's not here, and something is going on. I can't tell you how scared I am about this one John. Cletus could be really hurt."

Walking over to his desk he plopped down in his leather chair and logged on to the network. Evangeline tossed her purse to the chair in front of his desk and continued to pace. Moving across the floor with one hand on her hip parting her black coat she looked as if she would come out of her skin. She was still in her black slacks and purple cashmere cabled sweater from the flight. Her hair was scooped behind her left her ear and the tension in her stride was apparent in her face.

"Is it Barnaby? Is he trying to shut up Cletus?"
"I would suppose so but I doubt that Cletus knew about Barnaby."
"What are you doing?"
John began typing on the computer "Checking to see if any of the precincts have picked him up or if there are any warrants out for him. Tell me those messages he left again"

Evangeline walked over to his desk. "I can do better than that" she said grabbing his phone and putting it on speaker. She dialed her answering machine and played them both for him. Listening to the desperation in his voice her stomach clenched. "Oh god, he's a kid…please say he's going to be alright John"

John pushed away from the computer shaking his head "He hasn't been picked up by any of the Chicago Police Departments"

"Jesus….what do we do now?"

John shook his head sadly, we have to find him and quick. Evangeline walked back over to the window in his office staring out of it. She thought about Cletus battered face and his voice on the answer machine. What could he have known that would warrant hurting him like this? What did she miss?

"Maybe we should go see Marble again, she can give us a description of the cops" she said turning to John. He shook his head. "She wouldn't know where they took him. We need to get into Barnaby's head. If he wanted Cletus silenced how would he do it."

"Killing Cletus this fast would be too conspicuous. Something tells me he's got him stashed somewhere" Evangeline said wringing her hands nervously.

John smiled "You're right and I think I might know where"

Turning she looked at him shocked. "Where?"

John reached for the phone and started dialing. Evangeline watched him confused. She began to realize how well they actually did work together. With no more tension between them their focus was grounded. Now they had a 16 year old missing kid on their hands and a chief of police that was orchestrating it all.

She heard him talking to Eve about the cabins that the Barnaby's vacationed out of. Writing down information he smiled into the phone and Evangeline felt some hope.

John hung up and turned around to see her watching. "It's a long shot babe, but maybe Cletus has something they want. Maybe we can get to him"

"You know where he is?"
"The Barnaby's have a rental in Galena do you know far that is?"
Evangeline nodded "Over an hour and half drive, in this weather god knows how long it will take. What if we're wrong and waste valuable time?"

"It's a chance we have to take. I'm working off instinct here babe mixed with some desperation. Barnaby knows we'd pull out all stops to find him here in the Chicago area. I really think that he removed Cletus so killing and disposing of him would be easier."

"Well you know I'm going right?" She said putting her hand on her hip and narrowing her eyes on him waiting for the protest.

John looked at her and thought about Barnaby's escalating violence. The death of Charlotte is enough to keep her close. "You remember how to fire this?" he said pulling the gun from behind his back and putting it on the desk.

Evangeline nodded "Yes…and load it too"
"Then you're coming with me" he said rising and handing her the gun. "We will swing by your place and get my other piece."

She nodded and walked out. John walked over to Barnaby holding her hand smiling "Taking my lady to lunch see you later" he said slipping his arm around Evangeline waist then pulling her along.

Barnaby looked at him suspiciously but said nothing. Evangeline looked over her shoulder at him as they left and she saw it on his face. He was the monster at the root of it all.