Captive

“You regained some weight!” Tara exclaimed, her broad smile filling up my screen.

I nodded, “when will you be home exactly?” I asked as I stretched my legs on my bed.

“December 20. Will go back on the 3rd.”

“We may be able to see each other,” I said with a small smile. It all depended on how things go tomorrow. I was nervous to say the least.

“You know that someone here thinks you’re never going back to Iraq,” she said with a chuckle.

I rolled my eyes. I knew that “someone” is Jake.

“I bet the other someone is making it a very tempting idea,” she added and winked.

Tara was trying to drag the conversation to places I did not want to visit just yet.

“So, the ceremony was kind of awkward,” I said instead, stifling a yawn as it was nearing midnight in Halifax, early morning for Tara, the only time she can chat.

“With you pretending that Sidney Crosby was only an acquaintance? That must have been hilarious! With Ryan, your scary dad, and decorated CAFs officers of the highest of ranks, and let’s not forget the reporters,” she laughed, then her face turned serious. “He looked gorgeous in that dark suite. How can you be in your room right now knowing that this smoking hot man of yours is a short drive away, home alone, likely topless…” she trailed.

“Tara!”

“Oh, you jealous that I find your boyfriend attractive. Let me break it to you, Cap’n. Every woman who’s laid eyes on him finds him hot. You better get used to it, darling.”

I sighed, knowing full well that she was right. Sid is a wonderful man on all counts – and everyone knows it. He happens to be quite famous. We are still in our little bubble here at home. Eventually, I will have to learn to dismiss such comments.

“I can’t stay at his place all the time, Tara.”

“Why the hell not? Soon, you’ll be back here and will regret not spending more time with him. Because let me tell you this, deployment will be different for you this time around. Trust me.”

I trusted her. I knew all about her long-distance relationship that ended with a painful Skype break-up. I guess we were having this conversation after all.

“I’m thinking about taking a 12-month leave…” I said with a low voice.

Tara’s brown eyes widened. “You serious?” she asked, her voice mirroring mine.

I nodded, waiting for her to say something. She seemed at a loss, not expecting Captain Shaw to take any optional off-duty time. I can’t blame her. I can’t believe that I’m contemplating this option either.

“You love him,” she said with a sad smile.

“He asked me to go to Pittsburgh with him when the no-travel ban is lifted, and I said yes.”

I swallowed hard and averted my eyes. Admitting this to a fellow officer felt like some sort of treason, as if I was choosing him over my duty to the Forces and to my country.

“Good for you. I would not leave him out of my sight either,” she said with a chuckle. “And you will know whether you are free to leave Nova Scotia tomorrow? God, that must be stressful.”

“Yeah,” I said with a long sigh. “I should get some sleep.”

“Okay, Mia. Just don’t forget to text me after the briefing.”

*****

“So, we’re good to go? Like we can go anywhere we want? Without Paul and Peter?”

Sidney’s toothy grin was so broad. He sat back in his chair, his muscles visibly relaxed, his head tilted back as he smiled at the ceiling. He didn’t wait for an answer since we’ve already got the clear.

He ran his hand over his face and smiled again, at me this time. “How about that?” he said brightly.

“Finally,” I whispered.

After some discussions and directives, we thanked the officers who were following our case and left the room to tell our families who were awaiting impatiently outside.

Sidney’s excitement, while expected, was quite alarming to me. It felt as if he had bought his plane ticket already and was leaving in the afternoon. As we walked the narrow halls, with Paul and Peter on our heels – likely for the last time – his whole body was vibrating, his energy palpable. It was only when he got to a few steps ahead of me that he paused.

“What?” he asked, still beaming.

“I’m just trying to keep up, you’re almost running,” I said and shook my head.

“We are free, Mia. Free!” he said, inching closer to me, putting his hands in his pockets, trying to physically restrain himself from touching me in any way in public.

“I know,” I said with a small smile that was no match to his.

“And? Are worried you’re gonna miss Peter?” he said with a chuckle and Peter smiled a little.

“I guess!” I said, winking at Peter, and Sidney raised his eyebrows playfully.

Apprehension took over me. I expected that the second we had a private moment, Sidney would ask me to go pack. I guess I wasn’t as ready as I once thought.

Announcing the news to our parents left them with mixed feelings of course. The Crosbys were happy to have their son home – something that was going to change. Mine had similar concerns too. We were leaving home again. Ryan and my father were more concerned with how safe it actually was for us to go back to “normal.” For them, the lack of evidence about Kadri’s operations does not rule them out. Ryan suggested we keep Peter and Paul around – an option the RCMP offered us if we wanted.

Sidney dismissed every word coming out of Ryan’s mouth, saying that he was tired of pausing his life and waiting for something bad to happen. The conversation got a little heated at the RCMP office. While I agree with Ryan and dad’s concerns, Sidney is right in that we should just move on with our lives, once and for all. If something bad happens, we will deal with it as it comes.

To celebrate the good news, my family invited the Crosbys to our home for, to borrow Jamie’s words, “happy hour.”

“Mia, this is my boyfriend Tom,” Jamie said, an uncharacteristic blush on his face. It was the first time he brings Tom home. I felt nervous for him.

“Pleasure to meet you, Tom,” I said shaking his hand.

“You too. It is an honour to finally meet you. I am so happy that you’re safe now. We were all so worried,” he said, glancing at Jamie lovingly.

“Thanks, Tom. Jamie tells me that you are a trainer?”

All the chatter ceased when Sidney stepped into the living room, his parents close behind. His eyes found me and my heart skipped a beat.

We haven’t had a moment to ourselves since the morning briefing and I guess he was just fed up. He cradled my face a gave me a long kiss on the lips – well, relatively long with all eyes on us. I smiled against his lips and pulled away slightly. He gave me a peck on the cheek and secured his left arm around my waist.

“Sidney, this is Tom.”

As Jamie did the introductions, I tried to wiggle out of Sidney’s hold to greet his parents, but he wouldn’t let me. He was focused on the conversation, all the while his body made sure to keep me close.

“I’m trained in combat, remember?” I whisper seductively in his ear, not caring for the rest of the conversation taking place. That got his attention of course. His hold loosened involuntarily and I got my win. With a wink, I stepped away. His eyes told that this was not over and I couldn’t wait.

Ryan made a short appearance since he was too polite to decline my mom’s invite. I was pretty sure he did not want to stay because of that tense conversation he had with Sidney earlier. It was for the best.

“I’m so glad that we finally met you, Tom,” mom said and turned towards Sidney and me. “And we are also very happy to have Sidney here. Livvy, when will you be bringing your boyfriend home?” my mom asked. Two glasses of wine were enough I guess for her to be loosen up a little.

Livvy was caught off guard like a deer in the headlight, or better said, with a martini olive lodged uncomfortably in her throat. Everyone laughed at her reaction as she gingerly tried to cover her mouth with a napkin.

“Still single, mom.”

Sidney and I sat too close on the couch. With no gap between us, I did not have a choice but to put my hand on his leg. Nestled in his warmth, his heavy arm was secured around my shoulders.

“So, I was thinking,” he started whispering, ignoring the antics of our siblings and the bursts of laughter around us. “I want to stay the night.”

“How about we go to your place instead?”

“We’ve been drinking and I am not about to ask my dad to give us a lift like we’re some teenagers.”

“You see why I miss Peter,” I said with a pout, earning myself a few kisses on my temple.

“Do you, now?” He nuzzled my neck and I had to pinch him.

“Hey, tone it down! This is your last drink,” I whispered, noticing Nana’s eyes on us. She tilted her head and smiled fondly at us.

He was quite relaxed, forgetting everyone around. It will be hard to convince him to leave. Who was I kidding? I also wanted him to stay.

“Fine,” I said.

“Fine?”

“Fine. You can stay,” I said, failing to act annoyed.

Notes

My dear readers,

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Thank you for sticking around. It's hard to update regularly these days. The story is far from over, for those of you who think it may be ending soon :D

Let me hear from you! it inspires me to write more :)

(Does anyone know what is going on with the search engine of this website? date filter seems not functional)

Charlie