Hey guys,
I`m very sorry for the long wait. I`ve been away for Christmas and was pretty busy during the holidays… I hope you`ve all had nice holidays with our families too and that you`re all well!
Thanks for sticking with the story, I hope you`ll like the new chapter. It`s a bit longer this time.
I don`t own anything.

Another Life

chapter 3

Next time I looked at my phone it read 10 missed calls, every single one was from Ben.

Without thinking about it first I hit the call button and Ben answered immediately. "Why didn`t you answer any of my calls. What`s going on Mick?"
"I really don`t know much Ben."
"Mick, tell me what you know?"
"When I got to the airport, the boards read 'see manager' for information about MA 537. They weren`t very helpful, all I found out is that the plane never arrived. Jared found out that the plane disappeared about 2 hours after departure, suddenly and without any warning. They are looking for it."
"Planes don`t just disappear Michaela. There must be more to it."
"I don`t know anything else."
"Did it crash?"
"I don`t know Ben, I think that`s likely. Why else would a plane disappear from the radar. If it needed emergency landing, they would have heard from the captain, if it was hijacked, it would still be on the radar, if they simply lost contact, they should still be on the radar too."
"Mick, are you telling me my family is dead?" he raised his voice turning his anger toward me. His family, that stung but I knew better than to say anything at that moment. My heart was racing and I suddenly felt sick.
"I don`t know Ben. Those are the conclusions I came up with. No one here is very helpful and Jared couldn`t find out more either. I don`t know what happened." I cried and at the same time found myself in Jared`s arms. He took the phone from me and kept talking to Ben. I don`t what he said. I cried and completely zoomed out.

After I had calmed down, Jared spoke to the ground personnel again, left our contact info, led me to his car and we drove back toward the city. The sun was already rising when we arrived at Ben`s.
He let us in, just as tired as we were. "Is Cal asleep?"
"Yes."
Jared took over and spoke to Ben. "We left our contact information, they'll let us know as soon as they have new information and if they don`t our colleagues at the precinct will."
"What do we do now?"
"Nothing for now." Jared said. He had spoken with one of our fellow officers, they were updated regularly. "There`s nothing we can do. We should all try to get some rest." He suggested.
"I can`t sleep while my family is missing."
"Our family Ben." Michaela corrected him this time.
"Grace is my wife, Olive`s my daughter."
"And our parents were on that plane too." I spat.

"Guys, that`s not helping." Jared stopped us. "We all need a break, neither of us has slept, lets rest for a couple hours. Hopefully there`s more information in the morning."
"Can we crash here?" He asked and Ben just shrugged and left the living room.
"Basement?" I suggested and Jared gave a nod. The basement is Ben`s and Grace`s guestroom.
So we went downstairs and that`s where we spend the next couple of hours. I was cuddled into Jared, my face hiding against his chest to hide my tears. He`s already been by my side through so much, sometimes I didn`t understand why he stayed with me. I am such a complicated factor in his life. I shook that thought quickly though because right now the thought of him leaving was too much to bear.
I fell asleep eventually, though it wasn't a restful sleep, I kept dreaming, dreaming about the accident that killed Evie, dreamed about the plane exploding mid-air, then a different plane nosediving until it disappeared in the ocean, another plane nosediving and exploding on impact. I woke up after each dream and each time Jared was already awake trying to console me. I guess he got even less sleep than I did that morning but he hid it well.
"How are you feeling?" He asked when he joined me in the kitchen around 10 am. After my last nightmare he fell asleep again and once I was sure I wouldn`t wake him I got up.
"I've had better days. Are you leaving?" I asked noticing the keys in his hand.
"I thought I might get more information at the precinct."
"I`ll come with you."
"I think you should stay here, be with Ben and Cal. They need your support. I`m back before you know it. I promise."
I nodded. "Okay. I love you."
"I love you too." He stroke my cheek and kissed me gently.

I sat down with my coffee and turned on the TV for news. But after they kept repeating the same thing over and over again without as much as a hint of new information, I turned it off again.
"Aunt Mick?" Cal joined me in the living room and cuddled close.
"Are they back yet?" He was still tired and rubbed his eyes. The night was too short for him too, otherwise he wouldn`t have slept till 10:30 am.

"No, Jared just left to see if there are any news."
"But what happened? Where are they?" he asked confused.
"Cal, we don't know."
"But their plane left before ours, they arrived hours before we did."
"Actually Cal, they didn't. Their plane, it never arrived at JFK."
"Where did they go then?" he asked, it must be all so confusing for him too.
"I don`t know. No one knows. That`s why Jared left, to see if there are any news."
"They are okay though, I can feel it." He said certain. "Do we have breakfast? I`m hungry."
"I checked the fridge, it's pretty empty. How about you and I get dressed and go out and get donuts?"
"For breakfast? Cool!" He grinned. At least I managed to make Cal smile.
"Yes, for breakfast. Did you see your dad yet?"
"I think he`s still sleeping."
"Okay, let's get dressed and then we can go."

I quickly wrote Ben a note so he wouldn`t worry and left together with Cal minutes later.
"Now pal, you choose."
"How many?"
"Enough for the two of us, Jared and your dad." He ordered 10, but I only realized after I saw the box. "No more now Cal."
"But I need to bring the pink one too, for Olive." I gave the young PeterPanDonut Employee a nod and bit my lip to keep my posture.

We stopped at a market and got a few necessary groceries then drove back to Ben`s house.

"Any news?" Was the first thing he said after we entered the house.
"No, Jared went to the precinct. They have no news."
"How is that possible?" He asked.
"I don`t know. Cal, go wash your hands then we can eat."
"Donuts?"
"I tried to find something small that makes Cal happy and it worked. Now we have to eat 11 Donuts though."
"No, only 10. The pink one`s for Olive, remember."
"Of course. We`ll safe the pink one." I promised with a knot in my stomach. I didn`t eat with appetite but I had to eat something. Last thing I ate were peanuts on the plane, probably same with Ben and Cal.

Ben scanned me from head to toe, then stopped at my engagement ring.
"You said yes?" he asked obviously upset with me.
"Yes, I did. I made the decision after your little speech on the plane."
"Do you really think it`s the right moment for an engagement?"
"I said yes before I knew our family was missing. Do you expect me to take the ring off and pretend I didn`t just get engaged?"
"Yes. It`s hardly the right time to celebrate."
"Do you see me celebrating?" He huffed and didn`t say anything else.
"Ben, come on. I mean this is not how I imagined my engagement either; I was going to see mom and dad today and tell them they were right. Instead, they are lost and we`re scared for their lives. But I`m not going to hurt Jared and take back my answer. I stand by my answer, it`s the right decision."
"I`m glad you`re getting married to uncle Jared. He`s really cool." Cal told me.
"Thanks buddy. He really is cool, isn`t he?" Cal bit in his donut, nodded and answered with a full mouth. "He is."

Thank you for reading! I hope you liked it and would be very happy if you left me a review so I get a chance to read your thoughts.