-looks slightly ashamed-
I apologize for the delay, considering this chapter should have been here…. about 2 weeks ago? I had a lot of writer's block, but I got everything sorted out. I hope this chapter was worth the long wait…
Here's chapter 9!
If of the NT characters or plots belonged to me, I wouldn't be writing fan fiction. I'd be figuring what to do for movie 3. And I would actually know what was supposed to be on Page 47…
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"The Resolute Desk is near the south wall of the Oval Office." Patrick set down a book on the table in front of us, and I peered at the photograph on John Kennedy and his son curiously.
"That little door on the front…" Ben mused.
"FDR had that put in so guests couldn't see his wheelchair." Patrick seated himself at the table.
"Well, what if it's like the Queen's desk?" Nicole suggested. "The drawers?"
"That's a possibility." Ben shrugged. I watched Riley scroll through the White House page, and his face suddenly lit up.
"Guys." He pointed at the screen, a smile forming on his lips. "Take a look at this."
"The Easter Egg Roll…" I read aloud. "That could work…"
"Why Abigail, I believe it's time for you to make a date with your new boyfriend…" Ben replied with a smirk.
"I think you're right." The blonde agreed. I could see Nicole and Ben look at each other from across the table, and a smile spread across Nicole's face. I knew that Ben would have his own date to the Easter Egg Roll this time.
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The water rushed in through the doorway, and it was already waist deep. I trudged through it, which proved rather difficult. All I could see was his face. I got as close to him as I could, my eyes meeting his. "You don't have to do this!" I cried.
He just shook his head. "I'm doing this for you! I'm trying to protect you, Kathleen!"
"No!" I could feel a fire burning in my chest. "Don't worry about me! Just go!" He simply shook his head.
"No. I'm staying!" He shouted stubbornly.
"But you don't have to!" Tears of frustration welled in my eyes. Why was he always trying to protect me?
A sudden strong blast from the rushing current knocked me backwards. I looked up one time at his face, and he looked sad. I could see him mouthing something, and though I couldn't hear the words, I knew exactly what he'd said.
'I love you.'
The door opened, and I was sucked under with everyone else. I heard it shut with a loud crashing thud. Everyone was on our side, except Mitch. I felt a small hope burning. Maybe he would save him, like he had before with Ben. The door opened again and someone was washed under. I watched the person resurface, and I stumbled back when I realized it was Mitch. I continued to back up, reeling in horror as I looked at Mitch lying on the hard floor of the caverns. If Mitch was on our side, that would mean that he…
My eyes burned with unshed tears, my soaked clothing sticking to my body. I pounded on the door with all my might, praying for some sort of miracle.
"Kathleen!" Nicole grabbed my arm. "There's no way to get him out of there."
I fell to my knees, sobbing. "He can't die! He promised! He promised me he wouldn't…"
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I suddenly sat up in the bed, my entire body shaking. I looked around the room, and saw another body lying beside me. I tried to catch my breath, and Riley stirred beside me, groggily opening his eyes.
"Kathleen?" He whispered hoarsely, slowly sitting up. "What's the matter?"
"I had a nightmare." I laid back down in bed, defiantly staring in the opposite direction.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No!" My reply sounded a bit harsher than I had meant for it to sound.
"Kathleen." There was a hint of warning in his voice. "Don't take that up with me. Just tell me what's bothering you."
"Don't worry about it." I sighed. "It's… It's nothing."
"Kate." Now he was using my nickname, trying to calm me down. "If it upsets you that much, I think I have a right to know, don't I?"
I sighed again, and turned to face him. "You drowned." I swallowed. "You drowned trying to save me. I tried to change your mind, but you wouldn't listen and…You died."
"Oh."
There were a few moments of silence, and I found myself hoping he'd fallen asleep. But he turned to look at me.
"So you keep having these nightmares?"
"Yes."
"Well, do you know why?"
"I…" I suddenly became frustrated, and sat up. "Last time I was here you nearly died! And I was scared, OK? Little Kathleen got scared because she had to open her mouth, and a person she really really loved and cared about nearly died because of it, and she was scared to death that he would die and it would be her fault."
He stared at me for a moment, speechless. I got up out of the bed, starting to pace around the room as I kept talking, everything spilling from my tongue.
"And I felt guilty after that, and for some reason I just couldn't shake that feeling. For nearly a week you were teetering on the edge and I had to live with knowing that it was my fault."
Riley opened his mouth to speak, but I stopped him.
"And don't even tell me that it wasn't my fault because you'd be lying! And if you had died I would have…" My voice trailed off and I sat down on the edge of the bed, my eyes filling with tears. He sat up next to me.
"Kathleen…Kathleen, look at me."
I looked up into his eyes, and I seemed to be pinned down by his gaze.
"Nothing's going to happen to me. I promise you right now that nothing in the world would keep me from getting to the end of this thing. I'm not going to die."
"You're sure?" I felt like a small child being promised something. He gave me a small smile, putting his hand on my cheek.
"Of course."
I leaned forward, giving him a gentle kiss on the lips. "Thanks." I got back under the covers and fell into a peaceful sleep, my head resting on his chest as his arms held me close and didn't let go.
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Ah, Kathleen and her nightmares. It looks everything may be resolved now, though.
Please review! What did you think?