Note: Well, this is it- the end to my lighthearted and somewhat far-fetched (at times a bit silly) story of yesteryear! Thanks so much for reading, following, and Favoriting it, and special thanks for those of you who were so kind to have left reviews throughout the posting. For reviews on Chapter 8, thank you to Evergreen Dreamweaver, Highflyer (so sorry I missed you on the last shout out), Leesa Jane, hbndgirl, Drumboy100, sm2003495, and Erin Jordan.
I still have nothing new written at this point, but I am always THINKING of starting something, if that counts! :) I am heavily debating finishing out the arc that ended with "Relative Fortune" (there is one major unresolved plot) OR starting something completely new, or maybe doing a few shorter stories. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to PM me or leave it in a review. To be honest, I always start out a story asking questions, like "What would have happened if Iola lived?" or "What if Frank's logic failed and Joe's instinct failed?" I also LOVE character exploration; it's my favorite thing. I ask questions like "What made Biff and Joe such close friends?" or "How did Callie and Joe mend their relationship?" or even "So how did that whole Frank/Nancy/Callie thing go down?" These are the "big ideas" around which I center my stories, and what I am missing right now. I can definitely create complex plots (they're fun for me), but I care more about the relationships and what ifs. If anyone has some ideas for me, feel free to let me know, because once I have 1-3 really good, character driven subplots... then I can write a story!
Thanks in advance! Happiest of new years to you all!
-Cheryl
Fly Away
Chapter 9
December 31st
The next night, the two couples arrived at the Gala in grand style. Joe and Frank made it a point to reassure Callie that his father had made security aware of the potential threat against the Base.
Once inside, the Gala was even more grand than he'd expected. Joe had been taken by the limousine that had picked them all up, and by Vanessa's beauty, and it all came together for him once they were inside. He truly felt as though he were living in some sort of fantasyland. All around him, he recognized the rich and famous people whom he'd so long admired. He watched as Vanessa stared incredulously at her surroundings.
Deciding to take advantage of the moment, he whispered to her, "You look beautiful."
Turning to him with a smile, Vanessa winked. "You don't look half bad yourself." Actually, that was quite the understatement. In his new tuxedo, Joe looked absolutely dashing. His eyes twinkled with happiness, and he really looked like a prince.
"You know, you two," Callie cautioned them, "Something serious may be going on here tonight. You should stop fooling around. We're on a case, you know."
"MMM…" Joe mumbled, and smiled at her. "Somehow, Cal, I think it'll be all right," he added, and bent down to give her a kiss on the cheek. Taking Vanessa's hand, he gave a last quick smile to Callie before disappearing into the crowd.
Shaking her head, Callie turned to Frank. "You know, I don't understand your brother sometimes! Normally, isn't he the one who's all uptight about business, especially when he's on the job?" she asked.
Slipping his arms around her waist, Frank pulled her close to him. "All work and no play is no fun!" he said to her. He remained captivated by Callie, who looked stunning and absolutely radiant, seemingly without effort.
Blushing, Callie pulled back from him and bit her lip. "Frank?" she asked, hesitantly.
Raising his eyebrows, he smiled at her. "Yes?"
"Do you think my idea was stupid? I mean, the clues all seemed to make sense."
"No," Frank said. "Your ideas were perfectly fine. I just don't think there's going to be an explosion, that's all."
"Oh," Callie said, embarrassed.
"But," he said, reaching for her hand, "somehow I thought you would come to that conclusion, and we'd wind up here."
Puzzled, Callie looked up at him. "I don't get it."
"I know," he said, and then added, "Would you like to dance?"
Despite her puzzlement, Callie nodded, and allowed herself to be whisked onto the dance floor. As she felt Frank's arms around her, she closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest as they danced slowly to the wonderful music. Callie began to relax for a bit, somehow feeling protected in Frank's arms. Still, there were many things that weren't sitting right with her. Why was Frank so calm? What did he mean by his last comment that he thought she would come to that conclusion? Why didn't Joe and Vanessa seem worried about a terrorist threat? What had they all not been telling her?
Then, slowly, Callie began to realize she didn't care. In due time, she knew, all would be revealed. For now, she was going to allow herself to enjoy a bit of the holiday season and the beginning of a new year which, she desperately hoped, would bring better fortune than the last one had. Nestling next to Frank, she was at once grateful for what she DID have—friends, family, health, safety, and a best friend whom she really, truly loved…and that was much more than most people had.
With about twenty minutes to go until midnight, there had been no explosion. Frank and Joe had been correct. Quietly, Frank whispered to her, "Come outside for a second, okay?"
Looking at him inquisitively, she nodded quietly as they stepped onto the quiet balcony. Frank took off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders as they sat on a stone bench and watched the still waters of the bay being prepared to be lit from overhead with fireworks.
Frank kissed the top of her head. "I have something to confess," he said to her. "And I thought I might as well do it before midnight since you'll only have 20 minutes to be mad at me before the new year begins."
Callie was curious, but smiled at Frank anyway. "Go ahead, Hardy," she said.
"I brought something for you," he said, and took the note-pad of clues from his jacket pocket.
"Thanks," Callie said wryly. "Another reminder of my inability to be a detective."
"No," Frank said to her. "Exactly the opposite. I knew you'd figure out the clues the way you did."
Callie stared at him a moment. "What exactly are you saying?" she asked.
"I kind of set you up," Frank said quietly.
"What?!" Callie cried.
Frank took her hand. "Listen to me. Please. I think you'll understand."
"This better be good," Callie muttered, confused and hurt.
Frank gently touched her face. "Callie… I knew about the trouble you were having with your scholarships before you told me. I happen to have been speaking with your dad and he told me what was going on. Apparently, the financial aid office had called and left several messages at your house, which your parents had checked on the answering machine."
"Oh," Callie said, unsure of where this was going.
"I wanted to do something special to cheer you up, to make this holiday really special. I sort of figured you'd have to cancel our trip."
Callie blushed, and looked down.
"To make a long story short, I wanted to try and be creative, since I knew you liked solving mysteries. So—well, I guess I thought I'd put you at the center of it!"
Callie gasped. "You…YOU sent me the messages?!" She pulled away from him, shocked and horrified.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Frank smiled. He couldn't help it. "Of course I did, Cal! I mean, come on. Didn't you notice that I was the one who found the messages?! I never looked for fingerprints?! Somehow, the 'thief' didn't break into the van, but the messages were there?! And at your house, all I had to do was rig the lights to go off at a certain time. Why do you think I couldn't explain the whole circuit breaker thing? I just made that up! AND," he added, "Come on, Cal. If I honestly and truly thought someone would hurt you, do you think for a second I'd act like I didn't care about the case, or would take my time on it?"
Tears of humiliation rose in Callie's eyes. "But.. why?!" She asked, wiped back the tears. "You scared me half to death! Did.. did Joe know?! And Vanessa?!" The realization hit her like a ton of bricks, and she stood up, leaning against the railing.
Instantly, Frank felt bad, and stood next to her, turning to her to wipe back her tears. "Don't cry, honey," he said, knowing he had to explain himself better. "Yes, they knew…but not until well over halfway through this. They were worried about you, and they wanted me to get off my butt and help you to solve the 'mystery.' I had no choice but to tell them."
Callie looked away, feelings of betrayal and humiliation threatening to overwhelm her.
"Callie…" Frank said gently. "Look at the clues." He held out the note-pad.
Still bewildered, Callie looked down.
"No," she whispered.
"Yes," Frank said back to her.
Finally she looked down.
1) Two hands clasping or gripped together. Says "Two hands."
2) A picture of a helicopter- says "over air."
3) Magazine cutout- a lot of people. Words- "Many possibilities."
4) Pictures of dollar bills- ominous warning—"You'll pay."
5) Several stones. Rocks. Says "Over Years."
6) Pictures of stars together with odd message: "Next nights."
7)"Enthralling events." Some picture of a brochure… name undisclosed.
8) Picture. Girl terrified? Message states "Anxiously waiting." Ominous.
9)"New yelling." Picture of a microphone.
10) A picture of a novel. Says "Great Expectations."
11) A picture of a fire. Says "Explosions- air."
12)Finally, a path of some sort. Says, "Long runway."
"I don't understand, Frank,' she said simply. Looking into his eyes, she said, quietly, "Just be direct."
"Okay," Frank said with a smile. Turning her around to the bay, he wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Frank, I…"
"Shhhh…" he quieted her. "First," he whispered in her ear, "Your parents called the other night. They're inside. They're waiting for you. They wanted to be with you for the New Year, so they flew home early. I've been talking with your dad."
Callie tried to turn around, but Frank's hold wouldn't let her. "Okay," she whispered. "But why?"
"Because I asked him to."
Callie nodded.
"Second," he said to her, and he gently turned her to face him, "I thought you may have lost this." With that, he reached into his pocket and pulled out Callie's bracelet—the one she had turned into the pawn shop!
"But—how?" she stammered. "I…I didn't think you realized…" Words failed her.
"Callie, of COURSE I realized that you didn't have your bracelet. Vanessa told me what happened, and I got it back. Now you finally have your matching set! Don't go getting rid of it anymore, okay?" he added with a twinkle in his dark eyes. He placed the bracelet on her wrist and smiled. Her head was spinning.
"Now look at the clues again." Frank held out he pad, but again, Callie saw nothing different.
Frank laughed. "Come on, Cal!" I knew you'd figure out that I wanted you to come here. It was the only way that I could sneak you here in style! The clues can also mean something different."
"What?" Callie whispered.
"Look at the words."
Callie did so.
1)"Two hands."
2) "over air."
3) "Many possibilities."
4) "You'll pay."
5) "Over Years."
6) "Next nights."
7) "Enthralling events."
8) "Anxiously waiting."
9) "New yelling."
10)"Great Expectations."
11) "Explosions- air."
12)"Long runway."
Finally, Frank couldn't take it anymore. "Shaw!" he said, happy but exasperated. "You're right! Let Joe and I be the detectives!" he teased. "I'm taking you on the vacation we always promised. You don't have to pay for a thing."
"Huh?!" Callie asked.
"Look!" He pointed to the pictures and the words. "We always said we'd go to Hawaii, right? Well, we are! I'm "holding your hand." We'll take helicopter rides. There are many possibilities, right?! You'll pay me back with your company, to celebrate the years we've been together!"
Callie felt her eyes well with tears.
"There's more," Frank said, suddenly serious. "Go back to the clues. The next few nights are anxious for me. They could be filled with enthralling events. I'm ignoring the yelling inside and waiting for the explosions in the air. Before we can take the long runway of life, I am anxiously awaiting your response."
"To.. to what?" Callie whispered.
"Read the clues." Frank said. "Take the first letter of each word vertically down."
Then, Callie saw it.
1)"Two Hands."
2) "Over air."
3) "Many possibilities."
4) "You'll pay."
5) "Over Years."
6) "Next nights."
7) "Enthralling events."
8) "Anxiously waiting."
9) "New yelling."
10)"Great Expectations."
11) "Explosions- air."
12)"Long runway."
Gasping, she said shakily, "To My One Angel"
She looked in amazement at Frank. Inside she heard cheering as the clock began to strike midnight. It all made sense. The bell, the "ring", the bird, the clues….
Shocked, she turned and gasped as she saw Frank on one knee. "Callie, my one true angel, the bell tolls for a new year. As it rings, will you take this ring and marry me? Say we can fly away together. I love you."
Tears sin her eyes, Callie nodded as Frank placed the ring on her finger.
He stood up at once.
"Hey Cal?" Frank whispered, holding her close as the music played in the background.
"Yes?" She whispered shakily, deliriously happy.
"Hear that ringing from inside? They say every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings."
Smiling, Callie nodded, realizing that it was, indeed, a wonderful life.