Chapter 18
"Can we go
somewhere quiet?" Howie asked, not wanting to have this particular
conversation in the hotel parking lot.
"Sure" Zack said as he
started the car and pulled out onto the street, headed to his old
apartment, which Hodgins said they could use until the house was
ready later in the month.
The ride was silent; both were thinking
about what the other was going to say. When they got to the
apartment and settled down with coffee in hand, Howie started his
story.
Flashback Howie's point of view
the next six
weeks are going to be agony. Leaving Zack again was one of the
hardest things I've ever had to do. It feels like I've only
just found him, and now I'm back in Iraq, far away from the love of
my life. I'm just glad that he will be safe from Tommy; I
still can't get over that my Zack went through all that before he
left high school.
Suddenly, a violent bounce and the sound of
grinding metal snap me out of my thoughts, as another car rams the
back of mine. The impact sends me
down the embankment, as
I'm tossed around the vehicle like a rag doll. Dazed, it took
me several moments to gather my wits about me. I tried to move,
but my legs were pinned in the vehicle. I was vaguely aware of
another person trying to drag me out of the vehicle, but as he
pulled, white hot pain abruptly flooded my senses and I passed out.
I
woke up tied to a bed which caused my legs to hurt even more and I
passed
out again. When I come to again, I'm in a hospital
with my legs encased in plaster and no recollection of how I'd gotten
there.
End flashback
"It turns out that Jimmy got hold of Booth, and he and the NCIS got me out, shot Tommy, and rescued me. And now I am on medical leave until my casts are removed, then I have to go and finish my tour" Howie said as he wiped Zack's tears.
"I know you have to go, but it's
not fair. I only just got you back." Zack said as he realized
that Howie would be leaving again soon.
"I know, Baby. I
hate it as well, but I need those six weeks done before I can retire,
or they will call me up again" Howie replied; he hated leaving
Zack, but there was no way around it.
"How long till you go back
after the cast's come off" Zack asked; he didn't want to know the
answer, but the question had to be asked.
"Two weeks" Howie
whispered. It was such a short time.
"Oh" Zack sighed as
he took it all in. He felt the tears fall freely.
Howie did
the only thing he could think of and hugged Zack close to him,
letting the younger man cry on his shoulder. He shed a few
tears as well.
Soon they were both cried out, so they silently
went to bed and fell asleep in each others' arms.
The next morning
Howie woke first and watched Zack sleep, letting the young
scientists
features sink in to his memory so he would never forget them.
"I'm
taking you to the airport and I'm planning for someone to pick
you
up at the other end" Zack said sleepily, and Howie laughed knowing
that they would be all right now Zack had accepted things and was
making jokes about it.
"Yes, dear" Howie said as he pulled the
younger man on top of him, mindful
of his legs, and started to
kiss him. He had missed Zack and was worried that the young man
finding out the truth or their relationship would change things, and
it had, for the better.
