Chapter 14
Despite being exactly the same size, the plane seat Thomas sat in on the flight out of Mexico, seemed luxurious and spacious in comparison to the inbound flight. Maybe he was smaller, he'd probably lost a few pounds in sweat and worry. They'd been the last ones to board the plane. But they'd made it. And Nikki had remained conscious throughout the journey to the airport and check in. Thomas knew she was feeling rough when she'd consented without argument to using an airport wheelchair. She was asleep now, or so it looked, her head resting on Jack's shoulder.
He was worried about Jack, he'd barely been able to speak. Didn't seem to be able to look Nikki in the eye. Thomas had watched Nikki reach out to him, apologise again for sending Jack after the others. But whereas Nikki may have forgiven Jack, it was clear that it would be a long time before he would be able to forgive himself.
Jack had somehow squeezed his enormously long legs into his seat area but even now with Nikki beside him, Jack wasn't sleeping, he had his eyes closed, his cheek gently resting on Nikki's head but Thomas could sense the alertness behind his eyes. He'd been betrayed, they'd both been betrayed by the ones closest to them. It was the first time that Thomas sensed that Jack was afraid. Thomas sighed. He'd been so preoccupied with getting Nikki back and on the plane, he'd not really considered the long term consequences. Nikki would need help. She'd promised Harry, she'd find help and Thomas knew the department had the resources to help her. But Jack? He would probably need more help than Nikki. But would he accept it? Thomas doubted it.
And what of Harry? Thomas had texted him a thank you and told him that they'd made the plane. But there was so much more to understand there. Who was the girl? Why had Harry left when he clearly adored Nikki as much as they all did? Had something made him leave?
Aware of movement, Thomas looked across to Jack, his head now upright, eyes scanning the rows. His body still to preserve Nikki's pillow. And then Thomas understood. Jack was afraid… Jack! That man was invincible but even he had run out of time.
Thomas thought back to all those entries in the accident book, all those times when Harry had arrived in the nick of time to save her. He must have considered what would happen when his luck ran out? When he was too late? When he didn't know how to find her? One look at Jack and he knew exactly what that looked like. Had Harry been afraid too? He'd have been aware of the statistics. And Thomas had seen it himself, the frequency of entries, the blundering risky behaviour that put her in danger in the first place, she wasn't half so gung-ho after Harry left. The reports tailed off until Jack appeared to take over as first aider, and that had been months after Harry had left. Harry had known she'd be more careful without him there, that was without doubt one of the reasons he had chosen to go. Their relationship made them vulnerable. The vulnerability that love caused, had come up again and again in the last few days. Louisa and Ernesto had proved that; Eva had been killed because of it.
Thomas couldn't help a disbelieving chuckle escape his lips. All this time and he'd assumed it was Leo who had led the way in self-sacrifice at the Lyell. But Leo had not started the trend. That had been Harry, moving away to save the department finances, he was smart enough to realise that the promotion and pay rise he deserved was unaffordable for LSSE and his leaving would put Nikki in line for promotion and make her take more care of herself. She would have to think twice about putting herself in danger when he could only be her guardian angel from afar. Leo had only continued the theme, allowing himself to be killed so that the others might live.
And Nikki? Sending Jack off in the wrong direction, saving the many instead of herself. He understood now. And he understood all the phone calls Harry had left in an attempt to make sure she was safe. As soon as Harry knew she was chasing off to foreign parts, Harry understood that her self-destructive streak had regained the upper hand. So he'd stepped back in, it all made sense. The only surprise was that he hadn't turned up in Mexico in person. There was that comment of Nikki's about Harry finding her; but she'd been delirious. No one else could have woken her up though.
Well maybe it was good that Harry had come to the rescue one last time. Would it be the last time? Thomas wondered. He would follow Harry's advice and keep her passport. It would have a number of benefits; it would keep Nikki in the country and out of trouble and stop the incessant phone calls from Professor Cunningham, it would also keep Nikki with Jack and himself. Win win in Thomas's eyes.
Except of course there was the issue of the connecting flight.
