AN: Thank you all for the very kind reviews on the first part. I really appreciate them! This is an extended scene to 2x21: "Connection Lost". I really was disappointed when they didn't show Henry coming home. Here is my take... Hope you like it! Any and all comments are welcome!
Elizabeth walked out of the bar with her heart racing. Could Dimitri really be alive? No, that isn't possible… Why would the Russians keep him alive? Conflicting thoughts raced through her mind.
"Ma'am, I need you to get in the car. It is not safe for you to stand out on the sidewalk like this." Elizabeth hadn't noticed she had been standing on the sidewalk outside the bar. She was caught up in the many thoughts about Dimitri and how much her life has changed the past weeks.
"Sorry, Matt. I just have a lot on my mind. Let's head home." She climbed into the car and headed towards Georgetown.
Elizabeth sat there in silence but her mind was screaming at her. She mostly struggled with what the Russian Foreign Minister told her. Should I tell Henry? They had been through so much the past few weeks. She felt like they were finally getting out of the muck. Revisiting Dimitri and the sensitive emotions surrounding that situation would certainly open some old wounds. After a long conversation with herself, she decided she would do some research before telling her husband. That was the only thing she could handle right now.
After a few minutes of silence, Matt broke the silence. "Ma'am, I just got word that Dr. McCord will be arriving within the hour. Would you like to go to the airport or home?" Matt didn't even have to ask the question. He already knew Elizabeth's answer. He had already told the rest of the detail to head there before she even answered.
"Airport, please. Thanks, Matt." She needed to see her husband as soon as she could, she didn't want to wait any longer. The last few days of agonizing over if he was okay was enough reason for her.
When they arrived at the hanger, Matt turned around and saw Elizabeth's lifeless stare. It seemed as though her mind was miles away. She had dark purple bags under her eyes that suggested she hadn't had a decent night of sleep in days. "Ma'am, Dr. Mccord and the rest of Murphy Station isn't due to land for another 45 minutes. With respect, you look tired. Maybe you should rest. I'll wake you up when they land."
Elizabeth chuckled. "Thanks, Matt. Tired is an understatement. I'll take you up on your offer. Let me know when they land." She shut her eyes and dozed off into a soft slumber.
"Ma'am… Ma'am, Dr. McCord has arrived." Elizabeth woke up to Matt's voice.
"He's here?" She was pretty drowsy and couldn't think straight.
"Yes, Ma'am. They just landed."
Elizabeth glanced out the window and saw her husband's plane taxi into the hanger. "Can I?" Before she got an answer from Matt, she was already halfway out the door. She stood next to her car as the plane's stairs slowly moved down to ground level. Her heart started to race as she stood there waiting for her husband to come down the stairs. Tears started to form in the corner of her eyes.
After much anticipation, Henry appeared at the top of the plane's stairs and immediately saw his beautiful wife across the hanger. She could no longer hold her tears back as she slowly started to walk towards the plane. A big relief passed over her. In the situation room, she saw her husband climb into the helicopter but it became much more real when she saw him come down the stairs.
They met in the middle of the hanger inches apart. "Hi." Henry was at a loss for words. He was so exhausted and extremely happy to see his wife.
"Hi", Elizabeth replied back. At this point, she was a hysterical mess. Her eyes were red and puffy. She was so caught up in the emotions that she could not breathe steadily. Henry dropped his belongings at his feet and pulled Elizabeth towards his chest. She laid her head on his chest and took a deep breath. The world and all the problems faded away to where it was just Henry and Bess.
After a few moments of breathing in rhythm together, Elizabeth broke the silence. "You are in big trouble, mister. What happened to getting on the Chinook? I was worried sick!"
"Babe, I am so sorry I put you through that. We saw an opening and we couldn't turn it down." They made eye contact and Henry could see the pain in her eyes. A wave of guilt rushed over him but he didn't care. He just wanted to be with his wife and not think about work. They could deal with that later. Henry bent down and gently kissed her lips.
"Hey, don't distract me with your big eyes and soft lips! I am still mad at you. You said this was an easy mission. You confirmed that you were going to have the ops team handle the dirty work!" It took all of his might not to laugh at Elizabeth's hysteria. She really wasn't angry or upset with Henry. She was just as at fault. When Dalton asked for her input, she gave him permission to continue with Murphy Station's mission. However, she had been holding all of her feelings in for too long. Henry was an easy and forgiving target.
He knew exactly what she was doing. Over twenty five years with this woman, you'd think he would pick up on when she was serious versus when she just needed to vent. He knew within a few minutes, Bess would have emptied her worries and feel much better.
After a few more minutes of Elizabeth's venting, she came to a stopped and took a deep breath. She had gotten it all out. Now, she just wanted to be with her husband, Henry, not Dr. McCord. They walked toward the car hand and hand.
"How are the kids? Did they buy the San Diego story?"
"Are you kidding? They know us too well. And, I'm a horrible at playing the part. I can never convince them I am okay with you going to these "religious conferences". One night, Stevie came into our room and climbed into bed with me. I acted like I was asleep but she knew I wasn't. It was like she knows I can't sleep when you aren't there." They were now in the car. Henry had his arm around Elizabeth's waist and she had her head on his chest.
"I am glad they are all okay. Leaving you guys here is the worst part… I understand the lack of sleep. I don't sleep when you are gone either." Elizabeth lifted her head from his chest and turned so she could make eye contact. She could feel the intimacy between them.
"Well, I think I won't be taking any major trips anytime soon. After Russia and now this, I think we need a little break from trips. Looks like you are going to be stuck with me."
"Fine with me." Henry bent down and gave her an long eager kiss. He was so happy to be home. They spent the rest of the drive home making out and embraced in eachother's arms.
