Chapter 16

Gil woke before the alarm, he kissed the top of Sara's head, inhaling her scent. Gil knew that there were still a few things that needed to be done before he left but he didn't want to move, he wanted to hold Sara just a little longer. Ten minutes later the alarm went off, waking Sara.

"Morning," she said, sleepily.

"Morning love," he said.

Sara raised her head and looked at the clock, "We need to get going."

"I know," Gil said.

Neither of them moved for a few more minutes. Sara was near tears as she thought about her beloved husband leaving, even if it was only going to be for a month. As if in one movement Sara moved away from Gil and got out of bed, she would not let him see her cry.

"I'm going to shower. Why don't you finish packing," she said, choking back tears.

"Ok," Gil said, wrapping his arms around her pillow.

Sara stood under the water weeping uncontrollablely. She vowed to get all the tears out now, there was no way she was not going to let Gil see her cry.

Gil finished packing and had everything in order, he smiled and headed for the shower. Sara was already done, standing in the middle of the room, dried and almost dressed.

"You cheated," he said, "Pulling her into his arms and kissing her.

He had hoped to shower with her, feel her skin next to his one more time.

Sara smiled, "Shower."

Sara knew if they were together, touching each other intimately as they always did, that she would not be able to let him go. Her drying and dressing before he got to the shower was the best way to avoid that.

By time Gil had finished his shower Sara had already fixed coffee and put his things in the trunk of the car. Gil and Sara sat in the kitchen drinking their coffee, neither wanted to talk about what was going on. Neither wanted to say it out loud.

Gil stood, "We should go."

A little later Gil and Sara were at Betty's door.

"Did everything get taken care of last night," she asked.

Gil just smiled. She could tell by the look on her sons face that they had a "productive" night.

Sara picked up Amelia, turned and headed for the door.

"Everything work out?" Gil asked his mother.

Betty nodded.

Amelia chatted all the way to the airport. Betty just looked out the window. Gil and Sara didn't say anything, he just kept his hand on hers. Amelia's eyes were as big as saucers as she looked around the terminal. Gil found his gate, checked his bag and walked over to one of the large windows.

"Airplane," Gil said, as he showed Amelia the sign.

Amelia laughed, signed 'airplane' and said, "fly."

Sara stood next to Gil, her arm around his waist, choking back tears. When Gil's flight was called he kissed Amelia and his mother then handed her the baby. Gil put his arms around Sara and kissed her.

"I'll miss you," he whispered.

"I already do," she said.

Gil smiled at Amelia and waved.

"Bye-Bye Daddy," Amelia said.

Gil was out of sight before Sara sat down, buried her face in her hands and cried. Betty walked over to her and tenderly touched her shoulder. Sara took Amelia from Betty and hugged her tight.

Betty sat next to her, she knew Sara would need a few minutes to collect herself.

On his plane Gil pulled out a picture of his wife and daughter, a tear fell from the corner of his eye.

Sara took Betty to lunch before taking her home, at her condo Sara gave Betty a copy of her schedule for the time that Gil would be gone. Later that evening Sara put Amelia to bed then lay on her bed trying to sleep. She knew this first night alone would be the hardest. Sara missed him, more then she thought she would.

Over the monitor she heard Amelia fuss, Sara smiles and goes to her daughter. Sara goes to her room and picks her up. Normally Sara would tend to what the baby needed then put her back in her bed, but tonight she needed her close to her so she carried her back to her room.

"Daddy?" Amelia said looking at the spot where her father normally would be then back to her mother.

Sara kissed her daughters cheek then lay down. Amelia quickly wiggled free of her mothers arms to where her father should be. Amelia buried her face in her fathers pillow, then rolled to her back, smiling at Sara she said, "Daddy."

Sara pulled her daughter close, sharing Gil's pillow, they both fell fast asleep.

In his room in Washington Gil too was having trouble sleeping, he was tempted to call Sara but he didn't want to wake her - just incase. Gil decided to unpack, he smiled as he seen one of Amelia's stuffed toys with a note pinned to it: SOMETHING TO REMEMBER HER BY Sara had written. Gil also found a pillowcase which Sara had sprayed with some of the perfume that she occasionally wore: SOMETHING TO REMEMBER ME BY she had written on a note pinned to it.

Gil removed the case from his pillow and replaced it with the one from home then he sat on the bed and wrapped his arms around the pillow, "I miss you."

The first week was the hardest. When Sara was not at work she spent every possible second she could with Amelia. The phone calls and Skype calls helped. Amelia would jump up and down and gabber continually while her parents talked.

"Daddy! Daddy!," Amelia would squeal causing her parents to laugh.

Once she even called Hank to come and "talk" to Daddy.

Betty, not wanting to interferer with their time, only stopped by once to talk to her son.

Gil told Sara that he would have a free weekend in two weeks and asked her to see if she could make arrangements to come to Spokane and spend it with him.

Sara would requested a weekend off and get it, she had planed to fly to Washington to spend some time with him.

But as things so often happen, her plans will be changed by circumstances beyond her control. The evening before Sara was to leave a life altering event will take place and her trip to Washington will have to be put on hold - if it will be taken at all.