It's been about two hours since Chase left. Tasha found me crying in her sewing room and brought me downstairs to the living room. I explained everything to her. She made us both hot chocolate and we talked for awhile. Now we are sitting on the couch talking about some silly new T.V. show. I know she is just trying to distract me from... Everything. But for now, I am more than happy to let her tell silly stories and pretend that everything is just fine. I wish I could pretend that too.
Soon, the front door opens abruptly and Chase rushes in and sits down beside me on the couch. He takes my hands in his and looks me over with a concerned look in his eyes. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you earlier?" he asks.
I shake my head. "No, Chase, I'm fine. I just-" I begin.
But as soon as I answer, his face hardens and he stands up. He walks away with the same frustration and hurt attitude he came in with. I follow him and grab his arm to stop his retreat. "Chase, please!" I plead.
He turns to look at me for a moment. "No, Bree, I can't talk to you right now. I am still too angry with you. Please leave me alone."
"Chase, you have to listen to me! I'm sorry!" I tell him, my tears returning.
"I don't believe you. You said things today, Bree, things that a simple 'sorry' can't fix." he replies, his tone cool and calculated.
"Please, you have to believe me! I am sorry! I am so, so sorry and I would do anything to be able to take back what I said. It wasn't true and it wasn't fair. I'm sorry." I plead.
"I'm sorry too, Bree, but I just can't do this right now." he says in a quiet voice.
"No, Chase, I would do anything for you to forgive me. Please."
He turns and looks at me again, this time with a thoughtful look on his face. "Anything?" he asks.
I nod and reply, "Anything! Anything at all! Yes, I would do anything for you to forgive me."
He takes my arm and says, "Come with me."
He leads me up the stairs back to Tasha's sewing room. Now, this seems a bit familiar... But I don't say anything. I don't want to ruin my chance of getting back into his good graces.
When we get there, he closes the door and sits down on the couch. He gestures for me to sit beside him. I walk over and sit down. I am nervous, but not afraid. He looks me in the eye and my eyes drop. I'm ashamed of what I said and the pain it has caused. He touches my chin and brings my head up to look at him again. "Bree, do you trust me?" he asks suddenly, breaking the silence.
I'm so surprised at the question that I stutter, "Wh-what?"
He sighs, exasperated. "Do you trust me? Would you be able to put your life in my hands? Can you trust me to always know best for our team and to always be there to save you when you are in trouble?"
"I trust you, Chase. But you can't possibly always save me from everything." I reply quietly, almost hoping he doesn't hear me.
"Then, do you trust my heart? Do you know that I will always do whatever it takes to keep you, and the rest of our team, safe?" he says after a moment.
"I've always trusted you. Even when you were so angry, I knew you would never hurt me. I knew you would never do anything to harm me, even as angry as you were. You have to believe me, Chase. I should never have said those things. They weren't true. They were complete lies and I'm sorry I ever even thought them."
"Then how can I know what you are saying is true now? If you can lie so well?" he asks, a bitter tone in his voice.
"I don't know how to make you believe me. Make me do anything you want to prove it. I will do anything." I say, my voice unwavering.
He looks at me for a moment. I don't know what he is planning, but whatever it is, I will do it. Then he shakes his head. "No, Bree."
He scoots away from me and pulls his shirt over his head. I try not to seem surprised, but I'm sure my face shows it clearly. He looks at me then. His eyes are deep and dark, but they don't frighten me. They look sad and hurt, not angry. He takes a deep breath and speaks in a low, quiet voice. "Do you want to know what happened? Do you want to see what happened after you left the lair?"
I don't answer. I don't know my answer. I just sit there. So he chooses for me. He turns around, showing his back to me, and I gasp. "Chase! How did this happen? Did Gao do this to you?" I ask, turning him around to face me again.
We get scars and wounds from missions all the time, but this is different. His back is lined with scars stretching the entire length of his back and reaching onto his shoulders and chest. The scars, I realize, are mostly from burns. The lines are thin and long; like wires.