This is the last chapter of this story. I hope it's okay. It might be a little rushed but I needed to stop this before it got too long winded...and this is actually kind of what I had in mind when I started writing this anyway. I hope you liked it.
The ride home was silent, as I'd expected. Will and I didn't have much to tell each other because I didn't want to talk about what happened and he didn't want that either. He would rather keep things to himself than tell me what was bothering him.
When we got home, Garcia and Henry greeted us happily. Henry smiled brightly at me, and when I sat down he climbed on the couch next to me and snuggled into my side. Will disappeared into our bedroom the moment we walked in.
"So I have your phone here," Garcia said. She kept herself calm, quiet even and I wished she would be herself. I missed the Garcia that was outspoken, happy and so positive and sweet that sometimes my teeth hurt when I spent too long in her presence.
"Hey Pen?" I watched as she nodded her head, staring at me intently as she waited for me to go on. "Be you okay? Don't hold back any of who you are just because you think I can't handle it or something."
"Oh, I'm not. You know I can't even do that," she said with a smile. "It's just that I don't know what to say."
"That makes two of us." I sighed and she moved closer, slowly so that I could get used to her proximity. When she lifted her arm and put it around my shoulder, I had to blink fast to keep the tears from rolling down my cheeks as she gently pulled me against her side.
"I can tell you some lie about how it's going to be okay and how everything will be back to normal in a little while...but that's not what you need. What I'll tell you is that I'll be here to help you whenever you need it, and I'll do my best to not freak you out."
I smiled as the first tear slipped down my cheek anyway, and Garcia rubbed my shoulder before she ran a hand through Henry's hair.
It was Garcia who gave me what I needed—comfort. She was the person, the first, to comfort me while I cried. Henry stayed silent, knowing that I was crying but choosing to stare at the TV and ignore it.
She just held me, without a word and I let her because even if I kept telling myself I was okay, I really wasn't. And she knew, because she knew me. There were no words needed in the situation, and even Henry seemed to know that.
"I-oh," Will walked into the room and I looked up, my vision blurry from the tears and I smiled weakly at him.
"You want to join in on this group hug?" I asked, my voice scratchy. He swallowed hard and then nodded, tears in his eyes as he moved closer. He sat down next to Henry, who looked up from the screen for the first time. "Baby, why don't you sit down on my lap for a while?" I asked him, and he grinned at me before climbing onto my lap and snuggling in, his face buried in my neck. Will sat down next to me and smiled at me, but I could see that he was nervous.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded. "Absolutely." Even though my stomach fluttered and my hands started sweating, I was sure that I wanted him to sit next to me, to touch me like only he could. He had always had a calming effect on me and even though he hadn't in the past couple of days, I knew that could come back. It had to come back.
He carefully leaned against me, though he didn't lean with his whole weight, but he made sure I knew he was there. He held out his hand and because the only thing I could do was offer my casted wrist, I did. Will didn't seem to mind though as he slowly moved his thumb over my fingers. A shiver went down my spine but it felt good, and I sighed.
"You know what. I think I should go. Your phone is right there," Garcia slowly extracted herself from us and stood, pointing at my phone what lay on the table. "I'll come over tomorrow, or something. Just...call me when you need me."
"You don't have to go," I said, but she grinned and nodded toward us without a word. "Right."
"I'll let myself out, don't get up," Garcia held up her hand when Will made a move to get up and he sat back down again.
"Bye auntie Pen," Henry said, sounding sleepy. I looked down at him and noticed that he had closed his eyes. Garcia left without another word and the three of us were home alone. No matter how much I had loved spending time with Will and Henry like this before, I felt like I had to start all over again.
"Do you want some dinner? Or maybe you just want something to drink?" Will muttered and I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood for anything other than cuddling with my son and knowing that my husband was close.
"I'm good for now," I said softly. I stared at the TV screen, not seeing anything that was happening on it. "Will...it's going to be hard, at least in the next couple of weeks...months. But I'll do my best to tell you everything okay?"
"You don—"
"But I do. I can't shut you out...not right now. Will, things have changed but I still love you."
"I love you too chère, so much."
We kept quiet after that, until Henry moved and smiled up at me.
"I love you too mommy," he turned a little further, "and I love you too daddy."
We had been talking about some special things before I got kidnapped, and I hoped that we could keep that going after I'd gotten back on my feet. It might be a little harder than we wanted it to be but I knew that we could find a way.
Love was all we needed...right?
