Chapter Fifteen – Repercussions

When her car stopped in the back of the military hanger Elizabeth had to force herself to be still even though all she really wanted to do was race out of the car and join the other nervous parents and families. That simply couldn't be her role yet, as much as she wanted it to be. One of her security guys opened her door and poked his head in the car.

"We're here, Ma'am."

"I know. Just give me a minute."

She took a deep breath and forced herself to push thoughts of Stevie to the back of her mind for a little bit longer. It wasn't like there was anything she could do for her daughter at the moment anyway. Her intervention would not make the plane arrive any faster. Once she was sure she had her emotions as under control as it was possible for them to be she stepped out of the car. Her eyes immediately swept the hanger and she was pleased to see there was no media presence. It looked like her team had done an incredible job keeping the whole situation under wraps. The parents and spouses of the other hostages looked as impatient and nervous as Elizabeth felt. Some were pacing around, others clinging to each other, and even more simply remained still with their eyes glued to the door of the hanger, hoping for a glimpse of the plane that would bring their loved ones back to them. Most of them didn't seem to notice her arrival or if they did they didn't care. Elizabeth was thankful for that. It would be even harder to keep up the act of being here only as Secretary of State if one of them felt the need to talk to her. Remaining completely unnoticed wasn't going to be her fate though. When she saw one of the men approaching her she had to mentally prepare herself to face him.

"Secretary McCord?"

He sounded so nervous. Elizabeth offered him the best smile she could come up with and a slight nod of her head.

"Thank you for finding a way to get my wife home," he told her.

That time she didn't even need to force a smile. It came automatically.

"You're very welcome."

"I'm sorry to ask, but nobody will give me an answer. Do you know when they're supposed to be landing?"

"I would say within the next half hour or so."

She could see the relief wash over his face as he grinned at her. After a quick thank you he moved back to the other waiting family members, and Elizabeth was left to wait as patiently as she could on her own. That encounter hadn't been anywhere near as bad as it could have been. She hadn't been waiting very long when her phone rang. The news she received was enough to make her feel weak. After she hung up she took a moment to enjoy the news herself before sharing it with the others.

"Alright, everyone," she called out and immediately had heads swinging in her direction. "I just got word that the plane has landed. They're taxiing down the runway toward us now."

The hanger had been relatively quiet before she'd spoken, but once she was done chatter and excitement filled the room. It was to be expected, and Elizabeth was feeling the same way herself. The plane couldn't taxi fast enough for her liking. When it pulled in the military workers in the hanger held the families back. Elizabeth forced herself to stay where she was as well. It was hard though, and it was even more difficult once the steps were in place and the door opened. There was nothing she wanted more than to run up the steps into the plane and find Stevie. She waited though, tense as a drawn bow as people began filing off the plane. At one point she saw Captain Ames, but the best she could do was mouth thank you to him from where she was standing. Once all of this was over she would find a way to thank him properly. Right now all she could focus on was Stevie.

Stevie was the last hostage to emerge from the cabin. When Elizabeth saw her, bruised and battered with a brace on her wrist but holding tightly to a small stuffed rabbit, she automatically took a step forward. Stevie stood at the top of the steps looking shell shocked and unsure what to do. Then she spotted Elizabeth and it took only a moment before she started racing down the steps so fast Elizabeth was afraid she would fall.

"Mom!" Stevie cried out.

After that one word getting to Stevie was all that mattered to Elizabeth. Mom was exactly what she was. Stevie left her bag on the ground and raced toward her mother. Throwing all other concerns aside Elizabeth ran to her daughter, meeting her halfway and immediately folding Stevie into her arms. Tears were streaming down both of their faces as Stevie wound her arms around her mother and held on for dear life.

"Mommy," she whimpered.

"Shh, baby. I'm here. It's okay now. You're home, and I'm right here."

Elizabeth rubbed Stevie's shaking back and stroked her hair. She couldn't resist planting a few kisses on the side of her daughter's head. Finally, finally she had her little girl back with her. She was a little bit worse for the wear, but they would deal with that later. All Elizabeth wanted to do in that moment was to hold Stevie for all she was worth. She didn't even notice the heads turning in their direction. Clearly Stevie's identity had remained secret until the end.

Eventually Stevie pulled out of the hug, but she didn't go far. She simply grabbed the edges of her mom's blazer. Her face was twisted in agony, and Elizabeth could easily read the guilt there. It pierced her heart.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"Stevie…"

Stevie was too frantic to get out what she needed to say to let her mom speak and simply cut her off.

"I couldn't even get out of your way in a country 6,000 miles away. I screwed up again, and I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to cause you more problems. Please believe me!"

Elizabeth had no idea what Stevie was talking about, but what her daughter was saying scared her. This had to be coming from somewhere. She needed to find out where it was coming from, but that wasn't important right now. Her daughter was not in a good place. Calming Stevie down and taking care of her was the priority. Elizabeth made a mental note of what Stevie had said so she could deal with it later and then ignored it all.

"Shh. Shh, Stevie," Elizabeth soothed as she cupped her daughter's cheeks. "None of this is your fault. Okay? I'm not mad at you."

Stevie tried to look away, but Elizabeth held her firmly.

"Stevie, look at me." When Stevie's teary eyes met Elizabeth's, Elizabeth continued. "I don't blame you for any of this."

"You should. I've caused you so many problems…"

"No, Stevie. I think I know what I should and shouldn't be feeling, and trust me, baby, I don't blame you for this."

Stevie began trembling and soon enough tears were dripping down her face again. Elizabeth pulled Stevie back into her arms.

"Come on, sweetheart. You've been through a lot. Let's get you home, okay?"

"Okay," Stevie whimpered.

Elizabeth ushered Stevie into the back of the car and slid in next to her. She draped her arm around Stevie, and her daughter settled her head onto Elizabeth's shoulder. Stevie was an absolute mess and clearly more than just physically. Hopefully after she got some rest she would be in a better frame of mind to help Elizabeth understand what was going on and how to help her.

"Mom?" Stevie squeaked after they'd ridden in silence for a while.

"Yeah, baby?"

"Dad's going to kill me."

Elizabeth had had her cheek resting on top of Stevie's head, but at those words she jerked upright. She would have never expected her daughter to say something like that. Henry and Stevie were so close!

"No. No, baby. Your dad is just as worried about you as I am. He can't wait to have you home, safe in his arms."

"He's still going to be mad at me."

"We're not exactly happy you decided to suddenly go to Africa without telling us, but we're more worried about what you've been through right now."

Stevie looked down and fingered the brace on her left wrist before reluctantly lifting her head to meet her mother's eyes. She looked like she was about to be sick. When she didn't say anything Elizabeth caressed the back of Stevie's hand.

"What is it, Stevie?"

"The rebels that were holding us… I-I'm glad they're dead. Is that wrong?" Stevie clutched at her mom's hand before continuing. "It feels like it should be wrong. I mean, I'm happy someone is dead. I know that should bother me, but I don't feel any differently. I saw them killed right in front of my eyes, and it doesn't bother me. I'm not upset about it at all. There's something wrong with that, isn't there?"

Stevie's speech nearly ripped Elizabeth's heart apart. She wanted to turn back time and save her child from all of this pain. That wasn't a possibility though.

"No, baby. There's nothing wrong with feeling that way. They were trying to kill you. The only options were their deaths or yours. It's perfectly normal to be glad the people torturing you and threatening to kill you are dead."

"I know, but I still saw them die."

"Sweetheart, there weren't any other options. Not if we wanted to save all of you. Their choices led to their deaths. Do you understand me?"

"Yeah."

"Good."

Elizabeth kissed Stevie's head and pulled her close again. Stevie might not be truly upset by the rebels' deaths and what she'd been forced to witness but once some time passed Elizabeth knew that Stevie would probably be affected by it anyway. Once some of the numbness and shock wore off the true reality of what had happened would set it. This whole experience would leave a mark. Elizabeth just had to hope that that mark wouldn't be too deep.