A/N: It's been some time since I've updated. I know. It happens when school gets in the way you know. I don't like it either.
Thanks for the reviews again. They're great. This chapter is going to answer some raised questions. You'll see what I mean.
Enjoy!
Pereira Residence
Ribeira Grande, Santo Antão
Cape Verde Islands, Africa
0600 hours local
Harm pulled his shirt over his head and softly opened the door to the hallway. It was way too early to wake Rome but he had to be at the airstrip in less than half an hour. The sun was up already and Armando had told him that he wanted to do the flight early so that Harm could have the rest of the day off. It had surprised Harm. A terrorist with sense.
Suzette was already in the kitchen when he arrived. How she did it every day was a mystery to him, but no matter what the time was, she was always in the kitchen. (Good morning) Harm said.
She only gave him a soft smile and went back to her work. Harm shook his head. Suzette never said much, he'd gathered that in the past week. He and Rome usually talked Portuguese when they were surrounded by other people but still, no one really said something to them. No one other than Izabel that is, because she could go on and on about practically anything. Harm always thought she was so attached to Rome because other than Suzette there wasn't a woman around. And Rome could be a presence.
Grabbing three small mangos of the bowl, he walked outside, right into the morning sun. He still didn't know what Armando wanted him to deliver but Harm would just do as asked and inform Clay and Joland later on. Arriving at the hangar, he saw that Armando and Milton had already arrived and Chico was checking the plane.
(Good morning) Harm greeted the two men when joining them.
(Good morning) Armando said. (Are you ready?)
Harm shrugged. (I think so yes. Anything I need to know before I really get up there?)
Armando turned around and waved with his hand, indicating that Harm had to follow him. Milton had to stay behind. (As you probably have realized, this is a test. If you do exactly as I say and you will deliver the package like you are supposed to, than I will know that I can trust you. If you don't…)
(I'll deliver the package. Don't worry about that. That's what you hired me for isn't it? To play pilot and delivery guy for you?)
Armando smiled. (You are a wise man Mr. Vermont).
He shook his head. (Not as wise as I would like to be Pereira). He nodded to the plane. (Chico's done. Where's the package?)
The older man took a rather large package out of a box and handed it to Harm. (This is what you need to deliver. Chico will go with you since I assume your wife is still sleeping?)
A wistful smile spread across Harms face. (Gaby only does the test rides with me Pereira. Nothing more then that. Missions like these are only flown by me).
Pereira seemed satisfied with that comment. He patted Harm on his shoulder. (Go ahead. The man you will deliver to is named…)
(Francesco de Sousa. I know. I'll meet him on the airstrip I hope?) They started to walk towards the plane.
(If everything turns out as it should, you will be back before noon. It's only an hour flight from here). Pereira smiled. He liked the pilot Mr. Harrison had given him; assuring him that he was good and that he could be trusted. This was the time to prove it.
Harm was settled into the plane in no time and he and Chico started to fly to Porto. About an hour and a half later, Chico called to him that he saw the airstrip. Harm smiled and made a perfect, smooth landing. There was an older man waiting for them by the hangar.
(Francesco de Sousa?) Harm asked, approaching him.
(You must be Armando's newest pilot. What is your name?)
(Zach Vermont. This is Chico Baptista, my co-pilot).
De Sousa nodded at Chico. Then he turned to Harm. (Do you have the package?)
Harm handed him the package without a word. He still didn't know what he was delivering, and neither did Chico. All they knew was that this wasn't going to be the only flight they were going to have make down to Porto. (Do you know what is in this package?)
The both of them shook their heads. (No sir. No idea).
The man turned around and started to walk towards the hangar. (Follow me) he said.
Intrigued and curious, Harm and Chico followed after him. The hangar looked like any other hangar, with tools, tables, naves and other gear that was needed for the maintenance of an aircraft. But there was no aircraft. Francesco led them to the back of the hangar and handed Harm an envelope. (If I gave you the idea that I was going to show you what is inside this package, you are wrong. I need you to take this one back to Armando).
Tricked. Harm had almost bought it. He had almost thought that Francesco was really going to show them what it was they had delivered. No such luck. He took the envelope Francesco was holding out to him. (Yes sir).
When they were walking back to the plane, Chico whispered: 'For a little moment he had me fooled he was going to show us what was inside that package'.
'Me too' Harm told him. 'But no luck just yet. Maybe it will come'.
Nothing special happened during their flight back to the house. Rome was waiting with Izabel when he climbed out of the plane. (Good morning).
Harm flashed them a wide smile. (Good morning. You two ladies well rested this morning?)
Rome narrowed her eyes against the sunlight. (We went to church. Like last week. If you're free next week you should come).
(I'll see what I can do) Harm promised. (Anything special planned for today?)
They started to walk back to the house and Harm draped his arm around Rome's shoulders. (Mmm…I thought we could go picnicking. Suzette is already doing preps. That all right with you?)
'Together?' Harm whispered in her ear. He couldn't wait to spend some time with her alone; they hadn't really had the chance to talk ever since Rome had told him about her experiences. The nightmares had returned a night or two ago.
(Could be. Izabel will probably go rest soon; the baby is wearing her out). She blinked with her long lashes. 'So, yeah, just you and me'.
'I'm glad'. Harm nuzzled her neck. 'I like Izabel, but I want to spend with my wife too. Outside our bedroom'.
Rome started to laugh, causing Izabel to look their way. (You're impossible).
'Você ama-me ainda' he said before letting go and disappearing into the house to change.
Rome shook her head and smiled. You still love me. Yeah, right. Izabel came to stand next to her. (You really love him don't you?)
(He is my husband, of course I love him) Rome automatically answered. When she noticed that Izabel grew silent she looked at her. (Do you find that hard to understand Izabel? That I love my husband and that he loves me back?)
It stayed silent for a while. (Partly) came finally the hesitant response. (I know I love Armando, but I'm not sure that he loves me too). There, she'd said it.
Rome bit her lip. (Why do you say that?)
Izabel sank down on the marble bench in front of the house. (When I look at you and Zach, it is so obvious that you love each other… You chose to be together, go get married, to go on and create a family. Or, that would be my guess. You want to have a family don't you?) She looked up to Rome.
(Eventually, yes) Rome confirmed.
(I've known Armando all my life. He is a friend of my father's. When Armando started to realize that there was no offspring from him, he went to my father and asked to marry me. I didn't even get a say in it). She clasped her hands together in her lap. (Only a couple of weeks after we got married, he said that he wanted to have a baby. When I couldn't get pregnant right away, he started to beat me).
Rome sank down next to her and wrapped her arms around the slim shoulders not knowing what to say to her.
(We did…tests… and all sort of things just to get me pregnant. He stopped beating me after we found I was pregnant after all). She stopped talking and took a deep breath. (I love Armando, but when I see the way you look at Zach, I realize that I don't love Armando the same way you love your husband).
(There is no crime in that Izabel) Rome softly told her. (Honestly, Zach and I thought the marriage was arranged. But you love him in your own way right? And you know what the most important part is?)
Izabel shrugged and wiped tears of her face. (What is that Gaby?)
(You love the baby right?)
(Of course do I love the baby. More than anything in the world).
Rome smiled. (Then take care of the baby. And yourself. You're gonna take a nap. Come on). She pulled Izabel up with her.
Izabel wrapped her arms around Rome and gave her a hug. 'Obrigado…para todo'. (Thank you…for everything).
Harm walked out onto the porch when Izabel walked back into the house. He heldthe picnic basket up. 'You ready to go?'
Undisclosed location
Somewhere in the United States
0640 hours local
It was dark. As it had been for as long as she had been here. She couldn't make out what had happened between her walking over to the Washington Memorial, and being dumped in this house. Well, it could barely be called a house, it was more a hovel. It was one small room. No windows, no sunlight, nothing. A mattress on the ground, and a door and that was pretty much. A basket for when nature called.
How long had she been here? Why was she even here? She tried to sit up, but the pain in her muscles and bones made her fall back. Right, they had beaten her up. She could barely open her eyes.
"Focus" she told herself. "What are you doing here? Why are you so beaten up? What could they possibly want from you?"
She couldn't think of a reason why she was here. She could remember bits and little pieces from the past events. A man… there was a man standing over her… He was telling her something… 'You're a desirable woman… I could make you love me…' His hand was traveling over her face.
NO! She wanted to scream when his hands were suddenly all over her, but there was no sound. She couldn't open her mouth to say something. And then he had raped her.
Hot tears started to run down her cheeks when she remembered what had happened before she lost consciousness. He had raped her. He had told her that he could make her love him. But there was only one man her heart would ever belong to.
When her thoughts drifted to Harm, more tears started to come. She had broken things off with him prior to her being kidnapped. Telling him that she needed some time to think. But she didn't need time to think. She didn't time to do anything. Her heart had given her the answer a long time ago. She had been scared that everything would be too soon. The exploring of their feelings for each other had felt amazing. But this nagging little voice in the back of her head had said that there were more men in the world than Harm; that she could easily find someone closer to her own age. Someone like Nate.
There was no way she could betray Harm and leave him for his brother. No matter how nice Nate was. She loved Harm. For a long time if she had been able to put that voice in her mind at ease but when other people started to say it to her… Something had snapped. So the thing between her and Harm was over.
Trying to get more comfortable, she rolled over and rubbed her eyes. What she would give just to see Harm now; to hear his soothing voice telling her that things would be okay. But she didn't even know where she was. Or how long she had been here already. Everything was a total blur. The door opened and a man walked in.
He was smiling down at her. 'Come on Ms. Ferreira. Eat this. You need your strength. You need all the strength you can get for when the baby is coming'.
Shocked, her hand went to her abdomen. No. There was no way that… Pressing her lips together, she felt the slight swelling under her clothes. Pregnant. The damn bastard had gotten her pregnant. More tears began to fall and she slowly sat up.
This wasn't the man that had raped her. Obviously, she had been here for a couple of months then, if she was… 'How far along am I?' she whispered.
'Almost four and a half months' the man replied. He sat a tray with food in front of her. 'It's all fresh ma'am. Please try to eat. I don't know what will happen if you don't take good care of yourself'.
'Why doesn't he let me see the sun? I'm the mother of his child! I want better accommodations!' In her head it looked as if she was screaming, but her voice had been just above a whisper. 'I can't take care of myself or the baby like this…'
He shook his head. 'I promise to do what I can Miss. I agree that this is no environment for a pregnant woman. But all he wants is the baby'.
'If he wants a healthy baby he has to keep me healthy! Let him know that!' She turned to the wall and started to sob. God. This was the last thing in her plan for the future. Having a baby that wasn't Harm's.
The man took one last look at her and walked out of the room again. Rome wiped her tears away. Well, it had happened and she was going to have to live with it. Slowly, she started to eat. It didn't take long to decide that she was going to pretend that it was Harm's baby she was carrying. It would make things a whole lot easier.
Days, weeks passed. She was moved to a better house, where she could walk in the garden, bath and enjoy the sunlight. But besides the servant, the doctor and the man that got her pregnant, she never saw anyone. It hadn't been hard to imagine the little baby she was carrying was Harm's. She was happily chatting to the baby, thinking about what Harm would say if he found out that he was going to be a father. Unfortunately, Harm would never see the baby.
'Come on, one more push!' the doctor urged.
She was exhausted. 'I can't!' she screamed as she felt another contraction hit her. But she started to push again, hearing Harm's voice in her head that she couldn't give up now. It was the only thing that had helped her through the past couple of months.
'That's it'.
Totally worn out, she fell back in her pillows, waiting for the baby to start breathing and screaming. But nothing happened. Rome looked up. 'What is going on? Why doesn't she make a sound?' Her voice was terrified.
The doctor wouldn't say anything for what seemed an eternity. Nothing would help. He looked up to Rome, pain and apologies reflecting in his eyes. 'I'm so sorry Miss Ferreira…'
'No! Not my baby! Not my baby!'
Harm woke from his slumber and looked down at Rome. 'Rome!' He started to shake her. 'Wake up! Come on Rome, it's just a nightmare'.
A nightmare she had lived through, but still a nightmare. She could wake up now. Rome looked to his concerned face and started to cry. 'My baby Harm… she didn't breathe…'
Without saying another word, Harm wrapped his arms around her and rocked her back and forth. 'It's okay honey… It's gonna be okay…'
He had learned that she had lost her baby in the first year after they hadn't been together anymore. She had been kidnapped, raped, gotten pregnant and lost her little baby girl all in the same year. Then, afterthe manhad forced himself on her again, she had had a miscarriage.
His own heart stung again. It was hurting because her heart was. He couldn't even imagine what it would be to lose his child. And she had been through it twice. It was a miracle she was still alive. After the miscarriage, she had been found by a FBI-agent that had been looking for her capturer.
Rome started to calm down. 'I wanted to call her Jasmine. But he wouldn't let me name her. She's buried somewhere in the woods near the house… I barely got the chance to say good bye to her'.
Harm kissed the top her head. 'It's all going to be okay now Rome. You don't have anything to be afraid of anymore. I'm right here all right?'
She nodded, clinging to his shirt. 'Yes Harm. You're here now. You're right here'.
TBC... reviews would be more than nice