Chapter Eighty Three - Collide
'Elizabeth!' He called out on repeat, his voice straining the louder he called but it was no good, he stood rooted to the spot watching the motorcade drive off into the distance. 'Wha-' he sighed to himself, his mouth falling agape as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. He had established a good sense that her anxiety was bad again after her nightmare Friday night, and then her unsettled state Saturday morning, but he took her word for it, he believed her when she brushed it aside. However, as he stood there now, alone and shut out from her world once again, he really wished he'd questioned her further.
Two days ago…
Henry woke with the sunlight peeking through the curtains, he smiled deeply and stretched his feet out into the fresh cotton duvet as warmth flooded his body. He slowly peeled his eyes open, shifting to the centre of the bed expecting to see Elizabeth sleeping next to him once more, but she wasn't there.
He sat up and rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hands, yawning as he swung his legs out, getting up and out of bed to find her. He peeked his head into the ensuite but the room was empty, he sighed to himself and scratched his head as he wandered downstairs, eventually finding her in the kitchen, sat staring aimlessly into the distance with a coffee.
'Morning' he smiled, walking up behind her and snaking his arms around her shoulder. Elizabeth jumped a mile, her coffee spilling over her hand and the table.
'Jesus Henry! You can't sneak up on me like that' she cursed, lifting her mug to wipe the drips off the bottom, before taking it to the sink and grabbing a towel to clean the mess off the table.
'Sorry, I didn't expect you to jump' he chuckled slightly, but with one glaring look from her he stopped instantly. 'Is everything ok?' He asked worried.
'Yes fine, sorry I've just not slept well and I have gotten so used to being alone in this place that you scared me' she sighed, stopping her actions and looking at him apologetically.
'You didn't sleep well?' He raised an eyebrow
'I did, I just woke early, it's nothing, just too much wine I think, my head was spinning' she lied. 'I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap' she walked forward, snaking her arms around his neck. 'Morning' she mumbled into his lips as she softly brushed them with her own.
MS -
'Dad, where did Mom go?' Alison asked, breaking Henry from his thoughts. Henry shook his head and turned on the spot.
'She urm, had some work crisis, she needed to go, president's orders' he lied and smiled falsely.
'Oh ok' Alison accepted the answer but didn't believe it. 'You coming inside?' She asked.
'No I need to wait for the vet, you go ahead, I'll be in soon, I'll start dinner then' he shoved his hands in his pockets and smiled at her.
'Ok, Jason wants pizza again' she rolled her eyes as she started walking backwards towards the house, then turning and heading off into the distance and indoors.
Henry turned his back to the house, his eyes wandering up to the sky, as he tried to figure out his next steps, a delicate balance between what he would have done if she was still his wife, and what he wants to do now that he Is her…Friend?
MS -
Two Hours later
Henry sighed inwardly as he placed his phone down, yet another call she didn't answer. He tapped his fingers relentlessly on the table, his heart breaking for her as his mind twisted over and over the events of the day. Should he have foreseen this coming? Was this because she opened up about Datu? Because they had sex? Because of buttercup? An infinite amount of questions and scenarios bounced around, none of them offering him any form of relief.
'Dad, why don't you just go to DC?' Alison broke through his thoughts once again. Jason raised an eyebrow at her, both of them glancing at Henry as he didn't respond.
'Dad!' They both called in unison
'Huh? Wha? What? Sorry?' He stumbled over his words as he turned to face them both, his eyes widened, his face flushed.
'Go to DC, go and see mom' Alison repeated herself.
'She is busy with work' he lied
'Yeah of course, Dad we're not ten, we seen mom and you have some words about whatever and then she shot off in the motorcade' Jason pointed out
'You've been so quiet all night, and you've rung her god knows how many times. If it's upsetting you that much, Go and see her' Alison shrugged
'It's not that simple' he sighed
'But it is, if you want to see and speak to her then you need to go, because it doesn't look like she is going to ring you back anytime soon' Alison quipped standing up from the dinner table. 'I'll watch Jase, I think we can survive a few hours on our own' she reasoned
Henry twisted his lips, his mind tantalising him with do's and don'ts. He inhaled deeply and looked across to Alison, nodding slowly.
'You're right, noodle, thank you' He rose from his seat and kissed her on top of her head as he walked past her into the hallway. He grabbed a few items and returned moments later.
'Right, I am going to head up to Moms and then I'll be back tonight. Call me if you need anything, if I don't answer call mom, if mom doesn't answer-'
'Call Blake, we know' Jason rolled his eyes.
'Keep this one in line please' Henry waned Alison and she giggled
'I will. Go dad. We will be fine' she smiled, her teenage heart hoping this moment might be the one that finally reunites her parents.
'Ok, right I'll speak to you both later, Love you' he called out as he slipped his coat on and headed for his car, setting off to DC.
Throughout the entire journey Henry refused to think of anything but Elizabeth, her panic and hysteria today unsettled him deeply, and he knew she needed a recharge point, something he was determined to be for her once again like he had been before. As the night's skies rolled in and the roads became quieter Henry continued his drive back into DC, hoping and praying that she had gone home and not to the state department or the White House.
MS -
Some of Henry's fears were calmed once he turned down the street to the brownstone and spotted the motorcade outside. He parked the car as quickly as possible, throwing the door open and closed again as he rushed towards the front door. Henry smiled quickly at Matt as he knocked frantically on the door. He kept knocking, his impatience and worry for her growing with every second she didn't answer.
'Have you seen her tonight?' He turned to Matt and questioned him
'Not since we returned Dr McCord, she came straight here' he offered, picking up on Henry's noticeable concern. Henry knocked again, this time Matt and other agents watching, waiting for her to answer. As a shadow appeared through the window her agents stood down, turning away and trying to keep the moment between Henry and Elizabeth as private as possible.
'Henry?' Her face furrowed as she opened the door.
We need to talk now.'