Once again, sorry for the delay in updating. I'll continue to do the best I can. This chapter reveals why Wylie's has been less than happy about Vega and Cho's dynamic, as well as hints at something to come later in the fic.
She was surprised to see Cho at the door. "Boss," she said. "I thought you were Wylie." She cocked her head. "Wylie did tell you that I was..."
"I'm not here to ask why you missed work," Cho said, holding a hand up to quiet her. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Wylie seemed concerned."
"I've been really tired," she admitted. "To the point where if I came to work, I know I would mess up. And I can't do that to you or the team."
"And we understand," Cho said. "There were several days...this would have been before you came back...that Lisbon wasn't able to come into work. You have to take care of yourself first. I remember hearing that Summer..." he trailed off, visibly paling. "Ah, that's getting off topic. But really, Michelle, take your time. No one would ever accuse you of slacking off or shirking the job."
Vega smiled. "Thanks, Cho. I do feel guilty, though. I know I have responsibilities..."
"And we'll think of plenty for you to do when you feel better," Cho said. "We need you at your best, and you'll have a better chance of being at your best if you take it easy when need be. We all do it sometimes. Hey," he said, his voice getting softer, "this team, we're a family. We've been through a lot together. I know you're thinking you'll let us down. But trust me. Okay?"
She tipped her head to the side, still smiling. "Thank you, Cho. That means...it means a lot," she said. "Really."
They were both distracted at the sound of a car as Wylie pulled up the driveway. He angled the car to the side, giving Cho room to back out, and when he exited the car, Vega was surprised at how forcefully he shut the door.
"Hey!" She said, smiling, wondering if he'd had a rough day. "How are you?"
"I'm..." he was frowning. "Boss. What are you doing here?"
"Just stopped by to see how Vega was doing," Cho said. "You'd said she wasn't feeling well and thought I'd check on her."
Wylie glared at Cho. "I think I can check up on my own wife."
Vega was startled at his tone. "Wylie!"
"Hey, Jason," Cho said, squaring his shoulders and raising his eyebrows. "Is there a problem?"
"Well, I wouldn't know if there was, but I'm going to assume that since you've been here, it's been made all better by now."
He marched past Cho and Vega into the house, letting the screen door slam behind him. Vega looked back at Cho. "I'm sorry," she said, unsure of where to even begin to try and fix...whatever this was. "I have no idea...I mean, I don't know if...he might...I just..."
He held up his hand again. "Michelle. I'll see you tomorrow at work. Okay?"
"Yeah, Boss," she said, sighing, nodding, suddenly feeling tired again. "Okay."
As Cho turned to head back to his car, Vega stormed inside, letting not only the screen door, but the main door slam. "Jason!"
"You don't need to shout. I'm right here."
He was sitting at the table, his jaw clenched, his hands folded. He stared straight ahead.
"What the Hell was that?" she asked. "You know I'm not feeling well, Cho showed up to check on me, and you act like he ran his father through with a lightsaber or something."
"Look, whatever makes you happy, of course," he said, his mouth closed, his lower jaw moving from one side to the other.
"Ugh, me cago en diez," Vega groaned, throwing her hands up and resting them on the sides of her head. "I know you've been acting weird around me lately, and I've never been able to put my finger on it, but today you blew up at Cho and what in the world could you possibly have against him? Don't you remember just how much of a comfort he's been to us these past-"
"You."
"What?"
"A comfort he's been to you."
"You know," Vega said, "I would really, really like it if you stopped sneering when you say that word."
"Sorry."
His apology still came out more forceful than she liked. "What is wrong with you?" She asked. "Seriously. It's not like I'm sleeping with the guy."
"I wasn't thinking that," Wylie said. "But thanks for the image."
"Wylie, te prometo que si no me dices lo que está haciendo enojar ahora mismo, me aseguraré de que la próxima vez que esta puerta se cierra, sus oídos será sonar a través del rapto."
She folded her arms and he sighed, drumming his fingers on the table. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet. "I'm not angry at either of you. I just don't like myself very much."
It was the last thing Vega was expecting and she cocked her head. "Eh?"
"I just..." Wylie looked at the floor. "I just wish you'd come to me."
"You're acting like I'm keeping things from you."
"No," Wylie said. "I just...you feel strange at work and you go to Cho. You're exhausted at home and I come home and you are talking to him, looking the happiest you've been all day. It's like his very presence eases your mind, and while..." he stopped, swallowed, and spoke again, his voice threatening o crack, "and while I love you so much I don't want to care who makes you happy, I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you and I'm supposed to be that guy...the guy who makes you feel better just by being there...and I hate myself for not being enough."
Two minutes ago she'd never been angrier at him in her life, and now Vega was wanting drop down next to him, pull him against her, and assure him, promise him that he was that guy, tell him again that he was the single greatest thing that had ever happened to her, remind him of the evening they'd spent gaming at work, the night they danced for the first time, the afternoon they spent kissing in the courtyard of the FWTC, and tell him that the things she felt for him on those days had morphed into something a million times greater.
But she knew that right now, that wouldn't help. Not now. Not without an explanation first.
"Hey," she said, moving around the table, pushing it over so she had room to ease into his lap, shifting her legs off to the side and putting her hands on his face. He looked up at her, and she believed him when he said he wasn't angry at her. His eyes weren't bitter, or even jealous. They were just sad.
And she was angry at him, angry at him for not telling her how he was feeling, for embarassing them both, for refusing to communicate when they'd once spent spent months living apart, where communication was what held them together. She knew he owed her an apology. But she also owed him an explanation.
"There have been three times in my life," she began, speaking slowly, her voice slightly shaky, "when I have been..." she shook her head. "...so scared. One of those times, when my father was diagnosed, I knew what was coming. I knew what I feared would be realized. I had...precious little time to prepare. But I had a heads up."
She stopped to take a deep breath. "The other two times, things happened suddenly. Everything was fine one moment, and the next, my whole life was changing. There was pain, and there was blinding fear. And both those times, Cho was there. And he told me I would be okay. And I was. My head tells me that if Cho says I'll make it, then I will. And he's my mentor. I go to him when I need reassurance because he has that way of calming me down. Just like how you went to Lisbon when you were grieving for me?" She said it like a question to bring him into the conversation. He gave a small nod. He was listening, trying to understand.
He'd gone back to staring straight ahead, but she used her hands again, getting him to look at her. "And Jay...when I talk to Cho, and he comforts me...I just...I feel that...that same adrenaline rush I got when you came back into my life, when we got married, when I came back to the FBI. It reminds me of my second chance, and how lucky I am. And I know I can make it through this, and I know I want to, because you're here, handling it with me. I may mention aspects of the journey to Cho. I'm on the journey with you, and I wouldn't have it any other way." She cocked her head to look into his eyes. "Because I love you like I cannot believe. And I don't want you to ever think that you're not enough for me because you are everything."
Wylie was unable to speak for several moments, and when he did manage to form words, they betrayed the intense emotions he was feelings. "I'm sorry," he croaked. "I love you so much." He leaned forward, resting his head in the crook of her neck, and she just stayed still, an arm curled around his head, holding him against her as he held her in his lap.
