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After the Fall: Chapter 5
"I think he's missed you all, but you know. He keeps himself busy. Goes out a lot with workmates. Always been the life of the party, that boy."
Janet Wheeler was chatting animatedly in the drivers seat, taking the corners a little to fast for Linka's liking. The blonde gripped the door handle a little tighter, her fingers making indentations in the vinyl.
Mrs Wheeler seemed oblivious, however. The journey had so far been an exercise in restraint on Linka's part, gasping with panic when they passed too close to parked cars, or teetering precariously close to street lights in the dark, snow-filled vista. They'd been driving for around half an hour now.
"Kwame said Jacob is working for the government?" Linka asked, doing her best to take her mind off the lurching movements and constant blur of lights streaking past her window.
"Yeah, well kind of. Local council, he was offered a job as a press-officer with the New York borough. They actually hunted him down and practically threw it in his lap within a week of returning. Far too good to turn down. "
Linka's brow furrowed, trying to process the nature of the job title. "What does that… um, what is the word?"
"What does that involve?" Janet asked.
Linka nodded, her eyes now lulling at the comforting movement of the car as it reached a minor highway.
"Um, I think he deals with the media. Sets up interviews, responds to the press on behalf of the council. That sort of stuff." Janet sighed, rubbing the front windshield with the sleeve of her coat to remove the condensation forming.
"Oh," Linka replied softly, "does he enjoy it?"
"He loves it," Janet laughed. "It's perfect for him actually, he's always had the gift of the gab. Doesn't take any shit off anyone."
Linka remained quiet as she returned her gaze to the windows, suddenly aware of a blinding exception to Janet's statement.
He certainly put up with a lot of 'shit' from me.
Linka dismissed the thought quickly, rubbing her wrists and observing Janet's profile in the dim light. Nerves and anxiety were beginning to bubble towards the surface again, threatening to overwhelm the Wind Planeteer. She swallowed, her mouth suddenly feeling dry.
Janet seemed to sense the reflective mood in the car and squeezed her hand again.
"Stop stressing, Linka," she said kindly. "It'll be fine."
"What if he does not want to see me?" Linka asked, settling herself down further into the seat and adjusting the grey woolen beanie Janet gave her for warmth. "I do not want to be bothering him if he is trying to move on from us."
From me.
Janet smiled warmly at the blonde, who seemed so distracted by her clouded thoughts that she was unaware that they had parked, the motor now idling. The older woman turned the engine off, swinging the door open as Linka looked around wildly, her eyes wide.
"Bozshe moi, we are here already?" she whispered as the passenger door swung open.
Janet quickly ushered her out of the vehicle. "C'mon, c'mon. Places to go, people to see."
Linka looked frantic, almost ready to bolt as she looked pleadingly into Janet's eyes. "Kwame said he had a girlfriend now, I do not want to complicate things. This is choknutyj, I should not have come."
Janet adjusted the beanie on Linka's head, pulling it down over her forehead to hide the steri-strips. She observed the young girl for a moment, scrutinizing the long wavy hair, flawless skin, full pink lips and green eyes. The girl was stunning. She suddenly understood why Jacob had developed such an overwhelming attraction towards his Russian team-mate during his years in the group.
"Okaaaay. Number one. No girlfriend. He was seeing someone from his office for a while, but it didn't work out. They're just friends now."
Bu…" Linka interjected, but Janet shook her head, placing her hands on Linka's shoulders.
"Number two. If you walk away now, you'll never know. You're a lovely girl, Linka. You deserve to be happy. And if my idiot son sends you packing, I'll kick him up the ass. But I know he wont."
Before Linka could argue further, Janet started walking down the dark sidewalk, her boots clicking purposefully. "C'mon", she said kindly; half leading, half dragging Linka along behind her.
The young girl exhaled shakily, her heart thumping wildly in the base of her chest. She was unable to stem the coiling sensation forming in the pit of her stomach, threatening to rise into her throat at any moment.
She couldn't explain it, couldn't comprehend it. The scientific, analytical and rational side of her personality was giving way, teetering on the brink of collapse after 23 years of total dominance.
She followed Janet numbly, her thoughts only interrupted when Wheeler's mother slowed outside of what seemed like a modern apartment block on the corner of a large intersection. The girl looked up, squinting at the mass of reflective windows stretching as high as her eye could see.
Linka peered over Janet's shoulder as the older woman buzzed apartment 13. A click sounded from the speaker almost immediately, followed by static accompanied by an unfamiliar voice.
"Hola?"
"Who's this?" Janet asked, her brow furrowed in annoyance.
"It's Carlos. Who's this? You know what time it is?"
Linka stood quietly, hearing the low murmur of voices punctuating the distinct sound of a television in the background.
"It's Janet, hon. You gonna' buzz me in?"
"Aw, Mrs Wheeler!" the man exclaimed, his tone changing immediately. "Hey man, your Mum's…"
The speaker dropped off mid-sentence, followed by a loud buzz and subsequent click. Janet pushed the door open, leading her young charge into the dimly-lit foyer.
Linka's shoulder collected the doorframe as they entered and she gasped, briefly removing her hand from Janet's to rub the afflicted area.
"Der'mo," she muttered distractedly as she was ushered into the elevator.
Janet smiled, watching Linka lean against the mirrored panels as they made their way upwards.
The doors opened and a man stood, waiting for them. Curly black hair, dark features and a wide, infectious grin.
"Hi, Carlos," Mrs Wheeler laughed, a throaty chuckle issuing as she stepped out into the hallway. Carlos seemed pleased to see her, wrapping his arms around her and lifting the woman off the floor.
"Oh… you've come to give me a Christmas kiss under the mistletoe, Janey?" He laughed as she was lowered back to the ground.
"Yuck, honey; I don't know where that mouth has been," Janet teased, turning to see Linka still standing frozen in the elevator, peering at them shyly.
Carlos laughed, watching his friend's mom pulling the pretty blonde girl gently out of the lift. He casually slung his arm around Janet's shoulder. "Man, if I were 20 years older…"
Janet scoffed, giving him a friendly shove. "Always the charmer, Carlos. My son's home then?"
"Yeah, we only got home about a half hour ago…" he muttered, his eyes flickering towards Linka briefly; a mixture of curiosity and interest. "Hey there!"
Linka smiled, giving a feeble half-wave, before ducking back behind Janet. The perceived security of Janet's minute frame didn't last long though as the older woman strode inside the open apartment door, leaving Linka standing awkwardly in the doorway. She surveyed the room before her, taking in the comfy leather furniture, a wall mounted TV flickering with a basketball game turned down low, obviously due to their unexpected arrival. Two unfamiliar faces had turned in her direction from their spot on the couch, regarding her with the same casual curiosity that Carlos had showed.
Linka remained where she was, watching with surprise as Janet grabbed a magazine from the coffee table and marched towards a fourth man, reclining in the single-seater in front of her, the occupant shielded from Linka's view.
"What are you doin' here Ma?" a familiar voice queried, before Janet rolled up the newspaper and swiped him across the head with it.
The man jumped to his feet, clearly surprised but unable to get a word in. "I've been trying to ring you!" Janet hissed, pressing the magazine firmly into the man's chest with an exasperated expression. "Don't you ever check your messages, moron?"
Linka focused on the figure, familiarity flooding her senses as she observed the interaction quietly from the doorway. The broad shoulders, tense now with annoyance. The familiar gait as he launched himself towards the kitchen to flick a switch. Light flooded the man and her predictions were confirmed faster than she could process the swirling emotions inside her.
"My phone died at dinner Ma, geez!" he complained, rubbing his head. "It's 1:30 in the morning, I'm hoping you…"
Janet didn't give him the chance to finish. She simply raised her eyebrows, pointing the magazine towards the doorway. Pointing it towards the blonde girl, gripping the doorframe tightly, and watching the proceedings with wide eyes.
He turned, locking eyes at last with his late night visitor. Wheeler froze, another retort dying on his lips as his mouth dropped open in shock. His vivid blue eyes searched hers as she finally stepped inside the threshold, adjusting her beanie and giving him a small smile.
"Hi, Yankee," she breathed, giving him a self-conscious wave, then suddenly feeling all the more foolish for it.
In the end, it was Carlos who broke the strained silence. "Yeah. So, thanks for dinner guys," he said, grabbing his jacket and slapping Wheeler on the back as he headed for the door. The red-head lurched forward with the impact but didn't respond, his eyes still glued on the blonde fiddling nervously with the buttons on the oversized jacket.
The other two men stood in a similar hurried fashion, grabbing their belongings and bidding Wheeler a hasty goodbye. They both passed Linka with a friendly grin, one of the men giving her a backwards glance as they headed towards the elevator. She blinked, knowing she had been recognized.
"Hey, isn't that …" His words were cut off as the elevator doors closed.
Janet was the last to leave. "Plug your damn phone in, Jake," she said, kissing her son on the cheek, before dropping the magazine onto the lounge. She gave Linka a sympathetic smile, before squeezing her hand gently on the way out. With that, she exited the apartment, closing the door softly behind her.
Linka jumped as the door made contact with her bottom. She stepped forward, breaking eye contact with him for a moment. He still hadn't moved, seemingly pinned to the same spot as he worked to find the words needed to break the tense moment.
He finally exhaled loudly, shoving his hands into his pockets before giving her a wry smile.
"I got nothin'," he admitted softly, shaking his head.
Linka smiled back; the irony of that statement was certainly not lost on her. She had never known the American to be lost for words in all the years she had known him.
The blonde stepped further inside, perching herself on the edge of the armchair he had only recently vacated. He continued to study her quietly, leaning against the wall.
Linka took advantage of his observations by letting her eyes wander over him, marveling at the change in just 6 short months. His hair was shorter now, no longer falling across his forehead as it once had. She was surprised to see him unshaven, fine stubble covering the lower half of his face.
Wheeler's startling blue eyes hadn't changed, however. They seemed to be the only constant feature, the only tangible reminder of the life she had once known with him. And those eyes continued to cause the same physical effect on her, leaving Linka feeling both breathless and flustered.
He scratched his chin absently, almost sensing her thoughts. After another moment of contemplation, Wheeler straightened, crossing the room rapidly. Linka barely had time to stand before his arms were around her, wrapping securely around her waist.
She sobbed, throwing her arms around his shoulders and burrowing her face in his warm neck. The familiar scent of soap and sandalwood inundated her senses and she sighed, feeling his arms tighten around her.
He lifted her upwards and she felt her feet leave the carpet, dangling about two inches above the ground. She tightened her hold on him, feeling the stress ebbing away in the comfort and security of his strong arms. Linka had relaxed somewhat; aware that her panicky grip was probably cutting off the circulation to his neck. He didn't seem to mind.
Time seemed to stand still. She closed her eyes, stunned at how utterly right it felt. Shocked at the way her body was responding to his embrace. Linka lifted her face, pressing her cheek against his own. She smiled, lulled by the sensation of her legs gently swinging idly.
After a few moments he returned her to the floor, pinching her nose affectionately. He stepped back, still looking utterly nonplussed at her sudden appearance. He ran his hand absently through his hair, an all too familiar grin lighting up his face.
"Hey babe!"
Thanks for reading guys, I hope you're all enjoying this.
It's gonna' get majorly angry and angsty from here.
The rating will definitely need to change to an 'M' either next chapter or the chapter after. If you're not following the story, I suggest you do lest it disappear from the main page.
Always appreciate your reviews guys, keep them coming!