F•A•S•T//r.s.l.❣

0.9

Two Days Later

"You miss, are a fighter" David looked at my x-Rays. "Three days with two fractured ribs and no complains from you; you have your Dad's power"

I grinned. "Thank you"

"How are you feeling?"

"The morphine helps but I ache slightly still" I sat up. "I have to go meet Ross though, he arrives today"

"If you must, but I'll come with you" he gave me a hand to pull me out of my bed and together, we walked to the arrivals area.

It was quite the scene. From what I remember, a lot of people went and some we're fine but others had bandages on their eyes, were bleeding or lost limbs. It's like they went to war rather than a mission.

"This last one was a tough one; it involved mines" David explained as the very last people showed up. From there, I spotted Ross' mentor, Fred.

I limped to him. "Hi Fred"

He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hi newbie, how was your first mission?"

"Good, thanks" I informed him. "Where's Ross?"

He inhaled, and looked as if it pained him to do so. My heart immediately began to pound. "Be strong for me sweetheart, okay?"

"Where's Ross?" I pressed on.

"Athena" David said.

"Ross was shot and killed last night at the very end of his mission. Other spies reported that he was walking away from his target when he drew a gun and well, did the damage..."

I stayed silent, then began to shriek. "You're lying. Why are you lying to me?!"

My fists pounded at his chest but when his expression didn't change, I broke down into tears. Unexpectedly, David came over, and gave me a hug.

"It happens Athena. It's a shame but, it happens" he rubbed my back in attempt to comfort me but nothing would comfort me.

My wailing reduced to tiny sobs as I watched Fred walk to a blonde woman with her husband. They exchanged words and I saw how her expression changed before crying hysterically into her husband's shoulder.

Ross' parents.

"It's not fair" I whispered.

"I know" Even David seemed downcast at the tragedy; he who I've never seen even frown, now had tears brimming his eyes. "He was something else"

I nodded, clutching onto his shirt.

"Come on, I'll take you back to your room" He said and guided me far from the maddening crowd & back to my room. I laid myself back down and he injected a second dose of morphine.

"This isn't just morphine, it's a sleeping agent also. I think you need to rest, okay?"

Even if I tried to resist it, I couldn't, so I nodded seconds before my eyes drooped and shut.

+++

"Hi" Bri, and Ethan walked in, the others not here yet. I smiled through the tears that still ran down my face. In my arms was the notebook Ross gave me before he left, which I've read at least 3 times this afternoon.

It was like by being able to know his secrets, I had a special connection to him, despite one of us not even being in this world.

"How are you feeling?"

"Eh, the same as earlier" I shrugged. "My ribs don't hurt very much, but I still feel like I just got my arm bitten off by a shark"

Bri chuckled and gave me a hug. "He was lovely, I have to admit"

I nodded and placed the notebook in one of the drawers in the nightstand. Three sharp knocks came from the door. It was David with my dinner.

"Good ol' British roast" he placed the tray of food on my lap. "Ribs?"

"Meh. It's not the ribs that hurt" I commented, picking up the cutlery.

"I know, I'm sorry" he sighed. "I'll leave you with your mates but I'll come check on you before you go to sleep"

I nodded to him and he left my room. Ethan sat by my feet, stealing part of my Yorkshire pudding. Due to medication, after the rest of the Yorkshire pudding, I only had the remaining vegetables of my dinner.

My friends crashed and we watched a couple of movies to cheer ourselves up but it didn't work on me, as much as I was smiling on the outside.

We can't even retrieve his body- or say a proper goodbye, and that is what I hate the most.

I'll never be able to tell him.