Tim and Cassie sat on the leather sofa, Cassie leaning into Tim, his arm around her shoulders, holding her close to him. Tim had made the decision over dinner to kiss Cassie tonight, in the way he had described to her at the college. When Cassie had told him one of the Navy personal trainers had asked her out, Tim felt jealousy and anger build him inside of him, but he also felt some shame. Cassie was a very beautiful woman who deserved to be happy. Tim just hoped she would give him that chance, and he wasn't about to destroy everything they had created in the last three years.
Cassie wondered if her comment about the Navy Personal Trainer affected Tim. While she had been asked out, she had turned him down, telling him she never got involved with Navy personnel, just in case she ever had to investigate or question him or his unit colleagues. The truth was that she rarely felt enough of a spark from the men she met to want to go out on a date. It was when she felt a spark with Tim she knew she wanted to date him. Ignoring these feelings, thinking it was her imagination, her feelings began deepening every time she and Tim went to dinner, or to a fair. Sitting here now, she hoped tonight Tim would kiss her.
Neither knew their future was being decided just over seven miles north of them.
Flash Sideways
"What happened?" he asked, not wanting to know what caused that look.
"Heart attack. Declared dead at the scene."
Tim had left his credit card on the table, knowing that William, the maitre d', would collect it and keep it safe until they were ready to leave. Seeing Cassie out of the corner of his eye, he wondered what she would do when he kissed her. Tim and Cassie had both finished their glasses, neither looking to drink the small amount left in the bottle. Tim decided to be brave, Cassies response would let Tim know what to do next.
"Ready to go?" He asked, worried about the answer.
"Yeah, just let me go to the bathroom, I'll meet you by the doors." She answered, standing up. Walking back inside, Cassie veered to the left as Tim moved through the diners, William moving to the front desk.
"Mr McGee, I trust you and Miss Yates enjoyed the meal?" William had never referred to their special agents statuses, this to let them know here they were patrons, not on duty, able to relax.
"As usual, William. The food and service were excellent. My compliments to Marcell." Looking at the card reader, Tim was happy with the amount charged, thinking it should have been more, but knowing better than to complain. "Can you reserve me a table for the second weekend in August please, the Saturday, table of four to be confirmed?"
"Of course, Sir." William knew Mr McGee was aware of their confirmation schedule, and knew he would be in touch two weeks prior to the date. Mr McGee had cancelled only once in the past three years, and had called himself Special Agent McGee at the time. William was not upset by the cancellation, knowing it was down to work rather than anything else. William hoped the night in question was to inform someones parents of impending nuptials. Like the Ladies Circle of NCIS, William knew when a couple were in love. Two of his favourite customers were so in love it left a trail in the air. It was such a shame neither of them knew it.
Flash Sideways
"What do you think the reaction will be?"
"One I wished I didn't have to find out. But I do."
Tim and Cassie walked away from Bistro Aix, each step taken in blissful silence. They moved down the "Boardwalk", the stretch of road by the beach, populated with bars and restaurants. Tim could hear music in the distance, getting louder as they approached. Tim knew if he was going to kiss her, the time was fast approaching. All he had to do was hold his nerve and not bottle it.
Cassie looked up, saw the starry night sky above her head, heard the crash of the soft waves on the shore line, the music in the distance. Come on Tim, take me in your arms. She knew if Tim didn't try to kiss her tonight, he would never see her in that way.
Tim felt the fear hit him, the uncertainty over that he was about to do. He stopped walking, still holding Cassies hand. As she turned towards him, Tim stepped in, his right hand moving to her neck, he saw her eyes closing.
Cassie heard her heartbeat in her ears, the blood rushing all through her body. As Tims hand pressed against her neck and lower cheek, she felt herself look up, while closing her eyes. For a brief second, Cassie heard nothing, no waves, no music, no people. For that moment, only her and Tim existed. Then she felt it. The pressure. Tims lips on hers. Cassie knew everything had changed in that moment.
Tim felt the exhilaration move through him, he had done it. He had kissed the woman he loved, for how long he had loved her he did not know. He just knew he should have kissed her sooner. No kiss before this one compared. Every feeling he had ever had for a woman paled in comparison to this. He felt complete, as if Cassie had filled part of him he hadn't even realised was empty. Tim knew life would be very different from now on.
BRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG!
Tim and Cassie heard the phone ring, both knowing it was Tims. Pulling apart, they looked at each other, both smiling, both knowing what they wanted. Each other. Lifting the phone, Tim saw a caller ID that made him panic. Answering the phone, he said,
"Hello."
"Special Agent McGee, please hold for the Director."
Tim waited for several seconds, Cassie knew phone calls this late at night were never good.
"Agent McGee." Jen sounded official, and Tim started to worry.
"Director, is everything ok?" Worried he was being contacted about his parents or sister.
"I'm fine. So is your family." Tim let out a breath. "Agent McGee, I have just spoken with Agent Balboa. I'm sorry, Tim, but you are being reassigned, effective immediately."
"Director, please…" Tim felt like crying. For the briefest of moments, his life had been perfect. Why was this being taken from him?
"Agent McGee, you are to report to Camp Pendleton, California. Your new assignment is Special Agent in Charge of Special Operations. Please report to the CTOC assessment centre at 0900 tomorrow. Full briefing will be given by myself. Congratulations on your new post. Thank you, Agent McGee."
The director hung up on him, leaving him standing in the street, looking at the woman he loved. He would be moving, more than two thousand miles away. He wouldn't see her again for months. He wouldn't hold her, make her cups of coffee, cook for her. He wouldn't watch the sun go down while holding in her arms.
"Tim, what's wrong?" Cassie knew something had happened. "Your family?" Cassie was worried, Tim was as white as a sheet, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"They're fine, they're ok." Tim could barely speak, barely breathe.
"Whats happened? What did the Director say?"
Tim looked at Cassie, unable to voice the declaration of his new orders, but knew he had to. He hadn't approached Cassie again, afraid he took hold of her now, he would never let go.
"I've…" Tim couldn't get the words out. "I've been…." Tim knew his life was over. "I've been reassigned. Camp Pendleton." Tim felt his heart break, knowing what they had done. They had shown how much they felt for each other, only to struggle to show it again.
Cassie was floored. She stupidly thought this was the punishment for breaking Rule 12. AS this thought went through her mind, another one followed it. Ask for a transfer, any assignment on Camp Pendleton, hell, anywhere in California will do. I just got him, I can't lose him now.
"When?" Cassie knew a call like this would mean Tim would leave within hours.
"Briefing at 0900 with the Director herself. Not sure after that." Tim was well aware he would be flying out tomorrow, starting Monday. These reassignments never came with admin leave. He would be doing everything on the go, probably living in base housing for the first few weeks. All Tim could do was beg for this to be a temporary assignment, hoping against hope the Director wasn't making it a permanent transfer.
"Well, we've got a few hours. Lets walk, be together while we can. We work everything out later."
"Cassie…"
"No, Tim!" Cassie almost yelled. "I've just got you, I hadn't even known until you kissed me how much I loved you. I'm not letting two thousand miles and a new assignment come between us." Cassie was livid. Did the Director think so little of Tim. Because he wasn't married or had children meant he was able to relocate without worry of dependents. They never thought about girlfriends left behind. If she had been his fiance, or they shared a home, more consideration would have been given.
Moving to stand in front of him, Cassie reached up to Tims face, bringing his lips down to touch hers once again, briefly, almost chaste.
Cassie and Tim stood next to the beach, listening to the waves, to the music, being watched by passersby, seeing the young couple so in love. The stars looked down, their heavenly brightness watching a scene repeated throughout Time. The scene of lovers pulled apart by others, actions they themselves had no control over.
Their lives had been altered, the start of the new life together ended, the end of their lives apart had restarted. The perfect night had been ruined.