CHAPTER 2

UNEXPECTED PROPOSAL

It was quiet and a pleasant scent of lavender hung in the air. It wafted from a candle on a small glass table nearby. Beige walls were adorned with large canvas pictures of babies set in various whimsical scenes. Nate stared at a particularly curious depiction of a tiny pink baby curled up within velvety petals of a purple tulip bud. It was so mawkishly sweet that it made him feel rather uneasy, yet he kept staring nonetheless. Yes, it was definitely disturbing.

Come to think of it, this place was full of things that made Nate internally cringe. Take their first visit here for example. When Doctor Heart probed his wife with some kind of ultrasound stick right in front of his, Nate's, dumbfounded eyes… Of course it was all done behind a screen and, of course, he didn't actually see anything, but Nate's imagination was vivid enough to fill in the blanks.

"…is that your first, or…?"

Huh?

Some sugary voice tore his gaze away from the worrisome work of art and it dropped down to find a very much pregnant woman, awaiting an answer with a sweet smile on her plump face. She fit right in with the picture above her and her husband's heads.

Elena's face rose from a book she had been reading, propped on her belly.

"First," they both said simultaneously after which Elena added, "…and last."

The woman's expression turned even more overly excited, if it was even possible, and she and her husband exchanged a conspiratorial look.

"Aaaw…everybody says that at first- but then you hold your sweet little baby in your arms, breathe in their heavenly scent and, before you know it, you're back for more!" the lady giggled and dreamingly spun a strand of curled brown hair around her finger.

Nate and Elena gave a polite, but rather uncomfortable chuckle.

"So, is this your second then?" Nate unwillingly supported the conversation and the couple across from them shared another look before the husband answered.

"Eights, actually."

Nate's jaw dropped, "Eights?!"

"We just love kids so much," the brunette raised her shoulders helplessly and her husband nodded.

"Kids are a gift from God," he uttered importantly.

"Oh, well then you are certainly blessed," Nate said with half-amused, half-smug expression, "I bet you've seen more deliveries than some docs here!"

Nate felt Elena discreetly tug on his arm in warning as she laughed along to his joke maybe a tad bit louder than usual. The sweet couple's smiles twisted uncertainly downward.

Nate wanted to add something to smooth out the awkward pause that followed, but was saved by a nurse, who suddenly walked in.

"Mary?" she called out, "Doctor Brown is ready for you."

The couple stood up, gave them the last sour-ish smile and followed the nurse into the corridor.

As soon as they disappeared, Elena's laughter burst out with a snort and she held onto Nate's arm for support.

"Eights kid, oh lord, that is a lot!"

Nate shook his head smiling and leaned against the wall behind them.

"Didn't know a dirty diaper can smell so heavenly, but to each their own, I guess," he said and added, "Hey, they can talk all they want about gifts from God and all that stuff, but, what do you bet he just sucks at pull-out game?" he looked sideways at Elena and she pursed her lips with a laughing twinkle in her eyes.

"Oh look who is so high and mighty now, huh?" she said sarcastically, "whose fault is that we're sitting here?"

"Why yours of course for being too damn irresistible," Nate countered and Elena dramatically rolled her eyes.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah! And how is it my fault when it was New Year and we both had one too many drinks- and there were you and there was I and then-," Nate lowered his eyes meaningfully at her belly, "BAM! Nice to meet you Cassie Drake- can't even remember exactly how that happened."

"Remind me to never let you play Russian roulette."

They shared another good chuckle, which was soon interrupted by another nurse, whom Nate thought he remembered from the previous visits.

"Elena?" she called out and it was their turn to rise and follow the nurse down winding corridors.

"Doctor Heart will be in shortly."

The door closed with a quiet tap. Elena waited on the examination chair rustling the paper sheet it was covered with, while Nate sat on his usual spot by the door and impatiently looked around.

The room was different, but styled in the same quirky manner as the one they had been in before. His gaze lingered on an expensive-looking frame on the wall. Under typical circumstances you'd expect to see one of those inspirational quotes under glass, but…

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PREGNANT WOMAN AND A LIGHTBULB? YOU CAN UNSCREW A LIGHTBULB.

…the quote read.

"Well that's…deep," Nate smirked and Elena covered her face in a facepalm.

Doctor Heart was not your typical doctor. And his personality did not fit under a frame of typical either. Nate knew immediately they'd get along. Somewhat.

As if validating Nate's thoughts, the door flew open and a tall broad man walked in. He was Sully's age and had the same grey moustache, but it appeared contrastingly whiter on the dark brown skin of his wrinkled face.

"Well hey there kiddos," Doctor Heart's loud low growl filled the small room as he looked quite reproachfully at the two of them from behind shiny specks of dainty glasses, "Got yourselves into some trouble, heh?"

As both Nate and Elena explained the details of the fainting incident from a week ago, Doctor Heart sat down casually on his chair in front of Elena, blew gently on his glasses and polished them to perfection with a knowing look of someone who'd been there done that and was half-interested in what they were saying. As they finished, he produced a fetal doppler from out of the pocket of his immense white coat.

"I see, I see – now, my dear Mrs. Drake, please lift up your shirt and lie back for me, let's check that heartbeat real quick."

As the stick glided along Elena's tan skin, a steady beat resounded from the machine and Nate gulped down.

"Sounds good to me," Doctor Heart concluded and handed a wipe to Elena before the device disappeared in his pocket again.

"So…is there anything we should be worried about?" Nate sheepishly raised his head from his corner.

"Well, there, let me just…" the doc mumbled vaguely, more to his thoughts rather than in reply, and sitting back down, flipped through the pages of his notepad, inspecting the papers.

Nate and Elena exchanged a look, not daring to disturb the important silence that fell over the room.

"All right," Doctor Heart cackled finally and lowered his notes, honoring the two of them with another shrewd look from under his bushy brows, which somehow made Nate feel guilty, though he didn't even know why. Elena seemed to share his feelings, as she sat frozen and unusually straight, "There's time for some changes folks," he pointed his finger at Elena, who pursed her lips.

"Meaning?" she asked after a moment's hesitation.

"You damn well know what I mean, young lady. You're under house arrest."

"Excuse me?" Elena's brows scrunched up - indignation threatening to overcome the respect she had for the man.

Doctor Heart shot a laser-sharp look at Nate.

"Mr. Drake, is entering third trimester of pregnancy a reason good enough for a work excuse note?"

Nate hesitated under both doctor's and his wife's expectant looks.

"You tell me, she's the boss," he shrugged and Doctor Heart turned to Elena with a look of a man who heard everything there was to hear.

"Well then, I officially bestow all due responsibilities upon your husband's capable shoulders, Mrs. Drake," he said flatly, "All I need you to do from now on is stay, if not home-bound, then at least land-bound- and by that I mean New Orleans-bound. Your baby is fine. I have studied both the ultrasound performed by my Mexican colleague and the labs - nothing revealed any abnormalities. But I would like to keep it that way. So house arrest it is."

Unnerved, Elena stared back at the doctor and then her lips curved in a soft smile.

"I'm sure we can discuss this…," she started slyly, but Doctor Heart cut her off with a laugh.

"Oh no-no-no darling, save your charm for the cameras, I have raised four daughters and those little feminine tricks of yours have no effect on me whatsoever."

Elena frowned with frustration, "Oh c'mon Doctor Heart, we still have filming to do, I can't be stuck at home for the next three months, I'll go crazy. Don't make a girl suffer," she said with all sincerity, but doctor only tiredly covered his eyes, not at all amused.

"Please, Mrs. Drake, tell me exactly how much you're suffering, dear," he said sarcastically, "You entered your pregnancy in prime physical condition and your pregnancy has been nothing but a textbook breeze," he held a menacing pause, "As far as I can see, all of your so-called suffering is entirely self-inflicted. So-," he gave Elena another heavy stare and his voice turned more stern, "Sit you lovely behind at home. No more international travel. No more risky endeavors and no more boats. And breathe," he added as if he failed to mention the most crucial detail of all.

"I breathe," Elena stated with little confidence, seemingly taken aback by the passionate lecturing.

"Then breathe deeper, my dear Mrs. Drake, breathe deeper, because your little southern belle fainting spell earlier this week, was caused by simple lack of oxygen and overheating. Case closed," Doctor Heart begun scribbling in his notepad as he commented gravely along, "loose clothes, adequate hydration, casual level of physical activity and good rest-," he raised his eyes momentarily, "-If I were you I'd hoard as much sleep as I could-," he went back to scribbling and then loudly tore the page off and offered it to Elena, "…and this prescription will ensure you pregnancy will stay a textbook breeze."

Elena took the paper from his hand and her eyes slid along the lines, "Treasure Island by R.L. Stevenson, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, Moby-Dick by H. Melville, The Golden Compass by P. Pullman, The Outlander by D. Gabaldon – take any medication with the dosage of at least two chapters daily," her eyes rose at the doctor, "what is this?"

"Adventures to let your restless soul wander while you keep your body at rest," Doctor said nonchalantly and added with a smile that looked rather strangely on his normally austere face, "The last one has some steaminess to it too, my wife's favorite," he added with a wink, "Oh, by the way, you're about to start nesting, darling, so that should keep you occupied."

"Nesting?" Elena seemed to completely lose the thread conversation was held with.

"Yeah, very common in third trimester – makes you want to get up close and personal with every hidden mess in the house and organize everything to perfection before babe arrives – every husband's nightmare – gotta be fun!"

Nate sat on the sidelines, watching as the scene played out in front of his eyes. At this point he was used to not being regarded much when it came to Elena's pregnancy. He was a shadow player. A secondary character, whose work was done – at least for the time being - and whose opinions mattered little. He didn't even mind it. Especially now when someone with expert opinion could put her before facts, far better than he could. He wasn't even sure Elena would listen to him if he tried. Now a licensed doctor with decades of experience and expertise behind his belt – now that's different. Now she would to listen.

More protests followed, but with far less conviction. It fazed neither Nate nor Dr. Heart – Elena wouldn't be herself if she didn't try to put up a good fight before giving up. Which she finally did reluctantly, throwing imploring glances at Nate, waiting for him to back her up. But he stayed quiet - scratching his five o'clock shadow apologetically with a look of peaceful acceptance on his face. He shrugged – what do you expect me to do? And she measured him with a sulking look.

"Well then," Doctor Heart stood up and clicked his pen with finality, "I will see you, Mrs. Drake, in two weeks. And please don't dare show up here before then with another incident, I really expect you to be the smart girl you are and stick to my advice, all right?" he waited and Elena nodded, "All right," he started making his way to the door, "It's been real. It's been fun. But it hasn't been real fun. Doctor visits never are, am I right?" he chuckled.

"Well you're all heart, Dr. Heart," Nate couldn't help but say and the Doc pointed his pen at him.

"Not real original son," he said gravely, but laughter flickered in his eyes, "Keep that one out of trouble, okay?" he opened the door, but before disappearing behind it, added, "And looking forward to the next episode of your show folks. See ya!"

The door closed again. It left silence behind. And all Nate could do was give another innocent shrug under Elena's reproachful stare.

"All right honey, just take it easy, ok? The boxes can wait," Nate said unto his phone, watching another plane align itself for takeoff, "Yeah, it looks like the flight is solid, should be boarding in about twenty minutes or so - just go home already, you're off the hook," he smiled, "love you too, drive safely, I'll text you before take-off."

Nate flipped the phone closed and sighed. It was their little ritual - to hang around until it was clear the flight was not going to be canceled. Implemented after several unfortunate cancelation, at which point the non-flying one of them was already home and having to leave the house mid shower to pick the other from the airport.

Nate looked into the distance, absent-mindedly staring through wall to ceiling windows at the sunlit runways. His heart was heavy; The unusual loneliness he felt when stepping into departure area without his wife, intensified after hearing her voice again. And the view lost its lackluster on him long time ago anyway.

…Is she gonna be ok?

…Is this the way it's always gonna be now?

His mind went back to last night, when he started packing for the trip and Elena dragged her suitcase into their bedroom, half hoarded with moving boxes.

"What's that for?" He frowned already knowing the answer.

"Well," Elena's eyes shirked to the side after which she tilted her shoulder dismissively, "I thought maybe I can go for just a week or so, just to make sure the episode comes together right," she looked up at him with big eyes and her lips twisted to the side apologetically, "I bought the ticket yesterday," she said quietly and, as his expression changed, hurriedly added, "I'll be taking it easy, drinking plenty of water and stuff, you know- not gonna faint on you again."

Nate stared back at her in disbelief. It was less than a week after their appointment with doctor Heart and after several conversations he thought they had it clear between them that Nate was going to finish this job alone. After that they would stick to boring budget-sustaining local recovery jobs for a while, which Nate could nine to five like he did before. Did he miss something?

"I thought we had it figured out? And what-you just gonna buy a ticket behind my back and put me before a fact a night before departure?"

"Oh, c'mon Nate," Elena walked across the room. She tiptoed, wrapping her arms around his neck and he felt her belly wedge between them. He let the duffle he was holding drop to the floor and leaned down - his hands a steadying presence around her.

"We don't have to listen to Dr. Heart to a t," Elena intently looked into his eyes, "one week is not gonna change anything and I'll be VERY careful. I need it. Please."

Her eyes were soft and pleading and honest. Two innocent pools of sweet honey. She knew how to get anything she wanted out of him. But not this time.

"Honey," Nate said slowly and his voice was much gentler now, "The job is not worth it, just cancel your ticket, ok? I don't care if it's too late for refunds, I'm not gonna let you risk your life again. And Cassie's," he added, "the Doc is right, next time might not be as harmless."

This was not what Elena expected to hear and it reflected on her disappointed face.

"You know I don't exactly need your permission, right?" she said coolly and her hands slipped down along his chest. A mixture of anger and dismay pursed his lips into a tight line.

"Really 'Lena? Is that what you gonna tell me now?!"

Elena stared at him stubbornly, but the look he gave her must conveyed she'd gone a little too far and she looked away. Without a word she walked over to the closet and pushed the suitcase back into it. Little wheels rolled over wooden planks of the floor, hit the wall and the suitcase fell over on its side with a thud, leaving deafening silence behind.

"Happy?" Elena sat down on the bed, still avoiding his gaze.

"Not really, no."

"Well too bad then."

Nate sat down on the bed inches away from her. He'd known Elena as the most reasonable person, always able to look beyond emotions and see a clear unfiltered picture of things. But then he got her pregnant... and emotions seemed to somewhat take over a bit more often than before. He just had to shove his own doubts and fears aside and take the helm for a bit. It's the least he could do for her.

His anger died down and he wrapped his arm around her, "Hey."

Elena raised her head at him.

"I need you to stop pretending that nothing changed," he said softly.

"Don't tell me about changes," Elena muttered, staring blankly in front of her, "you're not the one suffering from them."

Nate suppressed a pang caused by her unfair words, "Honey, you fainted and almost cracked your head open in front of my eyes," he said, clearly articulating every word to make sure it went through her stubbornness and reached her, made her see reason. But his hopes were short-lived.

"Oh, c'mon, you're just catastrophizing it."

"No, 'Lena catastrophizing is when you don't get ice cream after dinner because I happened to finish the last jar, and you go to bed pouting at me. This is fact etched in stone."

"...more like in sand," the hazel eyes rolled and she agitatedly added, "And, for the record, it was only one time and you weren't supposed to touch my special pistachio almond anyway, you know how hard it is to find it in stores."

"Oh I know!" Nate's brows went up, "I had to search for it all over New Orleans the next day!"

He smiled and, after a split-second, Elena faintly smiled back and leaned against his shoulder. Their fingers laced together and he squeezed her hand.

"You know women still die in childbirth, right?" Nate said quietly into her hair, "I'm not trying to scare you or anything, but I did my homework and there are so many things that could go wrong. Let's just listen to Doctor Heart and take it easy ok? What am I gonna do with this whole business venture you've stirred up if something happens to you?" he nudged her on the shoulder and she chuckled.

"Guess you'd have to do all the paperwork."

Elena glanced up at him and he could finally see something change in his wife's eyes.

"Would you marry again?" Elena asked after a while, her lips twisted in a sly smile.

"Pfffffff..." Nate breathed out, grimacing, "I don't know, that's a lot of work... flings are much easier."

"Haha," Elena rolled her eyes sarcastically, "Tell me about it."

"I know one thing for sure though..."

"What's that?"

"Soulmates are hard to find… and I've got mine sitting right here next to me."

Her eyes sparked with emotion and, gazing lovingly into his eyes, she squeezed his fingers and whispered...

"Ten points to Griffyndor, cowboy."

"Khm, khm?"

Unexpected noise dragged Nate out of the whirlpool of thoughts and he turned his head to look at its source.

A man, with a receding line of severely greying dark hair, sat one polite seat down from Nate. When Nate looked at him, the man sheepishly smiled - his coughing earlier none other than tactical attempt to gain Nate's attention.

"Can I help you?" asked Nate.

The man's lips quivered as if he didn't actually expect Nate to answer. His gaze dropped before he finally spoke.

"Wonderful day to fly," he glanced at the sunlit windows.

"Yeah, not bad."

"You heading far?"

With his elbows resting on his knees, Nate vaguely motioned his hand, "Brownsville, not too far I guess," he didn't feel like engaging in small talk, but the older man's face seemed so genuinely kind and open, that he went along with it. After all, most old people like to talk and most of them – like this guy probably - don't have enough opportunity to satisfy the need for communication, "I've got a baby on the way, so gotta go on this work trip real quick and be back to set up the nursery."

"Ah," the man said with understanding and something else that made him give Nate and intent look that was almost regretful, "you'll make a great father, I'm sure of it."

"Yeah...-" Nate chuckled darkly, "-and you got that from two minutes of conversation, huh?" he looked away and his eyes followed a small ground vehicle creeping down the concrete toward one of the Boeings, "Anyway," he changed the topic and looked at the old man again, "what about you? Where are you going?"

"That...," the man faltered and thoughtfully scratched the short salt-and-pepper stubble on his face, "is a story in itself."

Here we go, thought Nate. All Sully style with the extensive storytelling. Is that so hard to give a simple answer to a simple question? Nate glanced at his watch.

ATTENTION. BOARDING IS DELAYED FOR FLIGHT NUMBER SB-34 NEW ORLEANS-BROWNSVILLE, OPERATED BY...

"Oh, for Christ's sake," Nate grunted and kicked back in his seat, "Well," he looked at the man again after sending Elena a quick update, "It so happens, I've got some time on my hands, so...what's the story again?"

And what a story it was. It conjured memories that Nate regarded with a bittersweet smile. James - as it turned out to be the old man's name - uncovered the details leisurely, dropping a hint here and there before revealing an outright explanation. He was a born storyteller. And to think Nate could sullenly shut the guy out when he initially tried to have a small talk?!

James spoke of ancient civilization forever gone and buried in glacier ice; of bugging mysteries and dead-end clues; intricate mechanisms of an immemorial occult site he had recently discovered... and of many more still waiting to be unearthed. He spoke of device possessing extraordinary capabilities and of the quest to find it amounting to decades of research. His life, put to the altar of the chase - yet it was all worth it. Why? Well...Because he knew - he'd bet his life on it! - that he was so close to it now, that he could sense the magnetic draw of the Hourglass tugging on his being.

And his youth that, somehow, thinned, frailed and faded in the process - was it really that much of a sacrifice in the face of finally achieving his goal, his...dream. It really meant little if anything. He would do it all over again.

James smiled sadly.

Nate listened, spellbound, and dared not interrupt. He understood. He knew. He felt it. For a moment he was twenty again and the road was calling. Never knowing exactly where it lead, he went anyway. And why wouldn't he?

He listened and he wished he could help, but...

No, he wasn't going to go down that lane of thinking again. For one moment he just wanted to dissolve in the unbelievable heck of a story this stranger was sharing with him. Story of James' whole life and story of Nate's own past. Was that so bad?

Finding rebound in his listener, James shared his theories and ideas with passionate conviction. Then the story rolled to its ending. Not a true logical ending you'd expect, but a forced dead-end. Nate's bread and butter.

James paused and looked at Nate searchingly, almost expectantly.

"Well," Nate summed up, "the only thing missing is a crazy psychopath villain with an army of mercs trying to beat you to the prize - for it to be called a proper treasure hunt that is."

"Ah," James eyes went wide, "precisely! And they showed up last week. A whole bunch of them, forcing me and my crew to leave the site! My employer is wary of violence, I'm inclined to it even less. We had no idea there was competition and were completely unprepared. That is-, "he looked at Nate with a sort of caution, "the reason I'm here."

"So...," Nate went back to his original questions, "... you're flying to...?"

"I'm here... to find you, Nathan, and convince you to join me and my employer in the search for the Hourglass."

James said those words earnestly and they hung in the air above them – the air that suddenly drastically cooled down and filled up with tension. People buzzed all around, walked past, updates were announced through speakers and wheels rolled on the shiny white floor. The two men stared at each other.

Nate's month twitched to the side and his easy casual friendliness vanished without a trace. Cold and sharp, his blue eyes squinted and he measured James with a hard stare. He felt tricked. How long had he been tracked for before this guy finally approached him at departure gate, pretending to be a simple old fellow-traveller?

"There's a strong smell here-," Nate broke the silence, "-a strong smell of bullshit."

"Pardon the long introduction, I needed to get your attention," James apologized. His light brown eyes shone with sincerity that Nate didn't care much for, "I'm no treasure hunter, I'm just an old historian," the man said with a sad smile, "and you, Nathan, you're a legend in treasure hunting circles. We need your skillset and your knowledge. I've seen the way your eyes lit up when I was telling you my story, you wish you could solve this mystery - find the artifact, find the ancient city. You're just as passionate about it as I am. And...," James added meaningfully, as if the list of reasons wasn't extensive enough, "My employer is a very generous man. Half a million dollars would set your kid up for the best college education in the country, wouldn't you think?"

"I don't care, this is all-," Nate started without listening, but when the meaning reached his brain, his eyes flew wide open, "-wait, how much?"

James nodded importantly and for a moment Nate hesitated. It was a lot of money. Money, which would greatly benefit his little family. But...hesitation lasted only a short moment. He had been down that road before... what would Elena say?

Nate shook his head, "I'm not for hire," he said firmly and wrapped his fingers around the handles of his duffle bag, "Not for this kind of work anyway. Not anymore. Now if you'll excuse me-," he stood up, "-good luck with the search. And tell your employer not to mess with me or my family - it doesn't end well. If he heard of me, then he knows why," he finished flatly and turned his back on James, heading in the direction of a small souvenir store that was the first place he saw in his desire to get away. He didn't look back, but could feel the old man's soft gaze watching him walk away.

"Nathan," he called and Nate grudgingly stopped, "What?" he growled rather than said.

"Please reconsider."

For a moment, Nate lingered. Then threw his duffle over his shoulder and walked off, without honoring the man with a single look. Intercom announced boarding for his flight and Nate swerved in the direction of his gate to join the quickly growing line to board the plane. Tucking his passport back into the zipper pocket of his bag, Nate threw a last glance behind - the old man still sat where he left him and their eyes met for a brief moment before Nate turned the corner.

And James blankly stared at the spot where Nathan disappeared from view. He sighed and thoughtfully rubbed his forehead.

"I wish it didn't have to come to this," he said quietly, hopelessly to himself. Struggling with his conscience, he took the phone out of his pocket and prepared to make the call.