Prompt: Henry and Elizabeth leave each other hand written notes when they have something important to say, but they're worried that a face-to-face conversation would devolve into an argument.
Elizabeth held her breath as she set pen to paper. Writing down her feelings had come in handy after her parents died. She didn't trust anyone with them, and bottling them up had hurt so so much. Writing them down though... that was the best release she'd ever felt.
She didn't know what this was that she was writing. It was addressed to Henry, not that he'd ever read it... He might never speak to her again... They'd had an awful argument about politics of all things. And they'd both said things that had hurt.
A tear found its way down her cheek to mar the paper and ink. Great... She ended the letter and left the room, leaving the paper out...
Henry found the paper a few minutes later. He'd largely calmed down, and he had come back to speak to Elizabeth, but she wasn't to be found. He hadn't meant to read the note she'd left, but it was addressed to him.
"Dear Henry...
I don't even know why I'm writing this. I doubt I'll ever let you see it... If you come back, that is. I just... I have to write this. First, I'm sorry about what I said. It was wrong. I just wish we had been able to calm down and talk. I love you, Henry. Oh God, I hope you come back.
Love Elizabeth"
The insecurity hit him like a freight train. His Elizabeth was cool and confident and this broke his heart.
"Henry..."
He jumped, caught. He looked back at her and wrapped her in his arms carefully, muttering apologies as he went. They stayed that way for a long time.
They got into a little pattern after that. Any time they got into an argument that really cut... anytime they got into an argument where they both had gone too far... anytime they got into a fight they thought might dissolve into another argument or petty name calling, they wrote down their feelings and left them around the house.
Elizabeth sighed, her pen hovering in midair. Finally, she pressed it to paper with tears stinging her eyes. It shouldn't be this hard to write her feelings. He should understand! She took a shaky breath and let the words and feeling flow from her pen.
Henry came into the kitchen after his family had left and found a paper waiting for him on the counter with Elizabeth's neat handwriting.
"Henry,
Why did you have to go back into that building? Why do you want to go back to DIA? Why do you have to keep throwing yourself into harm's way?! I guess that's not fair. But I want you to read something. It explains my thoughts better than I could, and it's from someone you trust. I love you, Henry, and I will support you in whatever you decide to do. But I refuse to lose you too.
Love, Elizabeth"
Henry flipped the page and found his own slanted handwriting facing him.
"Elizabeth,
Why Iran? Do you know how worried I was about you? Do you know that I counted the minutes until you were found, safe? You're asleep right now, resting. If you can call it that. I know you're okay. You're next to me, safe. But I can't turn off my mind. I can't focus on anything. You almost weren't okay. What would I have told the kids? What would I have done? Darling, I love you dearly and I know you did the right thing. But I was right to pull the husband card. I refuse to lose you.
Love, Henry"
Henry pulled himself away from his own words and allowed their meaning to wash over him. She was as worried as he had been. That wasn't much of a shock. Two halves of the whole, his mother had called them. He made a silent vow; he'd work with DIA, but he wouldn't throw himself in harm's way again... if he could help it.
After Conrad and Russell had left and the house was quiet, Henry pulled Elizabeth in an embrace, careful of his hands. "I know you're worried, babe. But I promise you that I will be careful. You don't have to worry about me. Promise."
Elizabeth sighed. "I always worry about you, Henry, but I take your point."