AN: Hi again! Look! Regular updates! I have 2 more story ideas - but I WILL FINISH THIS ONE first! Hope you are all still enjoying this. I took this chapter as an opportunity to explore Elizabeth & Will's relationship. Next chapter. I promise - back to Henry! Please keep leaving your comments; they make my day!

chapter 5:

The hotel was right on the beach. In her suite; now a necessary evil for security reasons; she showered, brushed her teeth and dressed in her jeans, a tank top and a long open cardigan; her staple comfort wear. It did refresh her somewhat, the hot water working wonders on her tired limbs.

After drying her hair she surveyed her appearance in the mirror, noticing the red rims of her eyes and the puffy dark circles beneath them. They reminded her of the situation and she momentarily flashed back to the moment in the situation room when she saw the knife and sucked in a breath, closing her eyes, trying to rid the vision.

It took her a few moments to regain her composure once again and re-focus on the task at hand. She dabbed a bit of concealer to cover the puffiness and swiped some blush on her cheeks, trying to be as presentable as she could, unsure how she was going to manage to put food in her knotted stomach.

After his own shower, refreshing him after the long flight, Will waited for his sister and silently escorted her to the quaint restaurant on the hotel beach. He asked the waitress for a table outside, hoping the early morning sun would do his sister some good.

Elizabeth and Will sipped on their coffee in silence as they stared at one another from across the table. When the waitress came, Elizabeth went to order French Toast; always seeking carbs when she was stressed, but will stopped her and ordered her an omelet and potatoes. "Protein, Elizabeth." He warned, and she agreed.

They sat in silence for a while. Will was observing his sister's mood. They needed to have a serious conversation. He wanted not only to prepare her for what might happen when Henry woke up, but he wanted to hear what happened. And he wanted to hear about Iran, to understand how she was doing and how she was feeling.

He reached across the table for her hand, and her blue eyes met his. "Lizzie. Tell me what happened."

Swallowing, she felt the tears brew in her eyes again. She pulled her hand away, tightening her sweater around her thin frame, shivering as she looked out at the ocean waves. The breeze ruffled her hair slightly as she tried to focus on her breath, taking another sip of coffee, her hands cupping the warm mug for warmth.

"Henry went to Bolivia." Her voice shook, and she looked away again. He knew she was remembering, but he didn't know what.

As he observed her his phone buzzed; a text from Stevie. "How's mom?"

He watched Elizabeth fight images in her head as he texted her back. "We're having breakfast. Your dad is still asleep. Don't worry. I've got them." He texted back.

"Thank you Uncle Will. Please call if there's any update. Tell mom we love her."

"Okay sweetie." He texted her again.

"Lizzie." He tried, reaching for her hand again, trying to pull her back to the present. His touch jolted her from her memory. "Tell me where you went."

"Henry went to Bolivia." She said again. In her mind the terrible images played in her mind. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to make them stop. The shiny knife and the blood squirting, she couldn't erase it. "He….went to help the religious group, by request of the President." She explained.

She was interrupted when the waitress came by with their orders. Will gave her a smile as she walked away. Elizabeth picked up her fork and ate a minuscule bite of her omelet. "He went inside the compound without any weapon or backup. It was going well for a while. They were really listening to him."

"Sounds like Henry." Will said, smiling at his sister.

She smiled back sadly. "I know. He always wants to help…..but then they started the call. They had a knife, I saw it….in the situation room. I couldn't do anything but watch them slice open his….neck "she broke down.

Will quickly moved to her side of the table and wrapped his arm around her, soothing her as he looked to the beach, searching for answers for her.

****Quiet Pain****

"How are Annie & Sophie?" Elizabeth asked her brother, trying to focus on something happier as she continued to pick at her food.

"They're great." He smiled, filtering his iphone so she could scroll through a few recent photos.

Elizabeth smiled brightly at the photos of her 5 year old niece with her adorable freckles and curly red hair. The photos showed her and her puppy, her face covered in ice cream and a few with her mother, Sophie. But Will was not in any of the photos – she had guessed he hadn't been home in a while and those were photos Sophie had sent him. "She's precious."

"Yea." Will agreed, looking down as he paused. "Lizzie….I-"

"What is it?"

"I know you think I haven't been home. But I went home for a while a few weeks ago….after Henry called me…..about…."

"About what?" he voice angered.

"He called to tell me about Iran."

Her face dropped.

"Lizzie, he was so worried about you. I've never heard him sound so lost. He told me everything. It scared me too…you know.…..I realized I hadn't seen you in a while. I realized I couldn't lose you….it scare me to think I almost did. I realized I missed my girls too."

Elizabeth was silent.

"Henry and I were planning to surprise you. I was going to bring the girls and come for a long visit this spring."

"That would be nice." Elizabeth said softly.

"Lizzie. When Stevie called me…..I left right away. You were always there, trying to protect me, even though I was supposed to be the one protecting you. PTSD is no joke. Henry was worried about you….And I was too."

"Henry was NOT worried about me anymore. If he was he never would have went to Bolivia! He knew I didn't want him to go and he went anyway." she cried, suddenly so upset. She wondered why she hadn't thought of this before. If Henry was so concerned about her PTSD what right did he have to leave her when she needed him?

"Calm down." Will said, reaching for her hand. "Please. You know that isn't true."

"No it is! And I deserved it. Because I went to Iran when Henry all but begged me not to. I hurt him. And he's hurting me back."

"Lizzie. Stop it." Will raised his voice slightly and she sucked back a breath.

When Will realized he frightened her with his loud voice he moved back to her side of the table and pulled her for a hug. She was still exhibiting PTSD signs, understandably. Mood swings. "I'm sorry. It's alright. You're upset."

****Quiet Pain*****

After breakfast the Adams siblings found themselves walking on the beach.

"Lizzie. I reviewed Henry's chart." Will said quietly, opening the conversation he was dreading after they had walked a while.

Elizabeth focused on the soothing sound of the waves on the beach and the seagulls chirping before she spoke. "Dr. Gibson said Henry would be fine." She explained, trying to end it right there.

"I don't think that's what he said." Will tried. His sister was under stress. Not to mention head strong, much like himself. He knew this conversation would be difficult with that combination.

"No Will. After the surgery he said Henry would be fine." Her voice sounded panicked.

"Lizzie, I have to do this with families more than I'd like to. When you are in that situation it can be difficult to remember and process. It's completely normal. But I need you to be prepared for…."

Elizabeth pushed him away, standing to face him in the sand. "Prepare me for what! Dr. Gibson said Henry made it through surgery and he would be fine."

Will placed his hand on her shoulder, speaking softly. "Lizzie. I talked to him and went over his chart this morning while you were sleeping. That's not entirely true."

Elizabeth felt the tears well in her eyes. She distinctly remembered Dr. Gibson telling her the surgery went well. What was she forgetting?

"Henry lost nearly three pints of blood. He his body was in shock. He lost consciousness on the airplane ride for an unknown amount of time." His voice was quiet and Elizabeth looked terrified. "Lizzie, he might have brain damage. They will do tests when he wakes up and –"

"No!" she shouted as she interrupted. "Henry does not have brain damage. He has to wear his brace for a while and he can't talk until his vocal cords heal. But otherwise he is fine."

"You don't know that-" Will tried again.

"I do know!" She insisted. "Will, you weren't there. Henry…I talked to him half of his flight. The doctor said he could hear me….and when he arrived, he gripped my hand. He did it again last night…he….he." she cried, her voice breaking as she suddenly couldn't breathe.

"Shh….deep breaths." Will calmed her, recognizing the panic attack instantly.

It took her a few moments to calm down but when she did she pushed Will away. "Henry doesn't have brain damage Will! How dare you come here and say things like that." She screamed and walked ahead of him in the sand. "Why don't you just go back to Africa or wherever go to avoid your family!"

He stood looking after her, defeated. He understood her behavior and her anger. He had been a shitty brother at times. But he was trying to change that. He didn't want to believe his brother in law had brain damage either. But it was a possibility, and he needed his sister to prepare herself and her children for that.

He gave her space for a few moments then sat beside her on the cluster of rocks where she had sat down and been staring off into the sky, hiding her tears beneath her sunglasses. He said nothing, just simply sat beside her.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, after a while "for snapping at you."

"It's okay. I probably deserved it." He said, eliciting a tiny laugh from her as he grasped her hand. "I think it's a really good sign that Henry was responding to your voice and holding your hand. That part doesn't surprise me. You two are like….."

"It was a faint grasp, but it was there." Her voice still a whisper; as she didn't pick up on the compliment he was giving her.

"And it's a good sign he made it through surgery. I just…..your my kid sister Lizzie. I just don't want you to be unprepared. He could have other types of brain damage even though he remembers you. He could be paralyzed….it could be temporary….."

She didn't respond with words but simply laid her head on his shoulder. Will pulled her into his arms and held her, not saying anything either.

"I can't lose him Will."

"You won't." Will assured her. "And I hope he doesn't have brain damage. I really do. But if he does, I'll help in any way I can. You won't go through this alone. "

She nodded against his chest. "How long can you stay?"

"As long as you need. I'm not going anywhere."

She offered him a slight smile. "Thanks Will."

"Hey. What are big brothers for?" he teased her.