The aftermath chapter 2
Thanks for the lovely reviews guys I have received for this story so far. So glad you all like it. Here is the telephone call chapter like I promised. I tried to make it as realistic as possible I don't know if that happened here, it may be a little emotional, angsty. I don't really get how to write speech parts of a story so I may have changed format half way through the conversation- if that happens please forgive me. Oh and there are a few swear words in this chapter, Harry's initial reactions...
Sorry for the slow update for this as well, time got the better of me being college and everything yeah, hopefully you all still want this chapter. I promise the next chapter will be more eventful and they are finally reunited so
"Plucking up the courage to talk, email or even Skype Harry was the hardest thing to find inside you. You really wanted to tell him but since he had moved to New York your conversations had been few and far between. So without anymore hesitation you typed the number Leo had given you to contact Harry and pressed the call button..."
You were sat there wondering how the conversation with him was going to go. You hadn't even planned how you were going to tell him, how long you were going to be on the phone for and most importantly how you would feel emotionally if he actually accepted the telephone call and began talking to you. What if he didn't accept? How would you tell him then? Emails? Letters? It didn't seem right.
One, two, three, four rings... He couldn't have totally forgotten about you, could he? You wanted to hang up, run away and dig a hole where you could stay forever but before you even had a chance to consider your actions you began to hear a different sound on the other end of the phone. Lots of rummaging, people speaking and machines beeping.
Here goes you thought; it's all or nothing. What's in it too loose?
'Hello, Harry Cunningham. How can I be of your assistance?' you heard on the other end of the phone. His voice sent shivers down your spine into every part of your body. Just hearing his voice made you want him there, beside you helping you, holding you, being your shoulder to cry on.
'Hello Harry; it's me. Nikki' you managed to say. Where these five words came from you don't know. You felt more relaxed, more stable having him on the line, having a friendly voice to speak too actually began to clam your nerves.
'Niks' came the response on the other end of the line. His voice seemed to increase its volume as if hearing your voice had brought the life back into him that was taken all those many months ago when he had left. 'How are you? How's Leo?' Leo, just hearing his name made you want to break down in tears.
'Errm, I could be better, I could be calling you in a better or even under a better circumstance but I have some terrible news' you began to say, feeling every emotion come flooding back to you during the terrible events of Hungary, how you had felt when Leo had broken the news to you, this time it was all too real, instead you were breaking the heartbreaking news to him. 'I don't know how to say this but...' you began before breaking into uncontrollable sobs.
'Nikki, spit it out; it can't be that bad what is it?' Harry spoke with concern. How could you be telling him this over the phone?
'It's Leo, errm I don't know how to say it but well he's dead Harry, he's no longer here amongst the living' was your response.
'Shit. How? When? Why?'
'The other day we went out to Afghanistan; Leo, Jack and myself. We were working on a case...' you didn't have a chance to finish what you were about to say as Harry had began to but in.
'Why were you in fucking Afghanistan? You know that place is bloody dangerous. Are the news stories not enough of all the injured soldiers? What if all of you had been injured? How would I of coped then? Who would of fucking told me about it? I'd have to hear it on the news. How can this be fucking happening Nikki?!' Harry began to cry at this point, you couldn't even comfort him. You couldn't even cope with hearing him cry, not even in front of you, but hearing it on the phone was even worse. Telling him everything would be ok and you were coping wasn't going to be an option was it this time round?
Taking a massive gulp of breath you began again trying your hardest not to let the emotions show. In the end it just became too much... Since Harry was crying you could cry too right? 'It was a case Harry. We were asked to bring the remains of a solider home after analysing them to see what had happened, how he was killed. It wasn't even him Harry; the soldier's brother was still alive and walking around we had spent our time looking at the remains of another person- a member of the Taliban.'
'Yes but that doesn't exactly tell me how Leo died Nikki. What did he do? Did he put himself in danger? WHAT DID HE FUCKING DO, NIKKI TELL ME!' Harry's voice began to increase in volume. You didn't know how to react to it. You just jumped out of your skin and replied:
'The Taliban. They planted a bomb on the soldier's brother he was wearing it; they had the detonator button Harry. Leo saved everyone's lives then went and took the full impact with the brother trying to protect him from dying' the rate of your crying and sobs began to increase again. You really weren't ready for Harry's next question.
'How are you even coping Nikki?' Harry asked. His tone was much lower now, he was really concerned about you, you could tell through his voice.
'I don't know Harry, I really don't know. I can't sleep because whenever I close my eyes all I see is the explosion, I can't even eat properly.. I'm scared Harry. Truly scared. I don't know what to do...' You couldn't keep it all to yourself anymore. He was bound to find out sooner or later whether you told him or not, he would get it out of you.
'I've been an utter bastard coming out here leaving you two there, at home all alone. Now you've got no one, absolutely no one. That's it I'm quitting my job here and heading back home, back to London; I'm coming to support you. I really have screwed up with the whole poxy leaving idea' Harry replied. You really wasn't expecting him to say this. So you sat there and cried, even more. He's used to your emotions even if he hasn't been around for months.
'Please do Harry. Don't quit your job Harry; I thought you liked it?' you said, this was the first time you truly felt like he was there to support you. You could hear Harry typing away at a keyboard and clicking something with a mouse was he at his computer? You instantly thought he was at work, his 'new office'- booking a flight back to the place he left those many months ago.
'I've just booked a flight for tomorrow morning Niks; I'll be back with you soon. It says I'll be with you and arriving back in London that very evening. Hold on in there, I will be with you and the thing is. Well I've never really liked my job, I've missed you too much. I really have...' and with that said he had hung up leaving the line dead, leaving you once again alone, with your thoughts to keep you company.
Once again I am really sorry I didn't update this sooner, I'll upload the next funeral chapter at some point hopefully not two/ three years in the future.. Please leave me some reviews I'd appreciate it
Megan xx