AN: I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas

Chapter Fifty Six - Welcome Committee

The door was pulled shut behind her, her body stood in the hallway, swaying ever so slightly with the sadness as her physical being waited to be greeted by a warm hold, a soft kiss to the head, whisperings of reassurance, but it never came. Her mind snapped into action, forcing her body to remember that there was no welcome home committee anymore, there was no one.

Her eyes closed with the heavy truth, an extended puff of air left her lips as she dragged her body through to the kitchen, her limbs aching as she instinctively grabbed herself a glass and a bottle of red, the liquid pouring quickly as she hurriedly waited to drink it. Elizabeth grabbed the glass, throwing it back and letting the red liquid ignite some warmth within her before slamming it on the counter and topping the glass up.

She sighed heavily as her actions echoed around the empty room, with one swift motion she grasped the bottle and the glass, carrying it over to the couch, placing them on the coffee table momentarily whilst she settled herself for the evening. Her hand slipped into her pockets and she threw her phone onto the table before shaking her arms and slipping her coat off, discarding it into a heap on the floor, her shoes kicked off aimlessly as her body flopped onto the couch, the only thing offering to hold her.

As she leant forward to reach for her wine she thought about putting the tv on, there was something comforting about background noise she knew that, but she also knew the only thing she would be drawn into watching was the breaking news coverage of Andrada and his 'sparring accident'

'Accident' she mumbled to herself, rolling her eyes at the irony, if only the world knew. Her fingers grabbed the round glass and she pulled it closer to her body as she sank back into the chair, her feet tucked up under her as she fixed her gaze on an insignificant point on the floor. Her mind tortures her with the events that took place in the Philippines.

'How do you feel about drones?' Elizabeth asked, attempting to steer the conversation away from heavy weaponry.

'I like what I am hearing, do you have any idea how sexy it is to hear a woman talking about drones' Andrada raised his eyebrows suggestively, stepping closer to her, invading her personal space. They shared a moment of awkward laughter as Elizabeth placed her hands in front of her, stepping back and reasserting her boundaries, something that didn't work.

Andrada stepped closer again, Elizabeth took the option to walk towards her belongings, a slight quickness to her pace as she spoke.

'Well, I think that if we can generally agree on the kind and amount of military enforcements you're interested in then we-' She was cut off by the firm grasp on her behind, his hand attempting to slip forward between her legs. She swung around and threw a fist in his direction, but he caught it. Andrada winked at her as he pushed her back up against the chair. His free hand grabbing at her breast through her dress, his face nearing her neck stirring up a nausea in Elizabeth. She raised her knee and hit him hard between the legs, his firm grip on her wrist removed as he cupped himself in pain.

As he glanced up angrily at her and straightened himself she took her shot, her fist flying forward and colliding with his nose, his body spinning and falling to the desk behind him, as the blood spilled out.

Elizabeth broke from her thoughts as her phone chimed, grateful for the distraction she shook her head gently and took a large gulp of her drink, emptying the glass fully. She reached forward and pulled it from the table, multiple notifications were displayed but the most recent was text she didn't expect to see.

To: Elizabeth

From: Henry

What really happened to his nose? Are you ok?

Elizabeth began to type out a reply but instantly thought better of it, locking her phone and placing it on the vacant seat next to her as she reached for the bottle of wine, pouring herself some more, attempting to drown her inner torment with alcohol. A method she had become accustomed to lately, but one she knew didn't work.

It wasn't long before the sound of her phone ringing filtered through the air, Henry's face lighting up on her flashing phone as It vibrated against the soft couch material. She chewed her lips and watched it ring. Her lungs expanded as she took a deep b breath, reaching for the phone and answering it.

'Elizabeth?' He asked a little hurried

'Hi' she whispered into the receiver

'Are you ok?' The urgency of his tone rattled her.

'Henry I am ok, everything is ok'

'Yeah right, Elizabeth I do not believe this sparring incident, something happened I know it. The fact you're home and there is no mention of any deal or agreement made proves that' he spoke through gritted teeth. She sighed heavily, tears pricking at her eyes as she looked up at the ceiling, willing her mind to keep strong.

'Tell me' he whispered, his gut twisting in knots, he wanted to be there, he knew she needed him, not even him just someone, and that crushed him more than anything. The sudden realisation that when he walked away he not only removed himself but he took every other anchor point she had, leaving her alone.

'I can't, you don't have that level of clearance anymore' she mumbled, her legs tucking closer to her body as she protected herself. 'I am ok,' she reassured him.

'Hmm' he replied unconvinced. 'Why do I have a feeling you were his sparring partner who he named Cobra?' He tried to offer a slither of lightness

'Oh god you're going to call me Cobra now aren't you?'

'So it was you that broke his nose' he confirmed, chuckling as he heard her curse herself through the phone. 'Don't worry, like I said your government secrets are safe with me' he tried to tease but Elizabeth didn't respond. Her struggle was evident as silence replaced her words.

'I'll be in DC in a few days for that Military lecture and then the ball, maybe we can catch up then?' He asked

'I won't be giving you details Henry, I meant what I said also, you do not have that level of clearance anymore, I couldn't tell you even If I wanted to' she hid behind his clearance levels, refusing to let him be her go to person anymore, shutting him down in an instant.

Henry sighed heavily, shaking his head as he chewed on his words. Being pushed away from Elizabeth when she is upset was always difficult, but knowing he had no means of getting through to her anymore as she closed off from him forced him to swallow the truth; they were moving on.

'I have something I want to discuss with you, it's not important and it's not for now, but I just feel I owe you an explanation' he delicately chose his words as he spoke, her mind too hazed to even begin to overthink things.

'I think you've explained enough-'

'It's not about the divorce, just, Please can you see if Blake can schedule in five, ten minutes with me when I arrive in DC next week?' He asked.

'Ok, I'll talk to him' she sighed, raising her glass to her lips and reminding her body of the warmth the wine could offer her. 'I need to go, bye Henry' she pulled the phone from her ear and ended it immediately, not wasting a second for him to respond. She couldn't take it, she didn't need to hear his voice, not now, not in a few days time. She couldn't go back and forth with him anymore, he wasn't that person now. He wasn't her welcome home committee, that had to come from herself.