A Second Chance

Subject: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:15 pm

Ok so before i get in and post this thing i wanted to say a few things about it.

First off it's not complete, and it wasn't written all together. I sort of go from spot to spot.

Secondly not all of it was just me. The story focuses on 2 main characters. The Female lead was primarily written by my fionce. The Male Lead was written by me but the entire thing was a joint effort as far as development.

There were alot of changes in story made and that includes the name of the female lead so if it seems odd just know that it's the same character. lol.

Some day we MIGHT finish it and i'd love to see it drawn out perhaps.

Ok so here is the idea behind the story.

...It was started by a dream i had once about what if i had been born in a different place and how things would have been altered in my life. I was raised in the woods most of my life so If I was in the inner city how would I have been different? In the same vein if i were near to my girl would she have wanted to be with me still?

Well this story looks at both ideas. It was very extensive really, Obviously it couldn't have been as simple as we went back in time and were together. When you think about it you change alot as you grow older and as kids we don't really have the same level head or logic that we do later in life.

Alex Medina the male lead is a Marine who got into a marriage that had no love. It wasn't a good idea for him to do so and things fall apart for him. He meets a girl during Fleet Week in NYC and they begin to fall for one another.

Fate doesn't pull for them at that time though and they go their ways apart. Many years later they are broght together again (By a part that hasn't been written but consists of Alex's wife leaving him and their child is murdered bringing the FBI into the fold. The FBI is where the Female lead Elise returns) Elise is wrapped in her own drama as a fionce who isn't right for her and sick and dieing family members drive her to harden herself and bury her in her job to avoid feeling for any one ever again.

Both are tested as they are brought back together during the investigation. They fall for one another again but it seems time has made things so out of reach for them. One day they come across a method that may let them travel back in time. But an emotional disagreement last moment between them sends them back in a way they hadn't anticipated.

Hurled back to the Mid 90's as teens Elise loses her memory as she finds her family still intact unscathed yet by cancer and death that had shattered it before. Alex finds himself in a completly different boat as his life had been rewritten. Now a neighbor to the girl he loved but nothing more then a memory and having to observe the now teenage Elise go through the trials of her upbringing again the story would eventually lead to show that even if life didn't give them what they wanted as they wanted it, Fate can't be denied....

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:26 pm

As Elyse moved her poised body through the streets of New York City, she took no special note of the many faces she passed. She was native to these parts and it was evident by how numbed she seemed to the visuals of this awesome city. She angled around the many cracks and potholes that were so characteristic of the streets of Broadway and Wall. She walked with a rhythm that only New Yorkers had and headed in the direction of a bar called "Shooters", where she knew her friends were waiting for her. She was late as usual. Just before she hit the next street, her beeper buzzed in her purse, annoying her. It was the 7^{th message she received in 20 minutes. Her friends were looking for her already. She rolled her eyes as she unzipped her bag and her fingers searched for the pulsating teal colored root of all evil. Once in her hand she read the message scrolling across the screen.
"We’re at Shooters. Where are you?" Again, Elyse rolled her eyes and threw her beeper in her red bag that matched the dress she was wearing. She threw the bag over her shoulder and sped up her pace. Her black high healed boots were used to hauling ass in a hurry but even Elyse had to admit if she was going any faster she’d have to flap her arms and take off down the street. She was already self conscious because of what she was wearing…a short and much fitted red dress that had a belt wrapped around her tight waist. It accentuated her nice figure but drew enough attention to her, without having moving too rapidly as it was. Plus, her hair was having issues. She could feel her once tightly wrapped French twist unraveling, one blond lock at a time. One more block left, she thought as she felt the crowd becoming more and more populated the further she got.
Mid July in the city was busy enough, but it was fleet week, one of the busiest weeks due to the large influx of men in uniform in the city. Elyse admitted inwardly to not thinking it was a good idea to meet with her friends tonight. She knew Friday was date night and that her friends were all about hooking up with men or finding boyfriends…something she just wasn’t into at the moment. It wasn’t like Elyse was single and in need of a date but she just hadn’t seen, Adriana, one of her best friends, in so long that she knew she couldn’t miss tonight. It was Ade’s 18th birthday and her Marine boyfriend was coming into the city to meet them with a bunch of his friends. She would have to grin and bear it. What’s one night anyway?
As she walked into the very loud and busy bar, her friends called out her name from the corner of the bar. Immediately she felt uncomfortable once she spotted them. There must have been thirteen people in their "party". She smiled quickly, making sure they didn’t pick up on her uneasiness. She headed in the direction of the very large booth. Her friend Adriana stood up to receive her with a warm hug, while half of the people seated waited for an introduction to the new addition.
Adrian looked beautiful, but very casual. She was a dark haired Italian girl, very athletic looking. She wore jeans and her hair was up in a tight ponytail.
"My blond bitch! Leese…it took you long enough to get here! Weren’t you in the city already?" Adrian yelled straightforwardly competing with the loud music in the background.
"I had work. Goldman Sachs is kicking my ass right now. I’m here though, aren’t I?" Elyse responded loudly and sharply with a smile on her face.
"Yeah you finally found the time to spend with your friends. I can’t complain." Adrian continued, moving behind Elyse finding her French twist with her fingers.
"This is my friend Elyse guys…Leese, this hair…" her friend complained.
"Stop touching it. You’ll make it worse." Elyse groaned and then smiled at her friend.
Finally Elyse made eye contact with the crowd in front of them…7 soldiers and 5 other females that she recognized from her old high school. The other girls seated at the table were all good friends of Elyse and greeted her. One of the strangers at the table stood up in his uniform and approached Elyse with a welcoming smile. "Hey Elyse, my name is Damian. I’ve heard so much about you. It’s finally nice to meet you." He was very tall and pleasant looking.
"Damian, you’re Adriana’s boyfriend. The feeling is mutual" Elyse smiled, still feeling awkward.
He put an arm around her shoulder and directed her to his friends. "These are my buddies…Markus Ruiz, Wiley Reed, Ellis Fitspatrick, Mike O’Reilly, Victor Robledo and Alex Medina." He spoke pointing to each of them. They all smiled at her. She did a double take at the face of}

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:28 pm

the last gentleman mentioned but tried to pretend she didn’t. His smile intrigued her a bit.
Adriana brought her mouth to Elyse’s ear and covered her mouth. "Alex is totally your type. I already know."
Elyse’s face turned red, and she looked away from the crowd into Adriana’s face, as if to say…’shut up’.
Adriana made sure to turn her attention to her boyfriend at that very moment, coyly averting her attention at the perfect time to ignore her friend’s gripe.
"Secrets don’t make friends, ladies." Victor shouted, smiling in Elyse’s direction.
"Who, me? I have no secrets." She smiled. She then turned around, heading to the bar.
Alex’s eyes followed Elyse to the bar, although he was really trying his best to show no interest in anybody there. He was also spoken for. He had a fiancé at home and resented having to be part of his friend’s attempt at getting laid by whoever would take interest in them during fleet week.
"I call the blonde in the red dress. She’s hot." Victor said discreetly so the crowd wouldn’t hear, poking at Alex’s torso.
"You can ‘call’ her all you want. I don’t think you have a shot in hell, dude" Alex quipped in a knee jerk reaction, pushing Vic’s finger away from him in disgust.
"Is that a challenge, kid?" Victor’s competitiveness was sparked in one sentence.
Alex looked over at Victor undressing Elyse with his eyes. "I think she might like my fine ass." Victor chuckled, boasting about his massive skills in the bedroom, describing what he would do to Elyse at the right moment.
"Don’t you have a girl at home, dude?" Alex asked seriously.
"I’m a long way from home right now." Victor answered then continued. "What the fuck is wrong with you, kid? We’re here to have fun and I know you’re not THIS tight-assed."
Alex looked at Elyse again. "You know what, Vic…you’re right. Go ahead. Good luck with that girl." Alex smiled.
Vic looked over at Alex. "Now you’re fucking with me." He laughed, nudging him. "But I’ll take it, even though I won’t need it." Just then Victor stood up and made his way to the blond in question. Strangely, Alex felt a twinge of jealousy float over him as he saw him lean his face into Elyse’s ear in an attempt to acquire her as a dance partner. She smiled respectfully at him and mouthed the words, "thank you, but no, I’m alright."
Alex wasn’t sure if it was an accident that Elyse was looking straight at him as she was turning his friend down or not but he felt his pulse slightly rise. Her blue eyes were piercing even from across the room. They made him nervous and that was not an easy thing to do. He wasn’t sure if he should stand or continue sitting at this point. A feeling of restlessness came over him. He stared at the exit sign. He felt like he should excuse himself from the events of the evening but for some reason he just couldn’t.
The majority of the table was now on the dance floor. He felt safe here.
Alex tried to just examine the room as a whole but kept finding Elyse’s face. She was dancing nonstop. It was a nice sight. She had a way with freestyle, R&B and Spanish dancing. He was impressed by her ability since he also loved dancing. At first it was just with her friends, but then Damian began dancing with her.
At this point, Alex’s vision was obstructed by a familiar face. It was Adrian.
"Alex, would you dance with me? It seems I lost my partner to Elyse." She smiled in his face.
Alex felt obligated but in truth he was tired of watching on the sidelines. When he hit the floor with Adrian, he noticed everyone was a little shocked. It seems he was the first white boy they knew who had rhythm. They were moving perfectly to the beat of a house track. He was having fun and then the music stopped. Once it did, he felt someone bump into his back. He sharply turned around. It was his buddy Damian, who apologized profusely. Alex locked eyes with Elyse and felt a tiny bit dizzy.
"It’s been a pleasure, Elyse." Damian smiled genuinely then looked at his girlfriend, and then Alex. "Mind if I take back my partner?"
"No. Of course not. Thanks for the dance." Alex smiled. Damian handed Alex his beer and walked off with Adrian.

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:29 pm

Elyse smiled at the couple of friends and then again made eye contact with Alex, hoping he might ask her to dance. The thought crossed Alex’s mind to ask Elyse to dance but he decided against it. It was one thing to dance with Adrian, who was purely his friend’s girlfriend but if he danced with Elyse he felt it would be like cheating. He was obviously physically attracted to her. Therefore he felt the need to keep his distance even though he could barely move further away from her at this very moment.
"Alex, right?" Elyse finally spoke directly at him.
Alex just shook his head slowly up and down with a smile.
"Elyse" She placed her hand over her chest.
"I know." He spoke loud enough for her to hear.
His expression translated differently to Elyse. She felt like an idiot. They were already introduced. So she was beating herself up inside, however, she was nicely buzzed and didn’t have many reservations at the moment.
She leaned up to his ear. "Why don’t we just go over to the bar?" she whispered in his ear.
His senses were flooded with her scent…a mix of cotton candy and vanilla.
He agreed. Next thing he knew she was leading him by the hand to the bar. Once they approached the bar, Alex caught the attention of the bartender. He asked Elyse what she wanted as he took the last sip of the beer.
"Sex on the beach." She said loudly.
Alex choked on the beer.
He motioned to the bartender. "One sex on the beach, One beer." He said feeling his face get a little hot.
"You have heard of ‘sex on the beach’, right?" Elyse asked.
"Which? The drink or the ….?" Alex kind of lingered on that question a little longer than he should have.
"Oh a smartass, I see." She smiled leaning into the bar.
"You asked for it. You could have said a beer or a long island iced tea, but something tells me you were looking for a reaction."
"Actually it’s my favorite drink. I’m really not that type of girl."
"Oh? Then what type of girl are you?"
"I’m a good girl, couldn’t you tell?" She smiled angelic-like.
"Do good girls like sex on the beach?"
Elyse blushed and smiled in unison.
He noticed now even more how pretty her smile was. He was caught off guard for a second.
"So you from around here?" she asked.
"God, no"
"Oh you act like NYC is a bad place."
"No it’s not that. I’m just from all over really."
"Well you had to have been born somewhere…"
"But that’s not what you asked me." He smiled at her sarcastically. There was something about this man…the combination of good looks and sarcasm that had her beyond intrigued…the way his mouth formed into a smile…She found herself attracted.
"You know what I mean."
"No. I didn’t. I only know what you say. You want an answer, ask the proper question." It was an instinctual response…a tactic that was used on him over the years by people who wanted him to think and respond. He knew partly that he was teasing her, pushing her to see where it would take him. For him it determined her personality a bit more, although at this point he wasn’t sure why he was interested in all that.
"Listen, if you’re purposely playing with me, baiting me and avoiding direct questioning for some reason, it’s okay. We don’t have to continue this conversation." She said, starting to walk away.
Interesting, he thought.
He grabbed her arm.
"I’m sorry. Occupational hazard. Please, don’t go." He pleaded genuinely.

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:29 pm

She then waited for his response.
"I was born in Oregon and since then, was moved from place to place. I was born on a military base. I’m from a military family. We just never stayed in one place for very long."
"Okay." She was further intrigued.
"What about you?" he asked.
"Born and raised in NYC. My family? Um, not strictly military but close to it. Most of my family is either employed by the NYPD or the FBI. Actually I’m enrolling with them when I graduate. My current job is just to pay the bills til I get there."
"Really?" he was impressed.
"What? You didn’t think you’d ever meet a woman with that background?"
"Not at all. When I said I have a military family, I didn’t just mean my father."
"I see. So you could say we have a few things in common. My family is very service oriented. They’ve served in every war, as I’m sure yours has. Only difference is mine went Army instead of Marine." She smiled at him.
For a minute Alex was in a state of limbo, thinking of the girl he had at home, wanting to be satisfied with what he had but finding he fell short of that feeling right now.
"I know what you’re thinking." Elyse said out loud.
"I doubt you do." He said taking a sip of his beer. "But I’m eager to hear how close or far off the mark you are."
"Probably exactly what I’m thinking." She said confidently.
"And what is that?" He prodded further.
"I’m thinking it’s a damn shame you’re not from NYC" she stated.
Alex was completely caught off guard by how close she had come but he was still more curious.
"Why is that though?"
"Well after tonight I’m pretty sure we’ll never see each other again And I was thinking you might have been someone worth getting to know."
He looked into her blue eyes for a moment. He could kiss her right now and he probably would never regret it….but he didn’t. He smiled.
"Who says we still can’t get to know one another?" Alex’s feelings betrayed his normal thought process and the promise he made to a girl back home.
"Jamie." He uttered quickly, feeling guilty.
"Jamie?" Elyse questioned, confused.
"My girlfriend" Alex said, omitting the fiancé part.
There, it’s out there at least, he thought.
She looked down then back up into Alex’s eyes. "Matt." She spoke softly.
"Matt?" Alex asked even though he knew what that meant.
"Well, then I guess this settles it...we're destined for friendship only." She giggled at the mixture of feelings in this moment, before taking the last sip of her sex on the beach.
"Friendship is never a bad thing." He said feeling relieved they were at least having this conversation. He was feeling guilty.
"No it’s not" Elyse smiled.
Just then she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"The night is young and we decided…we’re going to "Latin Quarters". A few other friends got VIP passes for a large group. They have us on the list. Coming? Please?" Adriana begged.
Elyse had been to Latin Quarters before and loved it. She knew her boyfriend would be wondering where she was. That was her only apprehension but she really couldn’t refuse. "Sure" she said.
Alex had no choice in the matter. His friends were holding their hotel keys captive from him from the night. Besides that, this is a club

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:30 pm

Damian looked around at the group. Everyone had paired up in the course of the night. It finally occurred to Elyse and Alex that this had been the plan all along.
All of them piled onto the 4 train heading further uptown. Then they hiked the rest of the way. The women were walking just 10 feet ahead of the men in a pack.
Damian walked closer to Alex, nudging him in the arm with his body. "See why I said you were making a mistake."
Alex shot a glare over at his companion. They were absolutely impossible to deal with ever since he let slip his intentions with Jamie. Damian refused to back down.
"Come on man, you can’t possibly be thinking about Jamie right now! We are in NEW YORK CITY! Relax and take it easy, these people are all about the service." Markus leaned in from behind them and slapped Alex and Damian upside the head nearly knocking Alex’s hat off. "Come on Devil Dogs! If we don’t party it up with these lovely ladies then some Swabee is gonna cut in!"
"And that would be dereliction of duty." Stated Willy as he smiled at a passing group of young woman.
All along the street throngs of people flowed in and out of the brightly lit shops that lined the street. In many of them hung hand made signs describing various sales and services discounts for the Guests of Fleet Week. The Ladies group up ahead crossed the street just before the light turned and the once clear road was flooded by a sea of yellow cabs. The Marines stood in a tight crowd and waited for the light to change again. Victor put his hand on Alex’s shoulder.
"Hey man, that is some pretty low shit to pull. If you wanted to compete you could have just said it." Alex looked at him with irritation.
"What are you talking about Vic? I’m not competing with you for anything." Victor rolled his eyes and straightened his uniform up.
"Well consider this a war warning, because I’m going for her, face it bro. You got no chance with Elyse. You see she is the kind of lady that wants a man with skills."
Wiley choked and managed to sputter out between gags. "Yea, if you're lessons are anything like the muffled jerking off we hear at night, it will be the shortest lesson of her life and she won't FEEL a thing." Half the group roared with laughter while Victor pretended not to notice. He stepped out into the cross walk a few moments before the light changed and incited the anger of a cabby. Alex began to cross and found him self trying to catch up with Victor. For some reason he just couldn’t bear the thought of Victor "Cocktail-Weenie" Robledo getting to talk to Elyse before he did. The rest of the group had to actually jog to catch up to them. When they caught up to the women they were standing in front of the club.
"Ok guys pair up! Remember no lady no admittance in this place!" Damian said with a wide grin as he pulled his date in closer and started for the door. Alex and Vic only glanced at one another for the challenge to be cemented. With one quick move they pushed past the rest of their group. Victor made it to Elyse first, Alex in a last ditch effort called out to her over the din.
"Elyse! Hey would you mind being my partner?" The noise from the crowd was at a loud, Elyse however had heard and just as Victor reached for her arm she turned towards Alex and smiled. "And here I thought you wouldn’t ask." They linked up and headed past the bouncers. Victor was left standing there. The last remaining girl asked him if he would like to go in with her. Victor was hearing none of it. Standing there in disbelief he seemed to be completely out of touch with reality. After a moment she got tired and walked into the club. With out really thinking he headed for the door.
Ron Harding stood at the door of the Latin Quarter watching the flow of would be clubbers try to gain access. The last night or two he had seen swarms of military types try to get into the club. It was a common known fact that men alone would not be admitted into the building. For the most part the service members were polite and in turn he was polite to them…. For the most part. So after an uneventful night of watching the line of beautiful ladies pass by he was surprised to see this new development. A small group of Marines with dates had just passed into the club, but one had been left out. After years of pulling security duty, Ron knew what that expression on the man’s face meant. The lone Marine started

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:31 pm

towards the door with a look of rage on his face. Ron nudged Mike who was looked over and saw the problem. As the Jarhead neared the door both men moved in front of him and waited.
Victor nearly walked right into the bouncers. His vision was red and he could hear his pulse throbbing in his ears. He drew himself up to full height and looked over the two guards. They were easily taller then him by half a head. They were also very muscular.
"Sorry pal but no date no admittance." The man on the left crossed his arms and stared at Victor.
"Let me in man! I don’t have time for this shit!" He tried to push the bouncers away from the door.
Ron’s face didn’t show it but he was actually surprised by the Marines’ action. He respected the service but when Victor made a motion to get between him and Mike a major rule of etiquette was broken. Never touch a bouncer, especially when they are being polite. Reflexively Ron and Mike reached down and grabbed Victor by the arms and pinned him between them so he couldn’t move. "Calm down mate, I don’t have any issue with you Marines but even you have to follow the rules. Find a date and you can pass but not before then." Victor wasn’t interested though. In one final and futile attempt he tried to rip his arm free and swing his elbow at Ron’s face. That was the last mistake he made. His elbow never connected with his captor. Ron pulled himself in tight against victor’s back where the elbow couldn’t hit him. He pulled the man into a full nelson as Victor tried to squirm free and kicked at Mike. One swift blow to his gut was enough to wind Victor and take the struggle out of him.
They dumped Victor out near the corner of the building and left it at that. Victor would have ended his night with nothing more then a bruised gut and ego but unfortunately for him a roving pair of Shore Patrolmen had witnessed the entire event. The Navy dispatched members of it’s security forces into the city during liberty call to help make sure that the service members behaved themselves. The SP’s had already called a cab and it had pulled up just as they finished cuffing him. He would spend the remainder of the evening in the brig.
Inside the club Alex was feeling good. As they weaved through the crowd trying to decide what side of the building to go to he gripped her hand tightly. Elyse smiled at some other friends she knew as they moved through the crowd. She could feel Alex’s strong hand in hers. The connection she felt as their hands joined was even enough to cause some fluttering in her stomach. She couldn’t stop her mind from drifting back earlier that day to their conversation. There was an instant bond with the quiet Marine that was somehow comforting and scary at the same time. Her imagination wanted to think of what it would have been like had they not been spoken for already. As they approached an empty table she pushed the thoughts from her mind. This wasn’t what she needed right now. She had her life and he had his. In her experience dreaming like that could only lead to regrets and that wasn’t a productive way to spend energy. She sat down at the table and looked over at Alex who had remained standing.
"Would you like something to drink?" His smile was warmer and more readily offered then last time.
"Umm. Yeah ok I’ll have a Corona if you don’t mind." She felt her face get warm and made a show of looking through her pocketbook. Two other drink requests were made but Alex didn’t even seem to hear as he turned and walked over to the bar.
Adriana leaned over close to Elyse grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Well bitch, for someone who wanted badly not to be here, you sure are enjoying yourself." She taunted, her grin growing wider still.
Elyse rolled her eyes and fought against the burning in her face as she pretended not to know what she meant. "He is a nice guy. We’re enjoying each other’s company PLATONICALLY. Step the hell off of me already. " Even as she said it Elyse could feel a pit drop in the center of her stomach. It was a stupid feeling she told her self, but those feelings contradicted everything she was saying to her friend.
Adriana leaned in even closer and spoke a little louder. With the music booming it was not hard to be unheard. "Come on, Leese. Nothing wrong with what you’re doing. I see no ring on that finger. Besides,

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:31 pm

like you said, he really is a nice guy. No need to feel guilty, but at least be honest." Elyse made no comment. She just absorbed Adriana’s words. Adriana looked over as Alex collected the drinks he ordered. When he turned around his eyes fixed on Elyse again and he smiled. "There’s nothing platonic about the way you guy’s look at each other though. What’s up with that?" Adriana questioned, probing again unconsciously.
"I don’t know what you mean." Elyse’s face began feeling hotter as she tried to deflect and deny.
"That smile is kinda nice though…can’t blame you." she trailed off letting it sink in. She had seen Elyse’s face when Alex smiled and as she had been friends with her since Pre school she knew how to read it well.
Elyse closed her eyes for a moment and silently wished she hadn’t let herself be talked in to coming. Her friends had no problems with her boyfriend Matt, but every once in awhile her closest friends would probe her loyalty to him. "Maybe I should go, it’s getting late and Matt is gonna be wondering where I am." She made ready to slide out of the booth when a uniformed hand set a Corona down in front of her. She looked up and seeing Alex’s face was enough to vaporize her desire to leave. She smiled and thanked him and at the same time made a mental note to strangle Adriana as soon as she could get her alone. She normally ignored their attempts to hook her up with other men, but tonight was different. Tonight she watched a young Marine sitting down in front of her and she found herself actually attracted to him. This was definitely not a good situation. Alex set his drink down and took a seat across from Elyse. She looked at his glass and raised an eyebrow.
"What is that? a Bacardi?" Alex looked down at the clear drink he had set on the table. He grinned and began to remove his uniform coat.
"Ha ha ha, all kinds of funny aren’t you? This is water. I don’t want to get drunk." He took a sip and looked at his cell phone checking the time. Elyse felt a sharp object poke her in the side and glanced over as Adriana gave one of her patented ‘I so know you better then you do’ looks.
"So Elyse, Damian said you’re half Puerto Rican and half German. That is an interesting mix." He smiled at her as he said it. He was feeling a little better about himself now. Since establishing that they were both ‘off the market’ he didn’t feel like a traitor to Jamie.
She took a sip of her beer and shrugged. "Yeah I’m a mutt you could say. Just pale enough to pass for white but thankfully enough PR to save me. You know how it is. Mom’s side thought I looked Hispanic like my dad. Dad thought I looked completely white. Obviously I’m somewhere in between, which is the story of my life of course."
Alex looked out on the dance floor. No surprise. Latin Quarters had predominantly a Latin population. "Well then looks like we have another thing in common. Cause I’m the same mix. My mother is PR, she met my Uncle who was in the Navy based in Puerto Rico. They dated for a bit but never hit it off really well. One day my dad had come down to visit Uncle Jim and maybe grab some R&R for a few weeks. He met her at the Naval Exchange store and the rest resulted in what you see before you. Great mix, Scottish and Puerto Rican." He laughed at himself and took another drink of his water.
Ade looked over and began laughing. "Well that explains why the boy has rhythm! I knew there had to be some PR blood in you some where." Once again Elyse received a sharp poke, but this time in her thigh down low and out of sight.
Elyse drained the last of her beer and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. Her hair was fighting against being held up and was slowly winning the battle. "If your father was Scottish then why is your last name Medina?"
He was ready for this question and responded almost as soon as she asked it. "My father wanted to take her last name. You see she was an only child, and my father was so in love with her that he didn’t want to change anything about her. He said it would have been like defacing a timeless work of art." Elyse, Adriana and another girl at the table stared at Alex intently. They would have all spoken but they were stunned by the thoughtful and very rare love story Alex related. It’s not like they had heard that

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:32 pm

kind of thing often.
"That’s really romantic." Elyse said with a wistful expression on her face. There was a twinkle in her eyes that Alex noticed. He realized then, that not only did Elyse have a protective shell, she had a romantic heart, the kind that would appreciate the kinds of things he did. And it deepened that chemistry he automatically knew he had with her in this brief time. It was enough to make him search for the exit signs again, but you couldn’t tell by looking at him. He set his water back on the table after taking another sip.
"I wish I could find a guy that had that kind of sense in him." Carrie, a relatively quiet girl from the group spoke.
"They don’t make men like that anymore ladies." Adriana said with a sigh then continued."You know, Alex? Elyse is an only child!" This time she received a poke in the side from Elyse before she could think to do it first. Elyse heard a song she liked and stood up.
"Want to dance?" Elyse asked as she eyed her new Marine friend. Alex drank the last of his water and followed her out on the floor. The lights and music were moving together in time as they found a place and began dancing. One dance turned into 3 dances. They moved nicely in rhythm together. Alex clung to her. There were moments he realized he was enjoying himself a little too much. It was then that he tried distancing himself, touching her less, but she’d pull him closer and it started all over again. Elyse then would feel her impulses to keep him locked inside her personal space controlling her as she moved and she’d take a step back, but instinctively Alex’s fingers would find her waist or hips within the beat of each song and touch them in just the right way that seemed natural. This back and forth action kept them close, a little too close. They’re eyes would fasten in a moment and both would shy away again. It was a dance within a dance.
Just then when it seemed they had found comfort in their very tense discomfort, the DJ spoke into the mic in a loud booming voice over the transitional music. "And now it’s time for a little slow jam. I’ve just been informed by a certain someone that we have a couple of reluctant lovers here. Well I’m here to remind you all to have fun. Don’t fight it, people. Here is a special request…Don’t ‘Stop falling’. We’re watching."
The song choice began with a slow strumming of a guitar. Fingers played a light melody on a keyboard, allowing a certain sweet harmonization to sink two hearts into their stomach. The two of them looked around trying to see who may have made the request but to no avail. Finally Alex looked down at Elyse, noticing her bright red cheeks collapsed in her hands. She didn’t want to look at him but he pulled her hands off herself and smiled. "We’ll kill someone later. In the meantime would you dance this with me?" He kept her hands in his. She smiled up at him, pulled her hands away slowly. The lights were dimmed and the room was bathed in a blue glow. The atmosphere was thick with romance. She stepped further into him and he wrapped his arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck, letting her fingers flirt with his dark hair. She leaned her head forward. She tried resting her head on his shoulder, but he could feel her soft cheek against his neck, delicately pressed. Her soft dark blonde hair caressed his chin as he sheltered her in place. It felt perfect. She felt safely tucked away next to him. This close, she could smell his cologne. He smelled like ‘Cool water’ and aftershave…intoxicating. It filled her senses and she closed her eyes. They may as well have been in another world at that moment. Feeling nothing, seeing nothing, caring for nothing but the warm embrace they shared for that moment.
Most of Elyse and Alex’s party had sat in the booth, tired from dancing. Adriana smiled, content with herself, watching her friend, as she rested her head on Damian’s shoulder. She and Damian shared a secret opinion between them. The secret opinion was that their now slow dancing friends might be enjoying each other’s company to a degree they didn’t feel comfortable with. They denied it with words but it was obvious they didn’t care to deny it in action. They wanted to test the situation. Damian believed Alex was the kind of person that would absolutely recognize this attempt to be pushed into a corner with Elyse. Had he not wanted that, he would have simply been embarrassed for them both and walked back to the table, as he has seen Alex do time and time again when his friends were trying to set him up with someone new. He didn’t do that. Adriana’s friend Elyse was the same way in that respect. The joke was on Elyse and Alex. They had been found out but this time they didn’t care enough to refute it in any sense of the word. Their work was done.
They swayed slowly together, as if they were the only two left in the room. And when the song was done, separating one from the other was like pulling two magnets apart, but nothing would change. They were like two trains going in opposite directions all because neither one would admit that their promise to the ones they had at home were ones they knew they might regret. Alex and Elyse were their promises and loyalties. They stood there in the middle of the dance floor for the moment staring into each other’s eyes, unable to move, just thinking the same thing. ‘What now?’ They were startled into reality with the sound of a base beating chorus of the next song that played.
"It’s official." Elyse laughed uncomfortably shifting her eyes to the floor, embarrassed.
"What is?" Alex asked confused.
"I really, really like you." She said as a matter of fact.
Alex looked down, flattered and reached for her hands again. When he grasped them, she pulled them away, but he moved closer and reached for them again.
"Don’t do that. If you haven’t noticed, I feel the same way. I’ve really never had a night like this before." He was being honest. He never felt comfortable being in someone else’s space, only his own.
She smiled softly and led him into the corner on the opposite end of the room, further away from their friends. She found an empty table that had been abandoned by its group. There was a pen neatly placed over the check for the table. She grabbed it quickly and wrote her phone number and address onto a clean napkin. She placed the pen back where she found it and turned around with napkin in hand. Alex was surveying the room and by the time he looked back at her she was done. He looked at her, questioning with his eyes. She slipped the napkin in his pocket. He was about to ask what it was she put in his pocket but she stopped him.
"Don’t look at it now." She said wanting to forget she even did it.
"Okay, I won’t…now what?" he said pulled her into the corner, further from the lit dance floor. He noticed their friends looking for them and didn’t want them to head their way. He hated inquisitions. He placed her in the dark corner, facing him, with his back to the crowd. He kept his hands on either side of her, palms down against the wall, making sure not to make contact with her again. The more the night progressed, the closer he felt himself coming to fulfilling the urge he had to touch her in one of the spots he hadn’t yet…her lips. He tilted his head back a little, moving the rest of him an inch back even further. She felt her fingers tingle just a bit, so she crossed her arms over her chest and closed her eyes.
"This isn’t working." She said frustrated. She slid her body down in one motion, pulling her knees to her chest. Her eyes were now level with Alex’s knees but then he followed her down, squatting, now eye level with her.
"We’re okay, Elyse." He laughed at how silly she could be.
"I don’t even want to tell you what I’m thinking right now." She said with an almost pained look on her face.
"Honestly, in a normal situation I’d say that you could tell me anything. But in this case, right now, I don’t think you should tell me. " Alex said, being honest. He could tell Elyse was used to blurting out what came to her mind. It was endearing since he was usually afraid to say what was on his unless it was thought out well. Dialogue between them was now a massive state of confusion and they were obviously being led by their feelings.
It was then that Elyse noticed Damian and Adriana actively looking for them as they danced out on the floor. Elyse stood up quickly and pulled Alex up with her.
"Let’s go outside. We need some air." She said pulling him behind her with one hand.
Once outside, Elyse found a door a couple feet away from the entrance and leaned against it with her back. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, inviting the breeze. She felt it cooling her face off and began pulling her blonde hair out of the now loose twist it was in. The hair framed her pretty face. Elyse caught Alex staring again. He looked away as he adjusted his body angle and found a spot next to her about a foot away. Alex tried to drum up harmless questions as he looked at the passing cars in front of them.
He asked routine questions to avoid the obvious.
This led to more questions, which led to more answers that fit into a neatly compiled conversation they could both enjoy. What was it that they wanted out of life, where were they headed, what was the point of it all…their childhood. Alex found out what he wanted to know, where had this woman come from? What kind of family was she from? He learned that the center of her world was her family, more importantly her dad, who had raised her alone since her mom died when she was 7 years old. The more she spoke the more he was fascinated. She had a wisdom and boldness in her answers. Because of this he began respecting her father without having met him. At the same time Elyse was learning about him. She was charmed by his quiet way, his sarcastic humor, his patient answers. His personality was guided by understated mannerisms until he told a story. He then became animated and his handsome smile lit up the dark street they stood on. She could melt when she saw his smile. His eyes had a certain vulnerable sweetness. There was purpose there…depth. She hated herself by this point and he wished the night would never end.
"Okay so time for a completely honest question." She said, leading the way again.
"I thought we were already being honest but Alright" he agreed with a smile.
"Is it just the fact that you’re away from your girlfriend? Is that why you’re attracted to me? I mean I could understand that. You’re traveling. You’re lonely…" She trailed off, trying to rationalize what was happening.
"I don’t think so, no." he answered, not explaining. Getting into more detail would be a rather awkward move.
"Okay so that makes it…worse." She laughed at herself.
"What about you?" he couldn’t help being curious.
"No." she answered quickly.
The conversation became quiet and they realized they were heading back to dangerous territory.
Since they were already there, Alex decided to explain.
"Let me clarify my answer…I’ve been lonely my whole life. I don’t think being away from her had any bearing on my attraction to you." He said, shifting his eyes downward, still a little ashamed to admit it out loud. She wanted to hug him. She knew how he felt. She wanted to kiss him, but she also the urge to run was mixed in somewhere as well.
"You know what I think?" she asked stepping away from the wall finally, turning her body facing him again.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"I think one day, I’m gonna look back at this night and wonder what happened and why nothing came of it. I’m going to regret this. And I’ll blame you. It’ll be your entire fault." She said smiling, leaning in closer to him, resting her face against the wall next to him.
"Regret this? Well I wouldn’t want you to regret anything." he asked, curious.
"But I will, because I’m always going to wish I kissed Alex, the marine, the one I’ll never see again. I’m going to wonder what it felt like. I know we’ll never get this moment back." She said wanting him to kiss her. He almost did.
Finally it became clear to Elyse why he didn’t want to venture near this line of conversation too closely. She read something in his eyes.
"I want to kiss you, but I can’t…." he admitted.
In mid-sentence, Elyse fell into his body and touched her lips to Alex’s. It was very softly at first. Her mouth found his bottom lip and it forced an undercurrent of desire to unveil itself when he didn’t refuse her. There was a pull, a welcoming energy that enveloped them both as their skin met. She felt warmth as he met her kiss with open resolve. Tired of fighting it, his hands cupped her face, holding her in position. He parted her lips, with his, wanting more of her. She, afraid and caught in between some sort of dream state forced her eyes open briefly. She placed her hands on his face and tried to speak his name. Alex wasn’t ready to pull away but she did. His body followed hers, moving them farther away from the wall.
Finally she succeeded in freeing herself even if she didn’t want to be freed. Inwardly and immediately she admitted to never experiencing a kiss like that before.
Alex was slightly dizzy upon opening his eyes. He found a steadying point in hers as she stood across from him. She started to take a few steps back. She looked disarmed and confused as she spoke. "Good bye, Alex." She turned and walked away.
Just as he was about to rush after her, Alex heard a female voice interrupt his thoughts.
"Elyse…Matt?" Lordez questioned, sounding excited as she approached the area where Alex stood.
Alex turned around.
Lordez was stunned at how off she was about whom she witnessed kissing her friend. It had not been the boy she knew as Elyse’s boyfriend of a year. Instead she found someone totally different, what looked like a young, handsome faced marine staring into the night. He looked like a little boy who had just lost his puppy. Finally when he made eye contact with the stranger she noticed he had a haunting stare, but not in a bad way. His brown eyes finally transmitted a change from the moment he was just experiencing to seeing this new person standing in front of him and he was embarrassed.
"You’re not Matt. Who are you? And what was that?" She walked slowly, still seeing Elyse rush down the street.
He frustratingly placed his hand at the back of his head and rubbed his neck.
"No one. Nothing." He answered. He was still in a state of confusion.
"Right. Don’t go anywhere." Lordez said to the stranger before hurrying past him, down the street. She shouted for Elyse. At first, she wasn’t stopping but finally as she realized who it was, she waited.
The tall, dark haired girl, that Elyse knew as practically a sister finally caught up to her.
"What was that? Where are you going?" Lordez looked shocked.
"Nothing! I’m going home. Where have you been all night?" She answered and asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"What? Why? Well I had to stay overnight finishing an art project at F.I.T. They had a short party afterward but one of my classmates got sick, so I stayed with her till she felt better. I got the message from Ade that you guys were still here so I came as soon as I could. But never mind that. Don’t leave yet. I just got here." Lordez explained then pleaded.
Lordez noticed Elyse look up the block from where they came. She shook her head.
"I would, but I can’t. I’m sorry." She turned and walked away. It just wasn’t like her to do that sort of thing so Lordez let it go.
She turned back and saw the young man staring in their direction. His head bowed at the sight of Elyse leaving for good.

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:35 pm

Alex still afraid of inquisitions…turned and began to head away from the scene of the "crime".
He hailed a cab at the corner. After he got in and closed the door, he could still hear the girl who seemed to be Elyse’s friend calling him but not by name, she had resorted to "hey you!" But he didn’t stop for her. As the cab drove off with him inside, he saw the tall girl begin to walk into the club. He felt relieved that part was over, but as they passed the corner Elyse had turned down, he searched for a glimpse of her. She was gone. He wondered how she’d get home. He wondered if she’d be safe on the city streets and then he remembered she was a native to them. He hoped she’d be okay.
Alex arrived back at the hotel and tiredly made his way up to the 5^{th floor. Just as he stepped off the elevator he realized that Markus had the room key. He crossed his fingers hoping that the others had come back before he did. He turned down the low lit hallway watching the room numbers. For the most part there was no noise at all coming from any of the closed doors. As the numbers neared the one he was searching for he could hear people talking. The door to room 534 was ajar and light from inside cast a yellow glow into the hallway. He pushed the door open and beheld his two roommates on the phone looking very agitated.
"Are you sure? No we didn’t see anything like that all night. Well to be frank sir we didn’t even notice that he wasn’t still with us. No the rest of us went in just fine. Ok yes sir." Markus hung up the phone and looked at Alex. "Hey did you see Victor in the club?" Alex shook his head. "Yeah well apparently he got into a fight with the bouncers and was picked up by the shore patrol. They have him back on the boat for the night." Alex shrugged, He honestly didn’t’ really care about Victor. They didn’t really work together and that may have been a good thing. Alex had no respect for men like Victor. Vic was the type that was always impressed with himself and expected the rest of the world to be as well. That kind of self serving attitude in Alex’s opinion had no place in the Marine Corps.
"If his hot headed temper got his ass in trouble it’s his issue not mine. I’m gonna shower n’ shave then hit the rack." Alex pulled his sea bag out and got some clean clothes. Marc and Ellis settled in waiting their turns in the shower.

The next day went by fast. They made rounds to most of the usual sites frequented by tourists to New York City. The National History Museum, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Damian never stopped talking the entire time. As far as they were concerned, He had memorized every travel brochure ever written on the city. Alex walked along quietly observing the sights outwardly but inwardly he was distracted about his own thoughts. So out of reality was he at this point that had Damian not been next to him to grab his arm Alex would have been a fancy hood ornament.
"Hey bro you’ve been AWAL this entire time haven’t you?" His clean cut face stretched into a smile. "You aren’t hung up on a particularly nice looking local girl are you?"
Alex shook his head "It’s not good man. I’ve never been this hooked on anything before. Maybe I should try to get back to the hotel and try to get some sleep, I didn’t get much last night." Damian looked at the ground and smiled knowingly.
"Alex. Do you consider me a friend? I’m mean honestly?" Alex nodded while not making eye contact. "Man I’ve known you since before you went to boot camp and I’d like to think that after everything we’ve been through I’d know you as well as a brother. Now you can stop me right here If I’m wrong but I’ve never seen you clam up like this before. And if you don’t stop me there then I would continue on to say that It has something to do with Adriana’s friend you were dancing with last night."
Alex could feel his face getting warm. He really didn’t like to be read like this. He felt ill. Inside he was battling with his emotions and the last thing he wanted was for anybody to know.
He had been raised to be loyal to one person and one person alone. Right now, he knew that loyalty should belong to Jamie but somewhere within himself, in a place he didn’t know had existed there was a voice screaming – pulling him in another direction. Now, without even looking for someone he had come across a woman who somehow turned on feelings deep inside of himself that he hadn’t ever experienced. And aside from turning his brain into an emotional train wreck it was giving him the worst case of indigestion he had ever felt in his life.
At this point there was little use trying to hide this. He and Damian had been close friends for several years and he always seemed to peg Alex’s problems even with out Alex opening up about it. Alex was the first of three children and thus was the oldest. However when he met Damian they hit it off very well and Alex had always been able to come to him when he needed help. With a deep sigh he decided to admit to his thoughts.
"I’m in trouble Damian. I can’t even think straight right now. This morning I woke up and I had the shakes. I’m gonna hate myself for even thinking about this but I want to see her again." Alex looked like a little boy who had done something he knew was wrong and was waiting for the universe to descend upon him. Normally in the ruthless world of the military this display of emotion would have done just that. But Damian knew Alex better then anyone could. He had long felt that Alex was like family and he would bend over backwards for family no matter what. After considering his thoughts for a moment he looked at Alex.
"Tell you what, If you can get her address I can show you how to get to her house tomorrow, deal?" Alex was hoping he’d say that.
They continued through the streets hitting Damian’s favorite haunts for Pizza and burgers before the sky started to darken. The trip back to the hotel was short as per Damian’s itinerary. He liked to be clever and had it all planned out. Alex couldn’t remember the last time his feet had hurt him so badly. Opening the door to their room they were surprised to see that Victor’s things were no where to be seen.
"Well that makes things easier. Better he is gone anyway, stupid crap he was pulling." Alex said as he went straight to his bed and collapsed in a heap on it. Ellis came out of the bathroom with his hygiene bag in hand.
"You say that now but who wants to bet that he didn’t pay off his end of the room before he left? His stupid ass gets in trouble then he jumps ship on us like a little bitch." He put his bags away and lay on his bed. "I don’t have the cash to cover his side man. I blew everything I had extra buying that girl booze the other night."
Marc was finishing taking his boots off with a pained groan. "Don’t worry about it I’ll cover it. If he does it again we can tune him up some. But I’m telling you right now I’m not doing anything tomorrow. My feet feel like I wore them to the bone. Even boot didn’t hurt this much." Alex was nearly unconscious at that point but still managed to choke on a laugh. Ellis looked over at his room mates. "I’m gonna enjoy this nice bed and live up some room service before it’s gone." Marc turned off his lamp and rolled over. "Amen to that brother. How about you, Alex?" The response he got came in the form of snoring from both Alex and Ellis.
Ellis woke up very disoriented and very grumpy. The knocking at the door had been followed by the phone ringing twice and neither of the other two had woke up to check it. He was a light sleeper and both of them were heavy. He rolled over and tried to pretend that the knocking was just a dream but the insistent rapping finally caused him to roll out of bed and angrily walked to the door. A quick check of the peep hole revealed the condemned knocker to be Damian. He unlocked the door and stuck his head out.
"What the hell is your problem man? Do you have any idea what time it is?!" Damian shrugged.
"Yeah why?" he asked with a grin.
"Good then inform your next of kin cause I’m gonna have to kill you now." Ellis growled. He had no clue what time it was but when he wanted to crash for a day he took the activity very seriously.
Damian rolled his eyes and pushed in past his friend. It was pitch black in the room. The light blocking shades were drawn and he had to feel his way to Alex’s bed. He reached out and shook the dark blob on the bed. "Alex wake up man, we gotta go." The body groaned and rolled over. Damian’s eyes adjusted to the darkness and he could now make out Alex’s form still wearing his street clothes from the day before. "Come on man get your shit cleaned up and lets go." He pushed Alex out of the bed and the resulting thud pulled Alex the rest of the way out of his slumber.
"Ok I’m up damn-it!" He slowly stood and grabbed his bag of clothes.
As Alex went into the bathroom to clean up and change Marc woke up. When he saw Damian he swore. "Damian if you think your gonna drag us out on another one of your day long tours I swear I’m gonna kill you."
Damian sat down on the edge of Alex’s bed. "Relax guys I’m just here for Alex. But if you enjoyed the tour so much…mmph!" His sentence was cut short by a pillow that impacted square in his face at high velocity.
Down stairs Alex and Damian looked over the directions to get to Elyse’s place. "Ok when we get there I’ll just stay in the cab and if you don’t come back then I’ll just head back to the ship, have that monopoly tourney today you know."
Alex looked at the print out as they got into the taxi. "I don’t need a baby sitter you know." The entire ride he sat and thought about that night and what it was that he was doing. What was he doing was a question that most frequently hit his mind. As the cabby pulled up to the curb down the street from her home Alex took a deep breath and left the car.
They had stopped down the block from her house. He walked along the side walk mostly in his own world. Going over what he would say and what he would do depending on what she did. As he neared her building and was preparing to cross the street he saw Elyse come out of the front entrance. He immediately began to smile, feeling like a dark cloud had moved out of the way and now the sun shined through. As Elyse walked up to a guy who leaned over and kissed her on the cheek his smile disappeared. They spoke for a moment or two before starting off down the street. Matt, it had to be Matt.
Alex had been so wrapped up in his feelings that he had nearly forgotten about her boyfriend. Suddenly Alex felt like his insides had been ripped out and put up on display for all to see. Humiliated at his own feelings he quickly began walking away. He wanted worse then ever to be anywhere but there.
Lordez walked out of house behind Elyse. As she looked out the glass door she saw Matt and decided to hang back for a moment. As she watched her best friend walk down to him she made a mental note to talk to Leese about Matt. She tried to keep her opinions to her self but she couldn’t help but dislike the pairing. She had known Elyse for a long time and she counted herself to be a good judge of character. There was something about Matt that just seemed to not quite match up well with Elyse. She often tried to isolate the thought but it was elusive. As the two met up at the bottom of the steps and kissed she noticed something, across the street a man stood looking like his world was ending. His face was familiar and it took a few moments before she remembered him from outside of The Latin Quarter. As Elyse moved away down the street, Alex walked the opposite direction quickly. Lordez crossed the street and fell in behind the retreating man.
"Excuse me. Don’t I know you from somewhere?" Alex stopped and looked around. He instantly recognized the girl from outside the club. "You’re the guy I saw Leese with outside the club the other night aren’t you? What are you doing here?"
Alex took a deep breath. He really didn’t feel like talking right now. To be honest he felt like a world class ass and he wanted badly to retreat to the solitude of his hotel room.
"I guess I was going to see Elyse one more time before I had to go." Lordez looked Alex up and down. He was a nice looking man with a certain humble air about him. She was wondering what kind of guy would be kissing on Elyse like that. But as she took a better look at him in the daylight, she realized it wasn’t the kind of guy she expected. What had caused her friend to be so upset that she refused to talk about the events of the evening with her? ‘He didn’t look like the abusive player type’ Lordez thought. Certainly a ‘player type’ wouldn’t be so phased by a random kiss by a random girl on a random night in the city. No, he certainly wouldn’t. It prompted further thought and a question from Lordez.
"Why?" She crossed her arms and waited for an answer.
Alex felt his face get hot. "Why what?" he answered with a question nervously.
Lordez amusedly smiled at his nervousness. "Why are you back here? Did Elyse ask you to come? Does she know you’re here?" Lordez inquired curiously, figuring that would explain everything. Although she was pretty sure Elyse wasn’t expecting him since she had plans with Matthew today.
"I’m not sure. No, she didn’t. No she doesn’t." He groaned a bit and grabbed his head. He}

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:36 pm

continued. "Honestly, I just wanted to see her again." His heart was pounding as he said this. Answering these questions and talking with a complete stranger wasn’t exactly what he wanted to be doing right now. "Listen I’m sorry if I caused any trouble. I should be going now." Alex said, about to turn around. Lordez’s voice stopped him though.
"Why oh why would a man travel all the way from Manhattan to the Bronx just to stand here for a second and then turn right back around? You said you came to see her. Don’t you want to say hi?" Lordez asked. Now she was very curious. He looked ready to run. He looked way too uncomfortable.
Alex locked eyes with the clever stranger, wishing she wasn’t so open with her questions to begin with. He was mortified.
"Look, I came here to see Elyse, thinking I might get to talk…to say goodbye or something. But now, obviously I see she’s busy and don’t want to bother her." He answered honestly.
"Bother her? Don’t you mean ‘bother’ her boyfriend?" Lordez giggled at the stranger. Her eyes were purposeful and her expression, sarcastic.
Alex’s face became warm again but he smiled at the uncomfortable situation. "Yea, well. I kinda forgot about him." Alex said looking down finally.
Lordez realized she was overwhelming him and being way too nosey without even a formal introduction. "I’m sorry about asking all these questions. Where are my manners? My name is Lordez. I’m Elyse’s friend. I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself." Lordez seemed friendly in this instance. She extended her hand.
Alex accepted the handshake, as surreal as it seemed. Here he was talking to Elyse’s friend, but not Elyse. "My name is Alex. It’s not a problem. I realize the way you found us the other night was a little odd. It would cause anyone to be leery of me. And now it might seem like I’m some kind of stalker, but I swear I’m not." He laughed uncomfortably.
"Alex, I assure you. I wasn’t thinking that." She said, making him feel better for a second. "Ok, maybe at first I was but now…I’m thinkin’ other things." She laughed a bit at herself.
"I can imagine." He said contemplating what horrific things she must be thinking now.
"No, I doubt you could." She guaranteed him with a fixed stare. Lordez was a very sensitive creature, sensitive to people, even though she came off as some kind of vicious investigator in this illustration. She actually was just a friendly person. She had worried about this ‘Alex person’ before, thinking negative things about his nature…his intensions, but now, in all honesty – she was perplexed by the situation in a different way. What seemed to be a bit stalker-ish to begin with now was officially deemed romantic. Yes, romantic. It was something in the guy’s eyes. Lordez caught this aching, longing look in them while he looked at Elyse wandering off with the immature, unworthy moron she was involved with. And what made Lordez think that her friend was running from something good here?
"Are you leaving? Like for good?" Lordez questioned intriguingly.
Alex frowned and looked away. "Yes, Today was my last day. Tomorrow I have duty section so I won't be leaving the ship. Then we pull out the day after and I'll be back to Virginia." His stomach knotted again, he didn't want to mention his fiancé.
Noticing a certain guilty expression cross his face, Lordez instinctively asked, "What’s waiting for you in Virginia? A wife?" She crossed her arms now with a defensive stance.
Alex was caught off guard by her question. "Not a wife, yet." He said knowing in the pit of his stomach he was doing something wrong. He just couldn’t pinpoint the wrong. He was sure his feeling on Elyse wasn’t.
"Ah, the plot thickens." Lordez blurted out, shaking her head. Now she knew why Elyse ran. She made eye contact with Alex again. "Alex, why are you here? After tonight, Elyse will be just some random girl in your past that you kissed one night. You’ll be married soon. It will be over. You’ll forget her." Lordez asked, still trying to understand what was going on here.
"No, I won’t. Haven’t you felt something you can’t explain? I asked that girl to marry me way before that night with Elyse. I don’t just kiss girls I meet at clubs. Elyse was not random. Everything changed that night, for me." He said, matching Lordez intent stare with his own. He looked wounded and confused. He felt vulnerable, naked in his explanation of his innermost thoughts. "God, what am I doing here? Forget I came." He said, now speaking out loud uncensored which was not like him. He stepped further back from this new acquaintance.
Lordez’s mouth was open in shock, realizing her new friend was touched by something unexpected. He just didn’t know what to do with it. His sincerity overwhelmed her. "Alex, wait." She said.
"I have to go. It was a mistake to come here." He said turning and walking quickly toward the bus.
At that moment, Lordez felt a change in the wind. She couldn’t help but think it was more of a mistake for him to leave.
That evening the room mates packed up their bags and organized. They would have this last night in the hotel but would need to report on the ship early in the morning before Duty Section Muster. Marc and Ellis talked and laughed about what they had done during the week but Alex quietly finished getting his things together and went into the bathroom. The hot shower water made the room steam up, he eased down onto the floor of the tub and let the hot stream of water wash over him.
He reached over and turned the light off and closed his eyes. His mind was a mangled mess and he needed to clear it up so he could get the most of his last sleep ashore. When he finally came out and crawled into bed he felt better physically but his mind was just as tense and crossed up as it had been before. One thing was for certain, he wouldn’t be forgetting this Fleet Week anytime soon.

Lordez tried reaching Elyse on her pager for the next few hours after her haunting chat with Alex. She didn’t want to meddle in Elyse’s life and this wasn’t the first time she saw a guy becoming interested in Elyse, but usually it was for something purely physical. You could tell. The guy was generally a bad sort of person, totally wrong for her but there was something about this guy in particular that she couldn’t get out of her head. He could have lied to her, but he didn’t. There was a familiar kindness and sincerity to him. His eyes were sweet and disconcerting but in a soulful way. What was more out of the ordinary is he looked like a complete wreck over how he felt for her friend.
What made her think Elyse might be feeling the same thing?
Elyse and Lordez knew each other since their first year of high school -- sort of. They ran in different crowds for about two years. Elyse was part of a popular crowd in school. She was outgoing, funny and not the kind of person who fell all over herself for attention. She got it. No questions asked. Lordez rolled in a different group – the brains, the outcasts. Lordez was a friendlier sort of person right off the bat. She was a thoughtful quiet type of girl, who also didn’t care for attention. That was one of the things they had in common.
Elyse was put in an unlikely driver’s education group after school in junior year. The 3 girls she was put with happened to be some of Lordez’s closer friends. Lordez didn’t turn 16 until the middle of the school year, so she was unable to attend the same class at 5pm, but she would wait with her friends til class started on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is what started a best friendship for the two girls. They lived a few blocks away from one another, so they would walk from school together, while the other friends lived in other areas of the Bronx.
It was clear rather quickly to both girls that they were often like night and day but certain similarities pulled them together as friends and kept them there since their junior year of college.
They were romantic sort of girls, who were looking for something more. They shared their deepest thoughts and dreams with one another. One of those dreams was to find that one person…a soul mate…that man who would sweep them off their feet and save them from the loneliness of the world.
Lordez put the phone to her ear leaving a voice message on Elyse’s pager. "Elle girl, we need to talk…seriously. Something happened today you might be interested in knowing. Come to my house after your date with Matt. It’s important." As she pressed the off button on her cordless phone, she remembered back to when they were 17, how they talked about never settling for less than the very think they hoped to find. She thought of Alex’s face before he turned from her today to run to the bus. ‘Could

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:37 pm

he be this person?’ On one hand she hoped not. If they weren’t able to find him before he left, this might mean misery for them both.
Lordez heard the front screen door to her parent’s house open. The main door was wide open as usual. She heard Elyse’s footsteps into the kitchen. "Lordez? You here?" her friend’s voice was panicked. She could hear it from the living room.
Lordez took the steps necessary to find her friend standing in the kitchen waiting for her.
"I’m here." She said, walking towards the pot of coffee with two cups sitting in front of it. "You’re going to need to sit down for this. I bring gifts though – coffee! Oh and ritz crackers!" she said with a huge grin on her face. They loved coffee…another bonding point.
"Is everything ok? You said ‘something important.’" Elyse looked at her friend waiting for a shoe to drop.
"Sit down." Lordez said as she brought the coffee and crackers to the long wooden table.
"Oh shit, girl. What the hell did I do now?" Elyse laughed, her bubbly personality overshadowing her concern.
After both girls sat across from each other, Lordez pushed a cup over to Elyse, fixing her dark stare into Elyse’s blue eyes. "I met someone today. A guy." She said, easing into this conversation with kit gloves.
"Oh you met someone?" Elyse beamed. "New guy? Is he cute?"
"Very actually." Elyse confirmed.
"Before I tell you about him you have to promise me that you won’t walk away from this table. I’ve had enough of that shit for the day." Lordez rolled her eyes.
"Why would I walk away from gossip? I promise." Elyse said awaiting the dish on the new guy her friend met.
"…Because it’s not my gossip. I have a name for you." She said teasing her friend a bit.
"Okay?" Elyse looked quizzically at her friend, the tiny lines on her forehead growing ever more apparent.
"I saw Alex today." Lordez said quickly, waiting for a reaction.
"Alex?" Elyse said the name, confused.
"Alex." Lordez confirmed again with wide eyes. Elyse was putting the cup of coffee to her lips as the image of Alex’s face came to her almost instantly the second time the name was said. She fell completely silent as all the blood rushed to her face. She felt a little light headed as she felt the heat consume her.
Finally she spoke. "How could you have possibly seen him?" Elyse questioned, curiosity being at an all time high. Lordez noticed her friend automatically try to hold a control over her expressions.
"He came looking for you at your apartment today. He saw us come out of the building just as Matt came to pick you up. I recognized him from that night. He was at the corner, across the street looking like hell. He stuck out like a sore thumb in his uniform. He was standing still just staring. I felt bad for him." Lordez explained, shaking her head at the thought.
"He saw me with Matt?" Elyse instantly felt like she was cheating until she remembered he had a girlfriend.
"Yes he did…not happy at all. Girl, I know you don’t want to talk about it but what happened that night?" Lordez said hoping to get to the bottom of this mystery.
"Nothing I mean we kissed, but other than that, it was just conversation." Elyse made it sound casual.
"Oh so it wasn’t a big deal then? You haven’t thought about him since?" Lordez asked, the corner of her mouth turning upward as she took a sip of her coffee. Elyse’s friend was fishing for information.
"Why are you looking at me like that?! Did he say something happened that night?" Elyse became nervous.
"No. He did say that you weren’t some random girl…that everything changed for him that night." Lordez said pushing forward with her analysis. Waiting…waiting for a response.
"Oh my God! He did?" Elyse lost all control of her face. She beamed.
Sirens went off in Lordez’s head as she realized what that look meant. In the year Elyse had been with Matt her face never took on this form. She looked so…so…so happy.
Lordez grabbed her forehead.
"Elyse you know he’s leaving in the morning right?" she asked sincerely worried right now.
"I didn’t know exactly when he was leaving, no. He is?" she frowned. All of a sudden her heart sank in her stomach.
Lordez shook her head in sad affirmation. Then, she remembered sharply the little tidbit about him getting married and felt a little heartburn in her chest.
"I don’t know what to say. It’s a shame that he’s engaged. I mean, I would tell you to go and find him if I didn’t know that." Lordez said, not realizing that her friend had no idea.
Elyse felt a sharp pain in her chest and she could swear she felt the pit of her stomach swell up.
"Right." She said, pretending she had known all along.
"I mean…it must mean it’s just not meant to be, right?" Elyse threw the question out there, trying to console herself.
"That depends really." Lordez said cryptically.
"On what?" Elyse asked.
"Well you’re talking about fate. What I believe is fate and free will go hand in hand. You see the answer in a situation like this can only determined by you. He knew you were involved with someone. He came out to find you anyway. In his mind, it wasn’t a matter of fate that you were with Matt. In his mind fate was all about you and him meeting before he marries that girl. The ball is in your court. You can sit idly by and wait for his ship to leave with him on it or you can try and find him. The question really is…which would you regret more?" Lordez had a way of seeing things. "Do you love Matt?" she asked honestly furthering her conversation with her dearest friend.
"I don’t know." Elyse said confused and afraid to admit it. She looked down.
"Elyse, if you don’t know now, you never will." Lordez stated firmly. "You either know or you don’t. It’s either there or it isn’t?"
"Matt is here. He’s for me. I don’t see what I should do here? Alex is getting married. How can I get in the way of that?" Elyse said feeling frustrated and heartsick.
"Just because Matt is available doesn’t mean he’s the right one for you. Stop letting life dictate your path. And what if Alex wants you to get in the way of that?" Lordez answered with a probing question then continued. "He didn’t come to the Bronx to stare at you and run back to Virginia. That’s for sure. My guess is that it would have come to him. I respect that he followed his heart that far, even though it wounded him in the process. What are you going to do about it though?"
"If he doesn’t love that girl, he won’t marry her. If it’s meant to be we’ll find each other again."
"You really are living in a fairy tale! Do things really come that easily for you? Life is not that simple, Elyse." Lordez said. "He made a promise to that girl. He might feel something great for you, but NOW that he’s seen you with Matt, there’s no doubt in my mind he would keep his promise no matter what. He seemed pretty certain when he left today that he made a mistake. He might think you’re happy with Matt. What would stop him now from marrying her?" Lordez pushed and pushed, hoping it would land Elyse on the 5 train into Manhattan.
"Why are you getting mad at me?" Elyse fixed her defensive gaze on her friend.
"Let me ask you a question. Did you feel something for Alex you didn’t feel before? Did you feel the same thing for Matt?" Lordez looked squarely at her friend.
Elyse refused to answer. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Exactly as I thought. You’re being a fool. You’re living in a romance novel. People’s lives go very wrong every damn day and you wanna know why? Because they make a singular choice… and it’s usually the wrong one. And if they get a second chance they are just lucky. Usually people are very unlucky though. If you can live with that, fine." Lordez finished her rant, averting her disappointed gaze to the clock.
Elyse had a sick feeling coming over her as she left Lordez’s house. As she was walking back to her house it occurred to her what she needed to do next.
"Adriana, call me back. I need to ask you something." As Elyse felt her finger hit the end button on the phone, she felt a bit panicked. Lordez kept leaving messages for Adriana at her home, and on her pager but to no avail. She was nowhere to be found. She realized Adriana could have been with Damian as she sat there waiting to hear back from her friend. Adriana was known to turn her pager off and since this was the last night the boys would be in NYC she was sure she wanted some alone time with her boyfriend before he shipped off. She tried calling one of Adriana’s friends to see if they knew of the hotel where they were staying at, but no one knew. They did however confirm that she was in the city tonight.
Elyse fell asleep with the phone in her hand, resting at her chest.
Her house phone went off in her hand at 4:00am. She was startled and pressed the on button in a hurry. When she answered, she realized it was Adriana. She finally gave her the information. The guys would be leaving soon. She said if she hurried she might be able to reach them at Chelsea’s Pier. She said she was on her way from the city but she could pick her up in ten minutes. She’d take her back down, since traffic was little to non existent at this time of the morning. Elyse took a five minute shower and threw on some clean clothes.
It was amazing. The same streets that were just recently empty of cars had filled up a bit more for the early morning rush. It wasn’t rush hour but there was a checkpoint on the West Side Highway that was causing a mini traffic jam. Police were stopping cars for no obvious reason. Just Elyse’s luck.
By the time they got to Chelsea, it was 5:05am and the gates were closed. Elyse jumped out of the car in just enough time to watch the boat in the distance moving further and further away from her. The more space that came between her body and the boat, the tighter the space in the middle of her chest felt. Her blonde hair moved gently on the breeze. Her fingers intertwined on the fence between her and the object of her journey. Her forehead pressed up against the cold metal. The wind was pushing onto her eyes. Salty sadness forced down her cheeks. She hoped that everything Lordez said last night was coming from her own rulebook and not life’s. A flash came to her of Alex’s kiss. How perfect it was. She remembered she was the one to walk away. It was she who made that choice. She knew that even though she tried to get to him in time, this would always be a regret…hopefully not her first of many.
Elyse’s heart felt as dark as the early morning. ‘Maybe fate knew better than free will did in this case. Maybe it was better they didn’t get to talk again before he left’ Elyse thought as she turned around towards her friends car. Maybe…
All she had left was to wish Alex well in her heart. They were now two ships going in two totally different directions. "Bye Alex". Her whisper reverberated on the morning wind just before she entered the car to leave.

The berthing compartment was a flurry of activity. The tight conditions were tighter then usual with everyone stowing their liberty gear in their lockers or under their rack chests. Alex didn’t have duty until that night but as was customary on this ship there was a required one hour long session affectionately know to the crew as "XO’s happy hour". From 0730 to 0830 local time the crew cleaned specific area’s of the ship depending on the day of the week.
"Good Morning Sailors and Marines, this is the XO speaking. I hope we have all enjoyed our time in New York City. Fleet Week is a proud tradition and I’m proud of the way you all conducted yourselves. However it’s time for us to get back to business. Today we will be focusing on floors and bright works. All chiefs and NCOs should be making their rounds and supervising. That is all." With that everyone began to work on their assigned locations. Alex had been handed a bottle of polish and a

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:38 pm

scrubby pad.
Happy hour also doubled as a social hour. Both day and night shift were up together at the same time. The smell of cleaning chemicals got stronger as the hour neared close the 1-MC announcement system crackled to life "Attention this is the captain. All bridge watch crew secure from happy hour and report to stations. Port call in Norfolk has been postponed till further notice. " With that the com went dead.
"Aw man, this can’t be happening." Phil closed up the cleaning gear locker and went to his rack. Alex whose rack was above Phil’s had already climbed in and was reading a book while waiting for the line into the head for the showers to get shorter. Phil continued to fume. "I was really looking forward to some home time now, you know?" He waited for a response from above but Alex was preoccupied with the thoughts that were ravaging his mind. The events of the week had effortlessly discarded the nicely set plans that he had been holding. Now there were questions where before there had been only hard resolve.
"Hey Medina, are you awake up there or what?" Phil kicked the underside of Alex’s bunk (the top side of his own coffin). "Come on Alex you can’t tell me that your gonna let me grip about this all on my lonesome." Phil rolled out of his rack and pulled Alex’s privacy curtains aside.
Alex grunted in disapproval and rolled over. "Phil not right now ok? I’m not really up to this. Personally I don’t mind staying out a little longer." With that he pulled the curtain back across and left Phil standing there speechless.
The Hanger deck smelled heavily of jet exhaust and hydraulic fluid. Crews had been working around the clock to prepare the squadron’s Air wing for the task ahead. Alex stood along the side of a CH-46 with a worn out speed handle securing a panel.
"Hey Charlie you wanna check the transmission once more before we close it up?" Halie Peterson called from a ladder on the other side of the aircraft. Sgt. Randy McDaniel followed her up the ladder.
The Flight deck a few levels up was also a flurry of activity. Aircraft were being shifted around to make ready for the upcoming operations. The LHA was a huge ship. While not as massive as the Super Carriers the LHA was still a sight to see. Amidst the tropical waters of the Caribbean the Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) moved together as one, it was a beautiful ballet that could at a moments notice bring a terrible wrath to an enemy force with startling speed.
And that is exactly how things happen on a naval vessel, with startling speed. Sgt Randy had been inspecting the transmission on the CH-46 when it happened. Hydraulic fluid and turbine oil on the bottom of his boots had made them slick. As the Sgt. Stepped back from the transmission his foot slid across the surface of the helicopter and before he knew what was happening he fell hard and fast. He landed on a parts cart breaking his leg in the process.
Alex rushed over to Randy and began to secure his leg so by the time the medics arrived they found a very angry but well cared for Sgt. McDaniel. As they moved away with the Sgt on a stretcher Alex felt someone tap on his shoulder. "Hey Medina, listen. Randy obviously isn’t gonna be making his flight today so they are callin’ in your training. Your taking his hop so get up top and suit up." Alex didn’t know what to say, he had been in his own world for the last several days. Now he found himself in-line to take his first actual flight mission. All of his qualification requirements had been completed, all that remained was waiting his turn on the flight roster. He thanked Romero and quickly found the nearest ladder-way to the ready room.
The ready room was filled with maps of the local area and rows of benches for flight crews to use when briefing or debriefing a mission. At the moment it was empty except for one man. The squadron executive officer sat at a desk in the front of the room. Alex marched up to the desk and stood at attention until the officer looked up.
"At ease Corporal, no need to be that strict in here. Just be sure you do your job up there and I’ll be happy." He leaned back in his chair and Alex stood at ease. He tried to be as sharp as possible around commissioned ranks. "Ok here is the deal. We already had our briefing so I’ll just give you a quick overview and then you need to get out to your ride. We have a special ops team that needs withdrawal as soon as possible." He pointed to a map on the wall. "We are gonna have your team going in and extracting the troops in this clearing just inland from the beach. Remember your training and keep your head on a swivel ok?"
"Aye sir." Alex suppressed a grin. This is what he had been wanting to do since he was a child. The prospect of getting to go up was also a great way to get his mind off of his troubles. The next twenty minuets went by in a flash. He geared up and got out to his assigned helo. He would be acting Crew chief, a position normally left to higher ranking personnel. This was an opportunity that Alex would most likely never see again. He was determined to do everything right. He made his way to the cockpit and the pilot turned and smiled to him.
"Hey kid, don’t look so nervous!" He yelled over the constant noise of the turning rotor blades and the high pitched whine of the turbine engines. "No worries it’s gonna be an easy hop just don’t fall out and you’ll be fine!" He laughed and went back to his preflight checks. Alex smiled feeling a little more at ease and went back and strapped into his position in the back. Plugging into the aircrafts mic system he sat back and listened to the constant and sometimes cryptic chatter between the flight crew and the flight deck control operators. The entire aircraft thrummed as if it had a life of its’ own. The constant repetitive vibrations made Alex feel safe. This aircraft was a work horse, powerful and beautiful. It was almost comforting in a strange way. Something built for war could invoke such a sense of security.
When the word finally came to button up and prep for take-off Alex was so pumped up on adrenaline that he nearly tripped on his own feet securing the aft hatch. The rhythmic thumping of the Rotor blades sped up and became louder. The entire aircraft tilted forward as they began to lift off the flight deck. Alex looked toward the cockpit that was now below him thanks to the forward tilt of the helicopter. The pilot called back on the mic to Alex. "How are you holding up back there man? Still in one piece I hope."
"Good to go sir." Alex replied feeling very big at the moment. The flight in went smoothly. The choppers came in as planned and landed in the clearing, Alex jumped-to dropping the ramp and getting ready on his gun. The tree line was a chaotic dance as the trees and shrubbery blew around in the turbulence kicked up by the rotor blades. He scanned the clearing when suddenly he saw a flash south of them just inside the tree line. A rattling along the side of the aircraft caught his attention very quickly.
"Be ready Corporal! That’s gunfire, keep low and be ready." At that moment a group of men in jungle camo came running out of the brush. They split up and half boarded the other aircraft, Alex stood back as the second group ran up the ramp in his aircraft. As the last few came up Alex took a few parting shots at the tree line, sighting the muzzle flashes. The aircraft began to lift as He finally secured the ramp and began checking on the rescued men.
Bullets could be heard rattling off the side of the helicopter as Alex set himself back into his harness. He looked forward and could see the flight crew coolly making the necessary movements of the controls causing the craft to lift off the ground. The rate of accent was faster then Alex had anticipated and he felt his weight being pushed into the seat.
The sound of the massive rotors nearly drowned out the sound of gunfire impacting on the helicopter. John McGuire took in the unfolding situation around him. The pick up had gone hot very quickly and while they had expected it to a degree there had been a few factors leading up to this moment that was making him uncomfortable. Sending in the helo’s into a clearing surrounded by jungle wasn’t his idea of fun. His father had been a pilot in Vietnam and he knew landing in such a place could get hairy quickly. Next issue was the lack of gunships, there were supposed to be at least one cobra Attack ship covering them, but the aircraft had suffered from mechanical failure before the mission. High level politics had pushed the poorly planned mission on regardless.
The plan was to egress the way they came in, over the short stretch of jungle that separated the clearing from the ocean beach. However the enemy had anticipated this and had heavy fire coming from that particular direction more then the others. He had to make a quick decision and it had to be the right one or they were going to be in very hot water. Quickly he keyed his mic "Charlie six, we are going to swing to the south and then egress feet wet as soon as we clear some of this fire." He switched frequencies. "Mother this is Charlie Lead, We are under heavy small arms and automatic fire, all packages are accounted for and we are coming in hot." The lead Helicopter began to move swiftly over the jungle canopy towards the south.
Inside the trailing CH-46 Alex listened to the pilots on the intercom trying to figure out what was happening. So far he knew they were going to try to clear some of the gun fire and get out of the area possibly using a different route. He looked around at the SpecOps team noticing that none of them really seemed to be concerned with what was going on. ‘These guys have been under fire quite a few times before’ The aircraft shook violently as the flight crew made maneuvers over the jungle as fast as they could move.
The flight flew south low and fast for a few minuets before the fire died down and they made their turn to the east and the awaiting ships on the horizon. Everyone drew a deep breath of relief as the shore drew near. John glanced over his shoulder at Charlie six when he saw it. A trail of smoke rising from the jungle, it was a sight that sent shivers down any aviators spine. An anti aircraft missile. The projectile snaked along before it began a pursuit arc homing in on it’s prey, Charlie six. "Charlie Six you have a missile inbound!"
Harris Lamore checked over his shoulder and saw the missile speeding towards his aircraft. His training kicked in and he began to make evasive maneuvers as well as he could. "Prepare for missile impact!" He called back to his Crew Chief.
Alex felt a cold shiver run up his back as he realized what was happening. Somewhere outside there was a warhead on it’s way to kill him. For a moment he felt himself leave his body almost more of an observer to the events taking place. How odd it felt to know that he may be dead in a matter of moments. No he couldn’t allow himself to be an observer. He sealed himself up mentally and began to run through his checklist for crash landings in his mind step by step. Even as he did this it seemed as if time was slowed down. He looked over at the others on the aircraft with him, seeing everyone of their faces in turn. He could feel the Turbine engines strong vibrations through the floor, the harsh maneuvers of the pilot causing the harnesses to dig into their shoulders. He could almost count the beats of the twin rotors above him. He felt strangely calm now. He had been well trained and he focused on this knowledge now.
The missile closed in on the retreating American Aircraft. It was of an old Russian design from the cold war days. They were cheap and not hard to come by if you knew the right people. It closed in on the trailing helicopter and began to zero in. Fate however was about to intervene. The guidance system onboard was very old and were known to be flakey. As it neared the target the guidance program failed and the missile passed by the CH-46 missing it. The guidance was faulty but the proxy switch wasn’t.
The war head on many missiles used in aviation don’t necessarily have to impact their targets to destroy them. In many cases it just gets close enough for the warhead to explode doing damage to the aircraft as the motor section continues on past the target.
The warhead went off close enough to cause sever damage to the helicopter. Yellow Caution light and Red Warning Lights lit up on the instrument panel and the air was filled with various warning chimes and vocal announcements alerting the crew that the aircraft was in a great deal of trouble and in danger of falling out of the sky. The blast had blown the occupants of the cargo hold about violently. Harness webbing had torn and heads had been knocked against the walls as well as other heads. The compartment flood light went out as well sending the passengers into total darkness with the only light coming from the cockpit and the few small windows along the sides of the helicopter.
The flight crew wrestled to keep control of the aircraft as they began to run through emergency checklists. The engines were still operating but fuel pressure was dropping off as well as hydraulics. The AC generator was intermitted coming off and on line causing some of the systems onboard to fail. The copilot looked out the window and could see they were over the beach now. Charlie Lead was farther out to sea but didn’t move any farther out. They must be relaying what was happening to the ship. "I don’t

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:40 pm

think were gonna get all the way back. Prepare for water landing people!" Using every last trick they knew to bring the aircraft down as slowly as possible the helicopter bellied into the surf just off the beach. It wasn’t a smooth touch-down. The entire aircraft buckled under the strain of the landing and threw Alex free of his harness and across the way landing with a sickening thud on the other side of the compartment. The entire craft began to roll and the rotor blades caught the surf causing them to shred and pull the aircraft on its side.
Alex tumbled back to the other side of the aircraft landing hard on his arm. He couldn’t feel his fingers on his right hand and hoped he had simply broken it rather then lost it completely. Immediately water began to run into the compartment and Alex worried that they may sink. A few of the other passengers had freed themselves from their harnesses and were trying to help others out of theirs. Alex quickly worked with his good arm to free a few of the men near him and then worked the emergency hatch that he had to climb carefully up to reach. He instructed the men to exit as quickly as possible and turned to the cockpit. The Pilots were free of their restraints and had worked the front hatch open. Alex and the rest of the crew assisted the injured men out of the front of the wreck. Much to Alex’s surprise the water was only a few feet deep. The landing gear stanchion on the right side of aircraft was crunched and sunken into the sand. The entire aircraft had pock marks from bullets in it. They moved quickly getting a life raft out and loading the survivors in. Alex groaned as he spat blood into the water. He had taken a nasty beating in the crash but was not too badly off.
They rowed away from the crash as quickly as they could and away from the shore where guerilla fighters were gathering and beginning to fire on the wreckage and the life raft. The helicopter was sending up a cloud of smoke and steam as hot components met the cool sea water.
Bullets zipped over their heads as one of the SpecOps guys tended to Alex’s arm trying to immobilize it. Just then out of nowhere the men who had been wading out to the downed helicopter exploded into clouds of red mist and gore. Water spray was kicked up by gunfire. They looked up just as a Cobra Attack Helicopter made a pass on the men on the beach. The survivors let up a cheer as the attackers retreated into the jungle. Another helo approached overtop of them. It was an SH-60 Seahawk Search and Rescue Helicopter from one of the battle groups escorts. The rescue swimmer jumped out and swam over to the raft. He assisted the securing of the most grievous of the injured and then waited with the raft as the life boats arrived to take them back to the ship.
The ride back to Norfolk went quickly for Alex Medina. He spent a good amount of it on LLD (light limited duty) status thanks to his broken arm. As a result he had earned some easy work days helping the admin wing with paper work and filing. Alex worked quietly entering data into a computer console at his temporary desk where occasionally his squadron mates would come up to hound him from time to time. As far as Alex was concerned the ship couldn’t get home fast enough, the sooner he got back the sooner he would be released from his servitude of paper pushing. He was the kind of person who would rather be working with his hands and sweating than sitting in an air-conditioned office compartment. His arm had been set by the ships medical facility but the doctor still wanted to have Alex’s arm X-rayed when they got to Norfolk.
Alex’s servitude didn’t last long. The ship made port in Norfolk only days later. Alex had a trip to the Naval Hospital on base. He was subjected to a few tests and made to wait overnight before they would be able to say if his arm was properly set or not. This meant one more night away before his return home. The nurses had left him his dinner and he decided to flip on the television while he waited for sleep to take him. As usual there was little or nothing on of much interest to him but one channel did finally catch his eye. A News Network was talking about the accident.
"…the US Marines lost an aircraft in the operation as a result of a missile fired by Columbian Guerillas as American forces exited the jungle. This video sent to us from an affiliate in Columbia shows the action as the heavy lift helicopter made an attempt to return to it’s ship." As the anchor continued on a shaky video showing two American helicopters flying low and fast over the tops of the jungle. From the angle it was shot from Alex figured it must have been shot from a small boat farther south of the incident. Just as the second aircraft was about to clear the jungle canopy a plum of white exhaust smoke from a missile rose from the tree tops and angled toward the trailing helo. Alex sat motionless and watched as the missile blew up near the chopper and sent it down. The anchor woman continued " while no one was killed in the crash there were several injuries to the crew and passengers. Pilots Maj Brandon Crawly, LtCol Harris Lamore and CPL Alex Medina as well as their passengers made it back to their ship safely." As she listed the names of the flight crew they showed service photo’s of each of them. Alex stared in total disbelief, how did these people find out about who was on the helicopter? He turned off the TV and rolled over in his bed and closed his eyes.
In his dreams he saw himself on a helicopter flying over a large city. As the chopper banked to one side he saw a plume of white smoke from south of the city rise up and begin to pursue him. He tried to dodge the missile by going low. He had no idea where he was going but he just seemed to want to be there. Just as the missile exploded and he felt the burning hot blast engulf him he had a feeling of being lost and helpless to save himself. He closed his eyes and let the fire take him, but when he should have felt the fire burning his flesh he instead felt a hand in his. Alex opend his eyes and he found himself on the dance floor of a club. People were dancing and having a good time around him. He looked up to see who was trying to help him up. A woman Dressed in a red dress and a tight belt smiled down at him. "Alex, don’t worry so much. Things will pan out." It was at that moment that he recognized Elyse. A smile came over his face but as he tried to answer her everything went dark, the dream was over.
As he sat there in his bed sweating a nurse walked in. "Good morning Mr. Medina." She sang cheerfully. "How was your sleep? The Doctor will be in a few so until then I’ll go ahead and get your breakfast set up." She pulled a tray out of a cart that was in the hallway and brought it in to him. "Oh and by the way you have a gift! Someone must really like you, it’s so nice to have something pleasant to come home to." She beamed once more. She went back out to get the gift as Alex closed his eyes. Nothing was worse then a chipper morning person. Even a missile in the ass was easier to deal with. When she returned she was holding a fair sized bouquet of bright colored flowers. They were mixed roses along with a card and a teddy bear on the front. The bear had his arm in a sling and a thermometer in its sad looking face.
"I read about the crash and since I can’t send myself, I send my love instead…..Well done! Glad you made it home safely. Best wishes with Jamie! Affectionately, Elyse" There was a smiley face drawn into the card next to the ‘well done.’ Alex felt his heart stop cold in his chest. She was still thinking of him. The thought of that made him happy but her mentioning Jamie made him queasy. He wasn’t even thinking of Jamie but the idea that Elyse had obviously known about his engagement to the girl now was disheartening. It was a hopeless case now. And what must Elyse be thinking of him?
Other than to let Jamie know about his arrival stateside he had done his best not to think about his fiancé. How strange it was that Elyse sent him something. And how could she mention Jamie in the same breath? It once again sent his nerves into a tailspin. He felt glum and yet happy all at once. Perhaps she was really serious about her boyfriend and didn’t care about his engagement. It would be a big mistake to try and interrupt her relationship the way his heart wanted to. He sat staring at the card until the Doctor came in a few hours later.
"Well Mr. Medina, your arm is setting up nicely and we think your ready to go home now." Dr. Heston smiled as he flipped through his papers. Alex gathered his things and left the hospital. He had called Jamie when his ship came in, telling her he was back and that he would need a pickup. When he left the building however he didn’t see her. He sat down and waited for awhile and finally called her cell again. It rang once and went to voice mail. It was another four hours before Alex finally caved and hailed a cab for the ride home. He didn’t have cash on him but he did have his free pass card. The free pass card was issued to all service members so that in the typical event that you go out and get drunk you can still get a cab, even if you don’t have the cash on you. The fair does get paid eventually but the idea was that it would reduce the number of DWI’s by service members. In this case it would serve to get him home since his ride wasn’t anywhere to be seen. The Yellow and green Crown Victoria pulled along side the curb and the driver popped the trunk for Alex so he could stow his sea bag. Settling in to the back seat he told the driver where he lived and the man smiled and replied with a thick Indian Accent that he would be home in short order. Alex smiled to himself as they pulled away. In all the different states and countries he had been to the cabbies were always the same. When they pulled out onto the main road that ran east west through Naval Station Norfolk the cabby pushed play on a cd player and Alex was treated to a sort of Indian R&B hybrid mix as they drove along.
The sky was turning a deep violet hue as the cab pulled up to the house. Alex got out of the car and thanked the man graciously for the ride. He copied the info from the cabbie and handed his card to him with his own info on it. "Here you go sir, You may have my CD if you like. It is a great pleasure for me to spread music from my country here in this land." He handed the disc to Alex with a big grin. During the ride they had started to move along with the beat as they went and Alex had asked what the group was. He made a mental note to add a good tip to the card when he submitted the pay for the ride.
"Thank you sir, it was the most pleasurable ride I’ve had in a while." Alex shook his hand and walked up towards the front door.
The house was a pleasant one story home that had been in the Medina family for many years. With so many generations of family in the military for so long that they had homes near many of the larger bases in this country. As each generation went through the service they just handed down the homes as they went.
At the moment however Alex was the only Medina on the East Coast of the United States. His sisters were both deployed in Italy and his brother was in Hawaii. Their parents were retired out of the service and lived outside of San Juan where Mrs. Medina’s family had been in residence since time out of mind.
All the lights were off inside the house, Jamie must have been out to see her friends or something as it was only eight at night. He pulled out his key and tried to unlock the door but found to his surprise that it wasn’t locked.
The living room was dark and Alex had to feel his way to the light switch. In the kitchen there were candles set up around the room and by the looks of them they had been used. Alex looked around as he opened the fridge and looked for something to drink. His water jug was empty but a bottle of wine stood there looking very tempting so he poured what was left of it in his glass and sat down in the living room. He heard someone walking down the hall and just as he went to stand and look, Jamie rounded the corner.

"Hey baby, how was your trip?" She smiled dimly as she sat down on the couch next to him. She had on a silky pink nightgown on that was partially revealing. He could also detect a hint of perfume on her. She didn’t look completely shocked at him being home. So Alex wondered still why she didn’t pick him up from the hospital.
"It was ok… did you not get my messages? I called yesterday saying that I’d need a ride from the hospital today." Alex studied her brown eyes that were rolling even before he finished is sentence.
"I didn’t know. My cell died and I haven’t gotten a new one yet. I saw the news broadcast and called the hospital but they told me you had left already. I figured you got a ride from someone else." she smiled leaning her face on her hand.
"You had dinner waiting for me?" Alex looked again out at the candles in the kitchen.
"Alex, don’t be so suspicious. We had a black out and I was using the candles to see, figured I’d do a puzzle or something." She stood up and smoothed out her gown. "Are you ready to sleep in a real bed now?" She giggled at her own joke. Alex felt uneasy now more than ever. There was something nagging at him but he brushed it aside as he got up finishing the wine and followed her to the bedroom.
Alex undressed himself carefully minding his arm, his side of the room was clean and untouched since he had been gone. Jamie’s side of the room however was the complete reverse. She had mountains of clothes along the walls and her make-up accessories littered every horizontal surface available.
He undressed and neatly placed his clothes in the hamper by the bathroom door. It felt good to be

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:40 pm

off the ship. Alex studied himself in the mirror as he thought about his feelings he had been afraid of, the ones that made him afraid of coming home. He smiled, maybe there was nothing wrong and it was all in his head. Feeling a little better he came back out to the bed and crawled under the sheets. He rolled over to Jamie to give her a kiss but to his surprise she was fast asleep. Not only was she asleep already but she was facing the other way. He sat there staring at the back of her head for a moment before reaching over and turning his light off. Tonight would be another night of strange dreams, he would wake once again with a feeling of loss.

The sun was just beginning to warm the asphalt in front of the hanger, as Damian pulled himself out of his old sports car. It was his baby and he liked to admire it in the sunlight, especially when the other guys were just coming to work. Most of the crews had taken to calling it a ‘faux porche roadster’ To this Damian would reply in a matter of fact sort of tone. "Only an uncultured swine like yourselves couldn’t appreciate the beauty of a Karmann Ghia".
As he locked the car and turned to walk across the parking lot he spied Alex walking down the side walk. It had been nearly two months since Alex had returned to base but Damian hadn’t seen him since Fleet Week due to a DET to NAS Key West. He pocketed his keys and hurried down the pavement and punched Alex in the side (carefully avoiding his recently injured arm of course!).
"Hey Buddy! What? Didn’t feel like saying hello to an old buddy now that you’re a big war hero?" Alex looked over at Damian with an exasperated expression. His morning hadn’t been good. He was running a good twenty minuets late. For some odd reason his alarm clock didn’t go off. He hated to be late for anything and always tried to be punctual.
"War hero? Cut the crap man I’m not in the mood." Damian acted as if he didn’t hear.
"Now let me think… Something is different here." He made an exaggerated show of looking Alex over. "Lessee hmmmm, pissy look in the eyes, five o’clock shadow, and Summer Creases on your shirt. ‘Something vexes thee?’" Damian laughed.
"Listen Damian, I’m having some issues and I’m just really distracted lately." Alex said as he hurried in the side door to his hanger.
Damian followed Alex into the Maintenance control office. "Alex listen, in all seriousness I’m here for you little bro." Alex looked at his long time friend. How could he tell him what was on his mind if Alex himself didn’t understand what was going on?

Since Alex had returned to the states he had been feeling odd. Restlessness was a typical thing lately and that wasn’t like him.
Jamie had been acting strangely since he had come home as well. She would be extra nice to him when he got home from base, but when she got into bed with him she would have no energy left for him. Then out of the blue one day a week after he returned home she surprised him. She had been waiting for him at the door… Naked. Alex opened the door and there she stood. She had grabbed his arm and dragged him into the house. They had made love many times that night until they collapsed with exhaustion. But as Alex tried to kiss her as they lay there she rolled out of bed and went to take a shower. After that night however she went back to ignoring him. He was becoming more and more confused with each passing day. He was questioning himself and his life. This was unsettling for someone used to structured and over planned life style.
That night he sat in his driveway staring at his house. Never had he ever imagined he would actually one day wish he had somewhere else to go other than his home with his wife. The other men he worked with all had the typical horror stories to tell him about marriage and family life. But he refused to believe them at the time. Now here he sits wondering if he had been the fool all along.
By the time Alex actually got out of the car it was getting dark. The street was illuminated by the street lamps and the world seemed at peace. But inside of him there was a war raging. Half of him was convinced that he had made a big mistake. The other half argued that he just wasn’t trying hard enough.
As he opened the door he could smell the aroma of a hot pizza drifting through the house. Closing the door behind him, slowly walked into the kitchen. There was Jamie and Ellen Tanner sitting at the table. Between them sat the empty remains of a pizza box, they both looked up at him with a slight guilty look.
"Oh! Alex, welcome home!" Jamie jumped out from behind the table and rushed over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Alex stood dumbfounded with his wife hanging there off him.
"Alex I have wonderful news!" She looked back at Ellen and grinned. "I’m pregnant!, we are gonna be parents!" She kissed his face and trotted happily back over to Ellen at the table. "We were celebrating!" She was beaming.
Ellen stood up and walked over to Alex. "Come now Alex don’t just stand there you must have something to say on this joyous occasion."
Alex was unable to reply, he stood there in a stupor trying to process what was happening. Without a word he turned and went to the bed room and shut the door. Fifteen minutes later found him in the shower sitting in the hot spray in a daze. How had this happened? His life was rapidly falling apart, the more he thought about it the faster it went.
He was no longer sure he could stay with Jamie and was ready to tell her that, now with this news she had stopped him in his tracks. Alex soaked for what seemed like hours until the water ran cold, he stepped out of the tub and dried off. When he opened the door he noticed that the bed was empty. The clock on the nightstand read 11:00PM, he looked down the hall but no lights were on in the house.
There was no sign of Jamie the next morning either. It was Saturday and Alex didn’t have duty for the moment. He was busy trying to keep his mind off her news when he heard the front door open.
"Honey I’m home!" Damian walked in the kitchen with his usual smart assed smirk. "Hey bud, What’s going on? You were supposed to call me this morning." He sat on the table corner and studied Alex’s unshaven face. "Alex, are you ok?"
Alex took a deep breath as he ran his hands across his face, it was a nervous tick he always had. He had forgotten to call Damian to cancel their day, now he was faced with a tenacious man who wouldn’t give in when he smelled a problem. He took a moment to consider how to explain what had happened the night before. Damian had always maintained that Jamie was not Alex’s type. Alex was grounded and courteous, he saw Jamie as a partying good time girl. And though he hadn’t told Alex, he had heard rumors that she may have cheated on him at least three times. But he couldn’t confirm this himself and wouldn’t stick his nose in it unless he could or was asked directly.
"Jamie told me last night that she was pregnant…." Alex looked down at the floor in shame. Damian was surprised.
"Well then… I suppose congratulations are in order?" He looked at Alex harder trying to read anything he could on his friends face. But Alex’s expression was a blank page.
"Damian. I don’t know what to do here. Things haven’t been ….normal between us." Alex slumped down in a chair at the table.
Damian slid off the table and sat across from Alex. "Alex, when you were in the hospital did she come and see you ever? I mean you just got shot down and nearly died. When did you first get to see her?" He leaned in close. Alex felt his stomach knot.
"No, she never came or even called." He sighed and looked at Damian. "Something doesn’t feel right Damian. Everyone said it was just the jitters about the marriage and all the excitement with the crash but I don’t think it is."
Damian shook his head, he had long maintained that the match between Alex and Jamie wasn’t destined to work out. "Alex, here’s the thing. I’m gonna be really honest with you so bear with me. The reason why I told you about Elyse back before fleet week was because I didn’t think you had really looked around at the different types of people out there. You met Jamie and just went at it, Elyse was supposed to be an example of different people. You see what I mean?" Alex’s mind at the mention of Elyse began to wonder again.
Damian cleared his throat and continued. "You can’t just launch yourself at the first person that

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:41 pm

looks at you and smiles man. It’s asking for trouble and it looks to me like that is exactly what happened." Damian stopped at the sound of a phone ringing. Alex instinctively placed his hand on his pocket but his phone wasn’t ringing. Damian reached into his pocket and produced the source of the noise. After a few moments he smiled and handed the phone to Alex.
Alex took the phone with a puzzled expression on his face. "Hello?" Instantly he recognized the gruff voice of John Tanner. John was a retired Major from the US Army. He had been close friends with Alex’s father for years and years. The two older men had always liked to pick at Alex for choosing to go into the Marines but it was always in fun. He and his wife lived in Virginia Beach, it was a common thing to see him on the various bases around Norfolk. He was a well connected man and well liked by all that knew him.
"Alex, what is this I hear from Ellen about Jamie being pregnant?" Alex felt his stomach knot. He listened to John go on about the responsibilities of a father and such for the next 10 minutes or so. Finally he finished up and asked Alex what he intended on doing.
"Well I really don’t think I have a choice do I? I’ll have to make this work." Alex had always been raised on the importance of family and being dedicated to the children. For better or worse he was going to stay and make this happen.
Damian stood up and walked into the living room while Alex spoke to John Tanner. He had never liked Jamie, she was the type of person that went out to seek attention. She didn’t seem to ever really be dedicated to Alex as he thought she should have been. In his own relationship with Adrianna they had known each other since they were kids. There were no questions as to who they were to one another or what they meant to each other. Alex on the other hand had not had the chance growing up to really get to know anyone like that. As far as Damian was concerned, Alex’s first constant friend other then his siblings was Damian himself.
They had met during an exhibition at NAS Norfolk when Alex was just 14 years old. The base had been hosting it’s annual air show and Damian had been plane captain of a Sea-Harrier jump jet. Alex, his father and John Tanner had come by and were admiring the aircraft (or at least Alex was). They had started to talk about this and that and ended up spending the whole day by the AV-8B talking (much to the irritation of Mr. Medina and Mr. Tanner). It was a friendship that would eventually lead Alex to join the Marines and seek orders on the east coast. The two men had been as close as brothers since then. When Alex met Jamie, Damian didn’t think much about it. But when he moved her into his house off base that his family had owned for years Damian became worried. He took it on himself to try and show Alex that there were lots of people in the world, that he shouldn’t jump at the first girl that comes knocking.
But even with his efforts Alex still married Jamie and now he was stuck with the relationship. The world was a messy place and Alex would find out just how messy it could get.
Alex came in through the doorway and handed Damian his phone back. "So what did John have to say?" Damian pocketed his cell and waited for the news.
"Well I really don’t have a choice. I’m going to have to stick to this and see the baby through. My problems will have to take a back seat." Alex looked like he was going to become ill.
Damian looked at the clock above the entertainment stand. It was nearly noon. "Where is Jamie? I thought she was supposed to be home." Alex shrugged. The look on his face said it all. At the moment he really didn’t want to see her. "Ok well then there shouldn’t be an issue if we go get some food then huh?" In one quick move Damian wrapped Alex in a head lock and towed him towards the door.
"Yeah what-ever man just let go so I can get a damn shirt on." Alex got ready, threw on a clean pair of blue jeans and t-shirt. Once finished he and Damian decided to hit a bar and grill called "Tides", a hot spot right off the naval shipyards. In Damian’s opinion it was the only place close by where they could find a decent hot meal and some alcohol…the alcohol that would surely be required in order to get through this conversation. He felt he needed to take this time to be what other people seemed to fail at being with regard to Alex…an honest friend.
"I wouldn’t normally drink this early but under the circumstance I think a drink or two might help." Damian smiled at his friend as he tried catching the attention of the waitress.
"I agree." Alex said.
They ordered two beers to start...
"So you’re going to be a dad?" Damian stated it as a question but more because he was in shock over his friend’s good news.
"Yea sure looks that way." Alex seemed to be disappointed and withdrawn.
"Well you’re married…so kids, I guess would be part of the plan. We shouldn’t be too surprised." Damian said, coming to a point of acceptance.
"This was not part of my plan whatsoever. I don’t know how this happened?" Alex’s confusion was apparent.
"Well I could explain it but I don’t know how comfortable I’d be with explaining the birds and the bees to you. You should know." He chuckled.
"You know what I mean, dude. First of all, things haven’t been exactly normal with us. Honestly since I’ve been back, we had sex one night."
"See this kinda situation right here is why condoms were invented, so divorce isn’t so messy." Damian pointed the neck of the bottle at Alex as he spoke, then set the beer down.
Alex placed his head in his hands. Damian thought for a second and then decided to ask the million dollar question.
"No disrespect, man but are you sure the fruit of her loins is yours?" he questioned with a bit of hesitancy.
Shock ran across Alex’s face as he lifted his head and then made eye contact with Damian.
"I hadn’t thought of that. What are you saying, Damian? That on top of everything else, I should wonder if she’s fooling around behind my back?" Alex asked feeling more and more betrayed by his thoughts. The realization that he might not be able to trust his wife was hitting him more and more.
"I’m not saying that she IS cheating on you, but she’s not really a homebody if you get my meaning. She spends a lot of time outdoors. She’s never home. And she doesn’t act like a wife or soon to be mother. For instance when a woman finds out she’s pregnant with her husband’s baby, it doesn’t usually lead you to leave when he’s home, especially since you’re in a career field where you might be gone or called away. Wouldn’t she want to share this time with you? Wouldn’t she feel some sort of bonding with you in this experience? She just doesn’t make sense to me. And then you’re telling me that in the past 7 months you’ve been, how shall we say? Intimate? Only once?" Damian explained his point as much as he could, leaving more questions in Alex’s mind.
Alex’s mind was riddled with suspicion at this point.
"When I’m away from Adriana, it kills me. And then we get together again, it doesn’t take long for us to get back in the swing of things. Ya feel me? So I’m just wondering if our little Jamie is getting it elsewhere." He said at the risk of angering Alex. He felt the need to be as honest as possible without exposing some of the rumors he’d heard around.
"I’ve been a little suspicious for a while. There’s been something missing here although I didn’t know what." He answered ashamed.
"Do you love her?" Damian asked very curiously, thinking about his own situation. If Adriana held out on him he’d wonder what was wrong, but for some reason Alex wasn’t nearly as concerned as he might be in the same situation.

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:42 pm

"Something has changed and it’s been there for a while. I don’t look forward to coming home to her. I just can’t imagine that this is how love should feel." Alex answered honestly.
"See, I’m really at a loss here about what advice to give you. There’s no need for me to tell you that you shouldn’t have married her to begin with. You know that already I think. But I need to ask why you married her then because I don’t understand."
"I had an idea of what I wanted out of life. I wanted the military. I wanted to settle down. I wanted the white picket fence and the kids…and I thought it just required finding someone and just doing it. There was a plan. This did not fit my plans."
"Well you’ve got the marriage. You’ve got the kid and the military, but did happiness in all of that enter into your brain at the time. See I want all the same things but the very thing that all hinges on, involves a person I can be happy with, that I can trust. All the things you mentioned require stability and a foundation to build upon. You picked the wrong girl."
"Well no shit, but now I have a kid and I can’t be one of those guys who creates a broken family. I never had one and I don’t intend on bringing that sort of thing into the world."
"I didn’t have a broken family either, but I know that it sometimes you can make things worse by trying too hard to make them better. You can’t change Jamie. You can only correct yourself. Right now you have to think about what’s best for a baby that you don’t even know is yours. You need to make this right somehow. I’m assuming it will come to you. I’ll tell you what I would do is make sure you get a paternity test."
Alex swallowed the last of his first beer in one long draw and signaled for another. "Great my life has turned into a Talk show candidate."
"Hey I’m not saying that you absolutely have to but it would be a good idea is all." Damian offered as he idly pulled at the label on his bottle.
"Yeah I know, I’m just not loving the concept." Alex took the offered beer from the bartender.
The entrance doors opened and the sounds of the street outside drifted into the otherwise empty bar. Alex and Damian didn’t bother looking up but the new comer sat down next to Alex anyway. "Hello gentlemen. What’s the scuttlebutt?" John Tanner signaled the barkeep for a draft of his own. He wore his old Flannel shirt that had faded severely, and his khaki trousers that he still kept starched and pressed. It was an odd mix but when you knew the man it made perfect sense.
Damian smiled. "Hey John fancy meeting you here."
Alex wearily glanced over at Damian and gave him his most cynical look. "Damian, we both know that John comes here every day at the same time."
Damian pretended to look hurt. "Damn, you got me." He drained his beer and shifted on his stool so he could see the TV behind the bar.
John accepted his drink and looked at Alex. "Well you seem to have gotten yourself in pickle Alex. Any ideas on what your gonna do about it?"
Alex sat up a little straighter. John Tanner was a very old family friend. And apart from Damian he was the only family that Alex had in the western Hemisphere. He swallowed some of his irritation that had been rising with Damian and replied. "I’m probably going to have a paternity test done…"
John jumped in before Alex could continue. "Mhmm, so what do you intend on doing after that? I mean if she was sleeping around on you then what? Are you just gonna leave her? Are you gonna make up and work things out?" Alex didn’t reply fast enough. "Well you had better have your shit figured out quick Alex."
Alex knew what was coming next. They were setting up to double team him and at the moment he was in no mood for it. He stood up. "I’ll handle it guys." With that he went to pull out his wallet but the barkeeper shook his head. "Your on the Tanner Tab kid. You don’t pay." Alex thanked him and John. Damian sighed and followed Alex out to the car.
"Well Alex I really wish you luck here." Damian climbed in and started the car.
When they pulled up to Alex’s house the living room lights were on. Alex climbed out and waited as Damian drove down the street.

It was a typical day in the early summer of 2001. The noon sun was blazing steadily on the elevated backdrop of aging buildings.
Elise Olivera a young woman of 21 was making her way out into the busy streets of Washington, D.C. She had just left an interview, but not just any interview. It was probably the most significant one of her life. She stepped with an assurance that had been building up since she was a little girl.
Stepping out of the way of the constant stream of tourists and business people who flowed along the side walks like a strong river current she paused to make her self more comfortable. She pulled off her dark blue dress jacket, turning her head swiftly to the side. Her body preceded such movement, revealing a tight above the knee skirt. Her white blouse and long golden hair fluttered as the hot wind found its way through, owning her body just as much as her clothes did. She looked up as she put her jacket over her arm and caught a glimpse of the flags attached to the very notable J. Edgar Hoover building. Seeing the flags flying in the hot breeze she felt an enormously stiff pride well up in her shapely body. She stood unmoving for a minute just staring. Her crystal blue eyes glistened reluctantly, even though she couldn’t help it. She had arrived. She just walked through a major doorway in her life, and it might have been just the first door she would have to open in her career. But it was a start! She turned from the large impressive building, with it’s layers of concrete sections and defining windows. The FBI headquarters building always looked like it had so many secrets hidden behind each glass pane, but at this time the only information Elise was concerned about was that she had finally been accepted into the world she’d been wanting approval from since she turned 14 years old.
As she moved her well proportioned frame forward with each anxious and elated step, she couldn’t help but make a mental note of how empty Pennsylvania Ave. was in comparison to Broadway. Her full lips curved into a smile, thinking of how nice it would be to get back to NYC and tell her family the good news. It was a 4 hour drive but given her success today it was well worth the trip.
She walked along the street for 3 blocks, finding the parking garage before she realized she had to look for her slip of paper to reclaim her car from that very happy man in the parking booth. She stirred through the bag at a stable pace, remembering to talk out loud into the purse for about 5 minutes, very annoyed and discomfited at the sight of her self. The man just stood there, appreciating the comedy of that familiar error and taking in Elise’s warm smiles in between her brief explanations.
"If I had a dime for every pretty young business lady stood here doing the same thing, I wouldn’t be working here, Miss." He winked at her as she offered him an apology and the slip to her car.
The attendant hurried off and soon she could hear the quiet motor of her 98' Honda Civic approaching as the man pulled around the corner bringing it to a smooth stop in front of her. The Car's Black finish reflected beautifully in the sunlight as the attendant got out, handing her the keys with a big smile.
Elise sat her things on the passenger seat neatly and opened the sun roof. As the parking garage attendant walked back over to his booth Elise tied her long sandy blond hair up in a ponytail and drove away from the landmark buildings of D.C.
The vision of these buildings brought back the earnest satisfaction she felt.
A recent graduate of John Jay College of New York City, Elise always felt she was intended to become something in the field of psychology and her chosen major was of the forensic kind. Members of her family had made it a habit to become part of government service. Her grandfather’s on both sides were decorated soldiers in the Army, serving in WWI and WWII. Her uncles on her father’s side had served in Vietnam. Her uncle, William Burdett, on her mother’s side was a distinguished agent within the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Her very own father was a detective with the NYPD and had a cousin working under him at this very moment. In fact, most of her cousins worked either in the force or had some kind of background within the same field of study. It seemed almost natural for her to find herself a future member of this distinct society of government minds and after how her interview went, it wouldn’t be long.
She was to enter the FBI on September 2, 2001 for initial training. That’s when the next influx of student was set to begin study. She had already finished Phase I and Phase II testing, along with her physical fitness test, background investigation and medical examination. She had friends and family in the bureau which helped the process along.
As she hit 495 Northbound, her cell phone buzzed at her side. She reached down, and opened it, quickly clicking the loudspeaker button. She then secured it on the visor above her head.
"Hello" she spoke into the air, wondering who it could be.
"Do I need to ask how it went?" It was then that she recognized her uncle Will on the phone. He was always very sarcastic. He had a knack for playing with the psyche just a little a bit, in terms of asking questions just to witness a reaction.
"I don’t know. Do you?" She smiled, toying with him.
He then broke from the casual conversation to what information he had gathered already. He wasn’t in "Intelligence" for nothing.
"I spoke to the director already. He gave me a call after you left his office. He had nothing but great things to say about you. Intelligent, articulate, qualified, prepared…He spared no compliment. He even went as far as to mention his ‘humble’ prediction that you’d go far within the bureau, especially since you’re ‘easy on the eyes’ and well connected. I think this was a good move for you, Leese. I’m glad I thought of it." He laughed, pleased with himself.
"Yea, you’re always taking the credit." She smiled, feeling some pride in herself.
"Well, I’m on my way back to the city now. I’ll call you when I get in." Elise said as she noticed less traffic and took it as an opportunity to focus and pick up the pace.
"Alright, don’t forget to let me know you got in alright."
"I won’t…and Uncle Will, thanks for everything." She said feeling total gratitude well up in her chest.
"You don’t have to thank me, Leesie. I love you. We’re family. I’d do anything for you." His words meant a lot to her. She thought of him as that part of her life that represented her mother. He was after all, her mother’s brother and the only remaining part of that family besides her. Uncle Will had no kids of his own. Elyse was the closest thing I had to a child.
Will continued…
"Your dad and I have worked together on raising you. Hopefully we’ve given you all you need. Be safe."
And with that, he hung up.
She had two very special people always on her side, especially her dad. She was glad for that.
To her surprise, as she pulled into the driveway of Matt’s parent’s home 3 hours later in Astoria, she noticed bright colored balloons pinned to the gate of the brown brick, 2 family residence with a "welcome home" banner attached. The banner had an arrow on it pointing to the side of the house. Everything seemed quiet. As she walked up, around the side, toward the backyard she could hear whispering. Then, as she came in full view of the back yard, she was shocked to see friends and family screaming "surprise!" It startled and pleased her. They had decorated the whole area with pink, blue and white streamers. There was a canopy area in the middle, where people could sit and eat. Music played upon her arrival. She was attacked with hugs, greeted with smiles…and of course the impending question was asked. "So how did it go?"
She told them all the news. Everyone was glad all had turned out well for their guest of honor. This included Matt, who was at the end of the line of guests, waiting for Elise to find him with open arms. He was a handsome young man, not so much so that people were intimidated by it, but enough that he caught attention where he went. Mostly, his very charismatic personality reeled an audience in. When

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:43 pm

he smiled at you, you knew it was sincere. When he shook your hand, there was authenticity. When he hugged you, you felt his warmth envelope you. It was this very thing that Elise loved about him.
Matt looked several years older than his current age. He was slender and his shoulders were broadened by age. He was tall, about 6 ft 2 and he dressed like an Abercrombie and Fitch model. All of this definitely added to his very honest nature. He was also a comedian of sorts, a prankster by nature. He was an artist. Elise and he had met at a very classy restaurant in the city. He was taken by her, across a crowded room…like in some romance novel. She smiled in his direction much by accident, while he was with several friends at a table overlooking the room. He got the idea to pretend to be their waiter. With a few slight changes in his apparel he walked over to them and asked her party what they wanted. Then he finally got to her order. Once she announced it, he looked down and into her eyes, with a please smile…offering that he would get her meal for her IF and only if she promised to go out with him…
Normally she would turn something like that down, but there was something about his eyes…a determination and sweetness in them. They reminded her of someone, only she couldn’t place it. The memory of this night crossed Elise’s mind amidst the current party.
Elise’s best friends, David and Lena made their way to Elise and Gabe with bright smiles on their face, so happy to see their friend after the time away. "Didn’t think we could surprise you huh?" David joked handing her a glass of wine. "Well, I wasn’t expecting all this. You guys are great." She said taking a look around after her sip of Riesling.
"It really was Matt." Adriana said patting him on the shoulder. In Adriana’s smile there was an trace of light romanticism. She was happy for her friend. She thought it was so beautiful that Elise had found someone who seemed devoted to her. Matthew seemed to be a compassionate individual and very close friend to Elise, among other things. No one could doubt it. He possessed a charming likeability and it again seemed Elyse was happy. In Adriana’s gut however, there was something of a sour feeling. These two were definitely opposites. Elyse reared by men and was heading into a masculine field of work, while Matt was an artist. They seemed headed in two different directions. While love was there between her friends, they hadn’t overcome any obstacles together of great significance. At this point they were just swept off their feet with that "in love" feeling. She felt there was still so much to prove. Although she didn’t doubt they could make it work, she was still confused about where their hearts truly were.
"Yea, Matt got everyone together. He paid for everything…and Leese, I have to say, he was miserable without you." Damian concurred, giving his friend a suspicious glance. Matthew looked down at the ground and uttered a "Thanks, D." He looked up and laughed enthusiastically. "I’ll remember this. I thought we were friends."
"What? Are you ashamed of missing me?" Elise smiled into his face, almost taunting him. Matthew couldn’t help but kiss her there, in front of everyone. Those who watched, clapped and sighed with admiration. When he got the chance to pull his mouth away from hers, he spoke.
"There’s something I have to show you." He said leading her by her hand through the crowd. He addressed the crowd. "You guys won’t miss us. Have fun…My house is yours for the evening." He grinned.
Just then as Matt was about to lead her into the house a loud voice bellowed within earshot. Everyone’s attention seemed to focus on the tall, handsome older visitor strolling in late. And he wasn’t alone. It turns out Elise’s two cousins who also worked in the force were accompanying him.
"What’s this? I just get here and you’re running inside?" Elyse’s father shouted in her direction with a smile on his face. He was in his normal attire, formal suit and had decided to loosen his tie as he moved through the crowd.
"Captain Olivera, it’s nice to see you." Elyse’s best friend Adriana said warmly as she reached over to hug him. He embraced her.
"Ade, it’s nice to see you too. I hope you’re being good, love." He spoke, also managing to grab Damian’s hand and shaking it firmly.
"How are you doing, sir?" Damian said looking him squarely in the eyes.
"Good. Came to see my one and only light and joy on her birthday." He said looking over at his daughter once more.
Just then, she took the steps to reach him and embrace him totally.
"Daddy, I’m glad you could come."
"Me too, mi amor. Me too." He kissed her cheek and whispered. "Can we take a walk? I need to talk to you."
Elyse complied with her father.
"Que linda…I really missed you while you were away." He said smiling down at his daughter, then he became serious and continued.
"I spoke to your uncle Will. He told me how everything went. We’re so proud of you."
"Thanks. I’m glad. It’s my life’s ambition to make you proud." She sarcastically said, quietly chuckling.
He looked at her seriously. Her smile washed away into importance.
"You’re probably wondering why I asked you out here." He began.
"Well I was waiting patiently…"
"The other day I received a visit from your boyfriend at my office. He asked me something a father usually dreads. I mean I always knew it would happen eventually but I really wasn’t expecting it right now."
"What did he ask you?" Elyse’s curiosity was peaked
"He asked for my blessing to marry you."
"Really?" Elyse questioned, embarrassed. She was shocked, completely taken off guard. "What did you say dad?"
"Well, I gave him my blessing." He said with a quiet reserve in his honey brown eyes.
"But?" She knew he had other thoughts.
"I have to be honest. And before I say this, I want you to know that if you choose to be with him, I fully support you…BUT if I had to choose someone for you, it wouldn’t be him."
Elyse was again curious but annoyed. "Who would you choose, Dad?"
It was here in this moment that he felt he most needed. He trusted his daughter but he knew even the wisest person needed a light sometimes. He tried to be a guide to her. She often doubted herself. "Mija, listen to me. It’s not a matter of just being a father not thinking anyone is good enough for his daughter. Although it is true to an extent, I would be fully ready to give you away to someone. I just don’t feel secure with Matt. I wanted someone with different goals, a different personality…a different constitution."
"Constitution?" Elyse rolled her eyes. "Don’t you mean different job or career? I know you don’t like that he’s an artist. You’d rather him be a soldier, officer or politician."
"Politician? Hell no! Maybe a soldier. I admit, I’m partial to that element because it’s part of who your family is. It’s part of who we are. And yes, constitution! Someone with a work ethic. Someone who embodies some level of integrity, that shows through. Someone strong and dedicated with principles. At least I’d know he stood for something other than a splash of paint here or there. There’s nothing stable about his line of work. And in my experience that sort of person is inconstante, infiel, alguien sin un elemento principal…intiende?" When speaking to his daughter or blood relatives Captain Olivera fell into a comfortable way of expressing himself, which included his native tongue. His daughter understood. He was saying Matt could fall into a pit, become unreliable, faithless and someone without a backbone.
"Gracias, papi. Usted sabe realmente cómo hacer un punto." Her way of saying thank you here was sarcastically and in a language he understood well. She crossed her arms and looked down. Elyse resented the fact that her father laid these expectations at her feet. He knew she thought the world of his opinion and now she’d never be able to look at Matt the same again. Her father was usually right about character assessments. It was part of his job. It pissed her off.
"Don’t be mad at my opinion. It’s just that. I’ve tried to raise my daughter to be tough, honest, level headed, independent…always anticipating what this world can hand out… siempre preparado. I got lucky. She also has a big heart and good judgment. You’ve had that all on your own. And I want someone

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:44 pm

who can match that strength. I know you will make the right decision."
All Elyse could do was look up at him and smile weakly through her frustration as he cupped her cheek in his big strong hand. He looked into her blue eyes, remembering all the years that have gone by since she was a little girl. He fought for the happiness she had in them as he embraced her tightly in his arms.
"The one thing I wouldn’t want for you, Corazon, is a life filled with regrets. That’s why I tell you this now because I know how easy it is to fall into that trap. I’ve seen other fools take that journey. I wouldn’t be a good father if I didn’t try to stop any unnecessary pain come your way."
Just then both Elyse and her father heard the crowd in the backyard scream with enjoyment. They were playing one of their favorite songs off of a latin dance album they enjoyed together. They headed to back and when people came into view, Elyse looked at her father and asked him to dance with her.
"Of course, Mija." He smiled taking her hand. They danced like they had been practicing for years, probably because they had been. Elyse grew up knowing a lot about music. In the privacy of the Olivera home dancing was not only allowed but encouraged and mandated. It was their bonding method. It kept them close. It also kept them talking and communicating. As a single father that was very important to Elyse’s dad. He knew that it was easy for kids to lose that with their parents. He didn’t want that for Elyse. He felt the only way to protect her was to make sure she knew she had not only a father in him but someone she could relate her troubles to, so they could work on a solution.
Captain Olivera noticed Matthew standing impatiently in the corner, waiting for Elyse to be done dancing. It was hard not to notice. Elyse even noticed it. She looked up at her father with shame in her eyes. She didn’t want to let go of the moment BECAUSE of Matt.
"Daddy, he’s waiting for me." She said apprehensively.
"Maybe we should see how long he’d wait there." He suggested, making a joke out of him. Elyse rolled her eyes and laughed with him then loudly reprimanded him. "Daaad!" she poked at him.
"Ok. Ok. Go ahead." Her father conceded, raising his hands in a ‘don’t shoot me’ manner. He smiled down at her and kissed her cheek before she walked off toward Matt.
Matthew guided her toward the back stairs of his house.
The sun was going down below the horizon when she noticed a candle in the window next to the stop of the stairs, flickering. She could just hear some soft music coming from inside the house. She walked with Matthew, taking in each wooden step cautiously, as he guided her. He opened the backdoor slowly, and the smell of flowers and vanilla candles filled their senses. The hallway looked empty. And the sound of ‘Sade’ lingered at just the right volume.
"Matt, what are you doing?" she asked for him gently into the air.
"You’ll see." He teased.
She walked in further, with a smile. This was so like him to tease her. It was then that she noticed something on the ground. Rose petals…white rose petals, paving a pathway.
She followed them.
He moved her carefully moved through the long wide hallway of the house, her eyes surveying the rooms as they passed. It finally was obvious that the path was leading to Gabriel’s bedroom.
As they slowly entered the dimly lit room, Elise could not resist the sheer pleasure of the romantic atmosphere. The room was decorated in white votive candles. They were everywhere, in ever little nook he could find. He had planned this out so perfectly, down to the very assorted bouquets of flowers, 5 of them lined the dresser in front of her. He knew her favorite flowers…orchids, lilies, roses, daisies and stargazers, all white…and he made sure she had them. The smell was intoxicating, almost like an aphrodisiac.
"Wow. Why did you do this?" she asked with a happy grin. She walked over to the first bouquet of flowers and read the card: "Will" was the only word on the first card…and it was all she got to read, before being interrupted by very strong hands.
Finally, she felt his arms wrap around her tightly from behind. It’s true, she thought, his touch after so long had felt good. He whispered in her left ear, knowing she was sensitive to the very slightest breath on her neck.
""Why? …Because I love you and you deserve it." He planted kisses on the base of her neck. He used delicate traces of his lips along her soft skin, to indicate how worried he was.
"What are you doing?" She questioned, amused slightly at his attempt to seduce her.
He turned her around.
"What does it look like I’m doing?" His expression was that of a longing, that knowing desperation to make her completely his in this moment. He stared into her blue eyes and felt that tug in his gut, before leaning in to kiss her, long and slow. Elise let it happen. She wrapped her hands around his neck, letting the moment take them into each other and then she pulled away.
"Here?" she whispered.
He moved his mouth to hers again and spoke between breaths.
"Where else? I think outside might offend the guests." He said jokingly.
They smiled through their kisses…which intensified as he wrapped his strong arms around her body, lifting her up and directing her towards the queen sized bed in his room. He laid her down underneath his stiffened body.
"I never want you to go away again." He said seriously, beginning their love making with a touch of her face.
Their romance was undeniably affectionate and when they were done, they laid together, satisfied. He placed her hands in his then brought them to his mouth, for a kiss.
"Do you like the flowers?" he asked. Elise noticed his hands shaking just a little bit. She looked at him now, guardedly. His question redirected her attention to the beauty of her presents.
"They are beautiful. Thank you so much." She beamed, sitting up. She began putting the rest of her clothes back on….
She went back over to the first set of flowers and smelled them contentedly.
"I was reading the card. It didn’t make sense. ‘Will’?" she asked with a crooked expression, questioning what it could mean.
He pointed to the second one and said. "Read them all in order." He offered, as he crept away behind her.
The next card read "You".
The next, "Marry"…Elise at this point was getting the meaning, and without delay, he pulled on her right hand, placing a box in the palm of it, as he knelt down on one knee. She was taken back by the whole gesture but remembered her conversation with her father fresh in her mind. She could feel the adrenaline pulse through her at the thought.
Before opening the box she looked at him squarely. She instinctively got down on her knees facing him, staring into his hazel eyes, waiting to feel something. She found some form of love but there was something missing.
"What’s wrong? You don’t want to open it. It’s beautiful, I swear." He kidded nervously at the idea of her stalling.
"I don’t care about the ring, D. But do you really get what you’re asking me here?" she questioned him, trying to make him understand how seriously she took this kind of thing.
"Yes, I do, Elise. Oh trust me, I do. I’ve always known we should be together, since the first day I met you at that restaurant in Manhattan…" he began recalling their initial meeting.
"I was a mess that day…" she looked down, embarrassed.
"You were beautiful…" He started, placing two fingers on her chin and pulled her face to view his. "You are…and to me, always will be. And it’s the perfect time. You’re on your way in your career. Soon we’ll be able to merge our lives together, buy a house, have kids…We’re ready. I want this…Please, be my wife." He explained with heartfelt emotion.
"I’ve always dreamt of this moment, the man I wanted to be with so totally, wanting me to be with him just as bad.." she started her sentence in the open and finished it in her head….
‘…but I don’t know if it’s you…’
She failed to get those words out. They would hurt him so badly with the truth that she concealed it. She didn’t know if she was ready for this.

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:45 pm

She’d had a dream of someone…of a love story so romantic and all her life, she had waited for it. Was it this? Or was this some precursor to the love she sought. Damian had met her at a time where she was young and just ready to experience anything life would allow her to. He swept her off her feet with grand affection and gifts. He was an average looking guy from a well off family. He had ambition. He was the sort of man a woman would be sure to be proud to marry on the outside, but he treated her as though she was something to wear on his arm, as if, she added to his appearance, because he felt so little inside. There were moments where she felt he was insincere…like he did things only to win her love, not because he truly felt it with every fiber of his being. For this reason she found it so hard to confide in him. It was just a weakness in their connection. She looked at him as a family member…not someone she could trust totally…
…but maybe this is what it’s about. Who could ask for a better proposal? Would something better come along? She doubted it.
She opened the box to find a real 2 carat diamond, perfectly cut princess style on a platinum band. She looked back up into his eyes one final time before accepting.
Something woke Elyse out of a deep sleep at 2:03am. She sat up quickly, as though someone shouted in her ear. She checked the clock. Only silence greeted her as she looked around.
She could feel the sheets unwind slowly, as Matt stirred awake. He rubbed his eyes and reached for her.
"Babe, you okay?" he asked sleepily.
"I think so." She answered.
What felt like a warm gust of wind passed through her. It was familiar. For a tiny moment she thought she heard a whisper of her name. And then it passed.
"I must be going crazy." She said, fixing herself at the edge Matt’s bed. She stared at the thick, beige carpet, thinking. She wondered if she’d forgotten to do something. She questioned if she had all the contents of her life in check…car keys – check. Wallet – check. Money – check. She decided to make sure everything was ok at home. She called her dad’s phone but no one answered. ‘He must be working a double shift.’ Elyse thought as she pressed the end button on her phone.
She decided to take a late night bubble bath. Usually they took a while. The fact that no one was awake in the house yet made it even more appealing…scented bubbles and complete silence. How soothing. 10 minutes turned into 45 and she nodded off in the tub. She was woken up by a loud banging at the bathroom door. A familiar booming voice that was not Matt’s startled her. It sounded like her cousin, A.J.
"Elyse, please open the door." A.J. sounded frantic.
She stepped out of the tub with hastened movement and started putting on some of the clean clothes she had brought in with her. Once she was finished throwing on her pants and t-shirt, she opened up the door.
"A.J.? What are you doing here at this time of night? Is everything ok?" she looked at him worried.
Normally AJ was the pillar of strength. His 6 foot stature and stoic facial expressions were a comforting familiar. But right now AJ’s sky blue eyes were tainted with fatigue and sadness. He seemed ready to break down in tears.
"It’s your dad." He said immediately said averting his eyes downward.
Elyse moved out of the bathroom, into the foyer of Matt’s house. She could see Matt seated on the couch in the living room, waiting for her with a concerned expression.
"My dad? What happened?"
"Elyse, I told him not to head home yet. I told him to wait till the morning. He said he wasn’t able to get a hold of you on the cell phone but that he needed to talk to you. He was worried something had happened. I told him I’d drive him since he left his car at home, but he insisted he’d be fine getting back by train…" AJ continued explaining…
In the meantime Elyse found her cell phone on the end table in the living room. There were 9 missed calls from her dad. She looked up at her cousin, afraid.
"And? What happened to my father, AJ?" she looked intently at AJ’s sullen face.
"Elyse he was shot 3 blocks from the station on his way to the train. They took him to Mount Sinai." He said finally adding confirmation of Elyse’s worst fear. She sped into action without a thought to what this might mean yet.
"Well let’s go to the hospital then" she said grabbing her bag from the coffee table and throwing her phone inside.
"I didn’t finish, Leese." AJ’s eyes started welling up even more. He touched the palm of his hand to the corner of his forehead and he closed his eyes before his face contorted in sorrow.
"He died on the way to the hospital." He said it quickly before wiping his eyes.
Elyse walked closer to her cousin, verifying the sincerity in his words and expression. He grabbed her quickly, embracing her forcefully. Her mind immediately spun out of control. Without thinking her heart wrung out in agony at the mere thought that this was true. She knew it was true. There was no reason for it to be a lie, even though she wanted it to be. "The greatest father that ever lived…I swear it. I’m sorry, Elyse." Her cousin said this not even bothering to keep up appearances. This big bear of a man crumbled emotionally with her in his arms and she grew weak. Any energy she might have had was gone now. If he had let go she would have fallen for sure.
Eventually he did let her go. AJ was at a loss for words, as he saw his little just become a hopeless wreck in front of him. It was to be expected but he wished this nightmare wasn’t happening. She wiped the tears away from her reddened eyes and averted them as he pulled away.
He finally realized Matt was still in the room. It was a little disheartening to realize he wasn’t already near them comforting what was supposed to be his future wife from what’ he’d heard. Instead Matt sat there looking like he didn’t know what to do, like he was afraid of this moment. AJ looked back at Elyse.
"I think it might be best if you stayed with us, your family for a few days. What do you think? I’m going to take some time off. I’ll help you through the details and everything." AJ said purposely.
Matt stood up. "I’ll help her with the details. That’s what I’m here for. I’m so sorry Elyse. I just can’t believe it." Matt said, emotionally.
"No offense, my friend, but you couldn’t even manage a hug right now. How are you going to manage MY uncle’s ‘details’? I think it should be kept in the family. As of yet, you’re not family." AJ spoke firmly. His tenderness had its limit. Matt had done little to impress him here.
"I don’t know what I should do." She said honestly. AJ knew that was a normal response. She was in grief and it was only the beginning. She needed people who loved her right now to help take care of her. Besides, he was the closest person to Uncle Anthony, besides Elyse. He knew what he wanted for his daughter.
"Honey, I’m going to grab some of your stuff. You need to come with me." He urged her.
Matt took AJ’s response as a sign of grief and refused to argue with him for the moment. As AJ went into Matt’s bedroom to collect some of Elyse’s things, she turned to Matt. She didn’t want to think of anything but her father but Matt began questioning her.
"You’re going to go with him?"
"I think it might be the best thing. My family will need me and I need them." She said sitting down on the couch. She was partially staring out in space as she talked.
"And you don’t need me?" he asked her as if he was wounded by some hidden insinuation.
"Of course I do."
"But you’re choosing to be with them? We’re supposed to be getting married in 6 months. Shouldn’t I be the one you want to be with right now?" he kept questioning and becoming hurt with each response.
"Are you really making it a choice between you or them right now?" she asked, confused.
Just then AJ stepped back into the room. "Ok, I’ve got your stuff. Let’s go." AJ said, purposely interrupting the conversation he could hear from the bedroom. He looked over at Matt. "Dude, you’re welcome to come and be with Elyse. I just think she needs to be with those who know her and her father best right now." He said, extending a hand for Matt to grab hold of. AJ was giving him one more chance.
"It’s ok. I will be by after work tomorrow." He said feeling defeated.

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:45 pm

Elyse looked at him in disbelief for a moment. "Alright, then." AJ shrugged it off and headed out the door. "I’ll wait for you outside, Elyse" He said before closing the door behind him.
"I will see you tomorrow." Elyse said picking up her stuff again and leaving him in the middle of his living room. She had nothing left inside her to be angry at him with.
AJ wasted no time. Once Elyse was seated in the car, he started in.
"I know this isn’t the time for this but please tell me you’re not going to add that moron to our family." His eyes focused on the road as he drove and spoke.
"Nevermind that. You’re right. It isn’t the time. Where are we going, AJ?" Elyse said crossing her arms, feeling resigned. She was in a nightmare. That had to be it.
"To a place where you can be in company and alone when you’d like, where you won’t need to worry about anything." He said, touching the top of her head with his right hand. He didn't want her to feel alone. When he looked at her he remembered when HIS father died. She and Uncle Anthony were the only ones there for him in the deepest capacity. He loved Elyse and wanted to make her feel the way Uncle Ant did. "We’re going to my mom’s house. I’ll stay with you there." And with that, they were on their way.
When Elyse saw Aunt Sophie’s red brick one family home in her view, she became relieved. The light was on and she knew her aunt would still be up. She was always a comfort. AJ parked the car right in front of the house. Parking seemed like it took forever to Elyse but that could have been just because she was drifting from long, engaging thoughts and back to reality so much.
Her aunt, dressed in a long blue robe met her at the door. Her soft, average frame enveloped her before she could say even say "hi". Sophia just hugged her. "Aye dios mio, pobresita." She uttered in a sweet tone.
She had gotten everything ready for her. She had a guest bedroom, created with all the comforts of home. The walls of the bedroom Elyse was sleeping in were a pale pink. There were clean sheets and bedding, towels ready, a comfortable cotton nightgown awaiting her on the bed, next to a Kleenex box. How subtle. Sophia followed her in. She grabbed her shoulders from behind and leaned her head next to Elyse’s, resting her chin. She wrapped her arms around the woman that stood in front of her now at the age of 21, remembering in her heart she was just the little girl that used to play with her sons. She used to take care of her. She was her mother’s best friend. She felt a tug at her heart now thinking of Elyse’s father…and how much he had done for her sons and Elyse in the recent years.
"I know you might think that you’re father was the only one that loved you and that you’re alone now, but I’m here to tell you, you’re not. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for you. Nothing." She said and then continued. "Your life will change of course." She pulled away from her niece slowly, seating herself on the bed facing her. She grabbed her hands and noticed they were trembling but she didn’t shed a tear. "But we’ll take one day at a time right now. We need to get through the next couple of days."
"I think I’m still in shock. I honestly don’t believe it’s true."Elyse finally spoke. "I have to see him tomorrow." She said.
"Maybe that wouldn’t be a good idea." AJ said stepping into the room.
"I have to see him, AJ."
"Elyse, he was shot…"
"Did you see him?"
"Yes and I honestly wish I hadn’t." AJ said regrettably.
"Perate. She needs to see her father, AJ."
"Well, it’s 4:15 in the morning right now. Why don’t you get some sleep and I will take you when you wake up?"
Elyse agreed. Her family left her alone in the pale pink room to get some rest but she just couldn’t sleep at first. She just kept hoping this would all be some nightmare she’d wake up from. She kept thinking maybe they got it all wrong. Maybe if she fell asleep her she’d wake up to find her dad.
She drifted off to finally at around 6 am and AJ woke her up at noon to head down to the station. He grabbed another officer to drive them down so they wouldn’t have to wait for parking along the busy streets of Manhattan.
Elyse could feel her blood run cold when she realized they were looking for the morgue. Her heart began to race. She was afraid for the first time in her life. As she walked from one white hall into another she couldn’t help but feel reality set in further. Was this for real?
"You can change your mind, Elyse. I won’t be mad." AJ said feeling his stomach form into a knot. He didn’t want to have to see it again, but he knew he couldn’t let his cousin go in alone. He was worried she might not be able to handle this part of the ordeal.
"I’m not going to change my mind."
"Ok, then you need to know a few things beforehand. Remember, he was shot. 3 times. Twice in the stomach, once in the face. " AJ got nauseous just thinking of his uncle laying there on the street in this condition, bleeding to death. AJ turned his head and stopped.
"We’re here." He said with a nervous look on his face. He’d seen many dead bodies since he first began working on the force but this one was totally different for him.
A man in a long white coat opened the door. "Detective Olivera, we’ve been waiting for you." The man looked at Elyse knowing who she was. "Ms. Olivera, I just want you to know how sorry I am about your father. There were many people here who had the privilege of working with him on a few cases and I was one of them. He was a great cop, one of the good guys." He said seriously, looking like he wished he had a different job for the moment. Elyse shook her head. "Thank you." She crossed her arms about her chest and felt a slight dizziness.
There were a few gurneys in the room, open in view, each covered with a thick white sheet.
Elyse and AJ followed the autopsy specialist behind a curtain that he was sure was sheltering Elyse’s father.
As he stood on the other side of the gurney he spoke clearly. "Now I need to tell you. I’ve seen many bodies but when it’s someone you knew alive, it takes on a new meaning. I’m telling you he looks nothing like he did and you need to be prepared. Your father was shot three times…Once in the lower abdomen, again in the upper abdomen and then in left side of his face. Your father died inevitably because he bled to death on the way to the hospital. It wasn’t instant. Ironically, if he wasn’t shot in the abdomen he might have survived it. Ms. Olivera, I’m telling you this to give you some time to think about actually seeing your father in this condition. Are you sure? His body was already identified."
Elyse took a breath and looked at AJ. AJ grabbed her hand with both of his.
"Yes, sir. I need to see him." She said already starting to get emotional.
Quickly the man in white pulled the sheet from over Captain Olivera’s body, his were taped shut. His mouth was open, but there was a huge hole in the left side of his face like she was just told. What she wasn’t told was that he was barely recognizable. Flashes of her father’s smile entered her mind. You couldn’t see it here anymore. Now these flashes were tainted with the images of a ravaged corpse. His skin lacked that warm memory of life. Now it had the blue tint of mortality. No more soul.
No beating heart. And it finally hit Elyse.
"Daddy" Elyse cried like a little girl, abandoned by all the consolation of childhood. Her breathing became unsteady as her face contorted in pain. "Daddy…Oh God. What did they do to you?" She couldn’t keep any of her emotions in at all. They bubbled to the surface. She let go of AJ to grab her father’s cold hand. She closed her eyes and her body folded over. She couldn’t look at his face. She buried her cheek into his lifeless hand and cried. Even though it was cold, it was all she had left of this great man. AJ stood next to her, unable to keep his own feelings to himself. Tears stung his eyes but he still acted as a rock that people could stand on, unchanging for the moment and firm with purpose.
Finally the coroner covered the body. AJ pulled Elyse up and she flew into his arms, wrapping them around his neck. "I know. Good God, Elyse I told you not to come here." He said having wanted to protect her from herself. Deep down however, he knew she had to see it and now, she’d never forget it.
Misconceptions about life were now cleared up in Elyse’s mind. Thoughts on happiness were forever changed, as she continued to figure out how to go on without her dad. She sat there, at the front of the crowd of guests at the burial, dressed in black. The sun was shining down on dozens upon dozens of mourners, family, friends, and coworkers.
Matt showed up halfway through the service, but there was nowhere left to sit. Elyse was in between AJ and her friends. Behind them was the rest of her family. Elyse noticed him step into the crowd but he stayed on the border, between the funeral and a way out.
Once it had approached the end, it made no difference. The family members each had a red rose that could be thrown on top of the casket after they lowered it down. It was then that each person was able to give some final words to Elyse, along with a comforting embrace. There was not much else that could be said. And the only person that could truly comfort today was her father. But that wasn’t a possibility.
After the burial there was a get-together at aunt Sophia’s house. Elyse wanted to just lie down in the pink bedroom and drown the sound of people out. She wanted to just lay in her own silence but her family wouldn’t let her. Instead she was bombarded with children, her little cousins to be exact. Kids were drawn to her. Her adult family observed this and began to chat amongst themselves. When she finally got a moment, she went into the kitchen where she thought she might be alone, since everyone had eaten and retreated to the living room. She grabbed a beer and sat up on the counter.
"And this too shall pass…" a voice she recognized spoke into the dimly lit space filled with matching cabinets and the smell of pine sol.
Elyse looked up to find one of her father’s younger brothers, Ephrain. She smiled.
"Yes I know." She agreed, not really delving into the sentence too much.
"No, I don’t think you do." The balding man of about 47 entered further into the room, grabbing a chair from the table and sitting down.
"Young people never think it does, but it does. Time does heal wounds like these. I had a father too, ya know? I was inconsolable when he died."
"And what helped you?"
"No one. Time helps. You move on. You have a family. You BECOME a father, a husband…and life marches on with or without you."
"I know life marches on. I had a mother too, remember?" Elyse said, taking a sip of her beer.
Ephrain was taken back by the hint of dark and sarcastic tone in that sentence.
"But this time it’s different…"she continued. "My father was there to help me through that. Now I don’t have that anymore. The person who guided me is gone." She said as a matter of fact.
"I don’t believe that. He’s not gone. He just took another form. He’s in another place, mija." He said, taking on a familiar tone.
"That’s bullshit. He’s dead. The rest is what people like to say to comfort themselves."She said sharply, trying to extinguish the pain with hopelessness.
"That is the saddest thing I’ve heard." He said, feeling utter disappointment.
"Don’t be sad for me, uncle Ephrain. I’ll be ok."
"No I mean for your father. Every single thing he tried teaching you is gone with him." He stood up and walked out of the room.
Elyse stood up to follow her uncle but she just didn’t have the strength inside to explain herself. She wanted to apologize. She was wounded by his honest opinion but she knew it wasn’t true, only his analysis based on what she showed him. Inside she still had her faith. Elyse was just in a pessimistic state of the heart. She was cloaked in despair. Where ever her father was, he knew what was in her heart, even if the rest of the family didn’t.
Just then the front door swung open. It was Matt standing in the foyer of her aunt’s house with what looked like 3 dozen white and red roses. The Olivera family waited for Matt’s purpose as he stepped forward.
"I know this seems crazy. I just know I haven’t been acting like myself lately. I wasn’t here with you all every minute since Mr. Olivera died. And I should have been. I just want to apologize to everyone, especially Elyse." He said turning his attention from the family seated in the living room to Elyse’s face, as she entered the living room.

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:46 pm

"I’m sorry for not being what you needed during this time. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making it up to you, I swear it." He said, seeming genuine. His hazel eyes had a certain sincerity to them and Elyse wanted to believe him.
He stepped toward her slowly, handing her the flowers.
"The flowers weren’t necessary, really, Matt. I do accept your apology." Elyse said.
Her aunt came forward relieving her of the arrangement. "Mija, if you don’t want them, I’ll take them. They’ll look gorgeous on the table over there." She said smiling.
Matt and Elyse hugged and all was forgiven, even if it wasn’t forgotten.
Muffled voices echoed in the quiet halls of Elyse’s mind. The distant familiar lived there and comforted her. "The one thing I wouldn’t want for you, Corazon… is a life filled with regrets." Her father’s voice reverberated in her consciousness. Elyse stared into the white ceiling above her. The sterilized hospital smell was enough to make her want to disappear. She lay in the sanitized hospital bed, still and lifeless. Her eyes made no real movement until she heard the light footsteps of a heeled boot. She then heard heavier footsteps follow.
A graceful arm pulled the curtain to reveal the visitors, Lordez, Adriana and AJ all looked at her with pitying expressions.
AJ moved forward to hand her the flowers in his hand. "I’m so sorry, Leese." He said leaning down to kiss her forehead. Lordez sat in the chair several feet away, while Adriana climbed onto the bed next to her, grabbing her hand.
"It’s okay." She smiled. "I had just learned about being pregnant a few weeks ago. I didn’t have enough time to really settle into the idea anyway."
"But even still, we’re here for you." Adriana said, moving the bangs out of Elyse’s face. She stared into her blue eyes with resolution.
AJ took a seat by the edge of the bed with a purposeful eye aversion to the ground. "Where’s Matthew?"
Elyse looked down. "I dunno."
AJ looked up to find Elyse’s face. "Lordez told me what happened between you two. I just don’t understand how you can still stay with him after this." AJ stated firmly with confusion in his eyes. "You don’t need him, Elyse."
"Who ever said I needed him? I believed this was the person that was chosen for me." She snapped back.
"Now what do you believe?" Lordez questioned with a colder expression. It was apparent she felt sorry for her friend but she also tried hard to reserve her more unwanted opinions. She disguised them as questions.
"I don’t know anymore." She answered a little ashamed of herself.
"Well I know what I believe. I believe that when I see him I’m gonna kick his ass. You better not expect me to come to the wedding Elyse. I can’t be a part of this thing you’re doing." Midway through his sentiment AJ stood, moving to the wall. He used his hands to further express himself then folded them across his chest.
Elyse looked sad. Her eyes moved from AJ’s face to Lordez’s then she found Adriana’s who smiled weakly at her.
"Honey, I may agree with them but I wouldn’t let you get married without me." Adriana was always 100% behind Elyse even if she was making the wrong decision.
"I’m not getting married, guys." Elyse pulled her hand away from Adriana’s. "I made that decision before I closed my eyes last night. Before this whole nightmare happened." Elyse confirmed a certain loneliness in her eyes as she looked down again.
"I can’t say that I’m not happy you’ve decided this, but you really can’t rely on him. He’s missing a few core personality traits in my opinion." Lordez said.
"You could marry him, but in the end I think you’d be very unhappy." Adriana backed Lordez up.
"He doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘family’. He’d have been here already if he did and he wouldn’t have made you feel bad about getting pregnant when you were just about to get married. I’m a man Elyse. I know these things." AJ said.
"Okay, Okay. I get it." Elyse said feeling over-loaded with responses.
"All we mean is that you’re making the right decision. And I think this recent event was a sign, attesting to it." Lordez said with an empathetic smile.
Just then Dr. Clayton stepped into the room, smiling. "I’m glad you’ve got some people to help take you home." He said moving further into the room with chart in hand. "We’ve run the tests we needed to and everything came out fine. We thought since you fainted and lost so much blood that something might be wrong but you’re perfect. You can have kids. I don’t see why you and your fiancé wouldn’t be able to start trying for a child in a few weeks if you wanted to." He had no idea that his words were ironic as he spoke them.
"Then may I ask what might have caused my cousin’s miscarriage this time, Doctor?" AJ asked just being overly concerned.
"It’s hard to say. It could have been a multitude of things. It could be as simple as hormonal changes…severe stress early on. But I will say this I believe you should be thankful. Later on something worse could have happened to the baby. It’s best it happens now. It was spontaneous and through no fault of your own." He said kindly. "The paperwork is done. You can leave as soon as you’d like."
AJ looked over at Elyse as the doctor exited the room.
"I agree with the doctor. Be thankful." AJ said breaking eye contact with his cousin.
Elyse’s visitors drove her back to her house. As they were about to drop her off they all noticed Matt’s car in the driveway. A knot developed in the pit of Elyse’s stomach. An unwanted moment of clarity besieged her. She was about to do something she knew she had to, even though it was painful and unpleasant.
"What are you gonna do?" AJ asked as he slipped his blue ford expedition into a parked gear.
Here was a moment where she didn’t know what to do but she had to decide rather quickly on her own. There was no one to guide her anymore. She was alone in the world and had yet to accept that but she had to prove at this moment to her friends, family and herself that she needed no one. No one at all. From now on, she would be so absolutely singular. Not a soul would recognize her demeanor. Not a single person could shatter the bubble she would keep herself in.
"I’m leaving." Elyse said after a long pause.
"What do you mean?" Lordez retorted moving forward in the backseat just enough to be heard.
"I’m going in there, ending everything and then ‘poof’, I’m gone. I’ll drive to my uncle’s house in Alexandria tonight. I don’t want Matt knowing where I’m going. I’m sure he’ll think I’ll be with one of you for a while but by the time he figures it out I’ll be on my own. I’m only a few days behind on the beginning of my training in the bureau." She explained it all quickly as she stepped out and closed the door behind her.
AJ lowered the window down to continue what little he could of the conversation. All passengers of the vehicle looked speechless. "Don’t worry about me, you guys. I’ll call you when I get settled in. I’ll be back in NY when I can. I just need some distance." Elyse looked at her cousin and friends with perfect stoicism. There was no smile or affection. In that moment, they realized something had fractured inside of Elyse.
She turned around and walked away in a movement of self-reliance.
When she reached the inside of her home, she heard the sounds of a piano. It was one of her favorite cd’s. She smelled the familiar scent of her favorite dinner. When she reached the kitchen, Matthew heard her and made the steps necessary to keep her in view. He stood at the opposite end of the room. She had perfect view of the dimly luminated room filled with candles. They made eye contact and Matt knew something was wrong.
"I’ve missed you. Come here." He said softly opening his arms to her.
She shook her head no.
"Are you mad at me?" he asked knowing she had to be.
"Don’t ask me stupid questions, Matthew." She answered coldly.
"Aren’t you happy to see me even in the smallest way?" he questioned in fear.
"Not anymore I’m not."
He stepped forward with a smile. "We’re getting married—…"
"Not anymore we’re not." Elyse said crossing her arms over her chest.
"Come on Elyse. You know how hard it is for me. I’m not like you and you’ve always been able to forgive me for that. That’s part of what makes us work." Matthew explained pulling himself deeper into a pit.
"I never wanted you to be like me. I expected you to be human. My father died, Matthew! And I was ready to just let you be ‘my everything’ which was wrong of me in the first place. I know that. I do, but then I got pregnant and you acted the same way you did when you found out the single most important person in my life was gone. You were not there for me. You lied to me. You don’t love me. You love yourself." She closed her eyes at the close of her speech, opened them and began to move toward her bedroom.
"I didn’t know how to react. I’d never been in that situation before. I can learn what you need from me." He defended himself following her into the room.
"What I need you can’t learn." She said finding her dresser. She opened the drawers and started stuffing her clothes in a large black duffel bag.
"Don’t do this." He said panicking a little bit.
When he realized she wasn’t listening, he yelled. "Elyse, please don’t do this!"
She zipped up the back, threw it over her shoulder and walked past him.
He grabbed her arm, forcing her to look at him. "I’m sorry about the baby, Elyse. I’m sorry about your father. Please, let’s try again." He refused to beg but he definitely didn’t want this to end. In his own way he loved her. He just wasn’t sure if he could be what she needed him to be.
She dropped the duffel bag on the floor to turn and look at him.
"Look, Matt. My dad…the pregnancy…It was just a prelude to what’s left to come in life. It showed me that we’re not right for one another. But even more than that and this is the truth--I have nothing inside. I feel…nothing. I’m numb. It’s over." She said giving him a long look.
She then quickly disconnected all emotion and broke eye contact with him. Quickly she picked the bag up from the floor. "I’ll call everyone I can to let them know about the engagement being off in the morning. Please tell your family I’m sorry." She kept moving, past every remembrance she had in this house. She didn’t bother stopping to take a second look.
She threw everything into the back of her black Honda civic. She got into the front drivers seat without even thinking. It wasn’t until she got past the toll at the George Washington Bridge that it hit her. Tears stung her cheeks and the salty sadness continued on until she reached the halfway point on the New Jersey turnpike. She wanted nothing to do with New York anymore. She wanted as far away from any memory of it as possible.

It’s remarkable how someone can vanish from the world they knew even when they’re hiding in plain sight. As a matter of fact, Elyse was only 3 states away from home and she hadn’t spoken to a

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:47 pm

single soul in the three years she’d been gone. She’d been reminded of that today as she received yet another voicemail from Lordez this week. It was her third attempt at reaching her old friend and to no avail. Even though Elyse wasn’t answering, she thought about what could be motivating these calls during the course of her drive into work from Alexandria to the F.B.I field office in D.C.
Elyse wondered where Lordez got her phone number to begin with. She’d changed it about a month after she came to live in Virginia. ‘It must have been Uncle Will’, she thought as she stepped in through the glass doors of the fancy building she was set to work at all day today and followed the routine security protocol for all FBI personnel. Thank God it was Friday. She was relieved it was the last day of the work week until she realized she would probably have to pull a double shift tonight. There was a new case that came in earlier in the week and they had to break some ground on it.
A new file was strategically placed on her desk by the time she reached the fourth floor at 8:07am.
As her cell phone rang in her bag, a resonant voice startled her.
"Hey Freshman! You gonna answer that thing?" It was her team leader, Dekon Reynolds. When he spoke she was reminded sharply how she was singled out to work with the two most southern men she ever met, probably the only southern men she ever met. She smiled. Before her first year as a special agent she never realized there were men with voices that dripped with honey. The "y’all’s" of Elyse’s life were contained on television and even then, she thought it was an exaggeration.
Dekon Reynolds was about five years Elyse’s senior. He was born and raised in Georgia. He received his degree in Criminal justice and political science at Georgia state university. In the interim, he had an internship with the police department there and then transferred into a different position at a local police department reviewing cases alongside the best in D.C. 2 years after than he applied to the FBI.
He and Elyse both had their eyes set on one place. Her college degree in Forensic Science and Psychology would benefit the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime department in Quantico, VA. Only agents who have extensive experience and at least 8-10 years of field work were considered for employment. Dekon was on his way and since he was overseeing Elyse’s progress through her first year he realized she also had what it took to get there as well. Dekon noticed Elyse had a very analytical mind. He was blown away and on several occasions had to admit that at her age he was nowhere near the sort of investigator she was. They had a mutual respect for one another and it showed. Dekon never let her forget she was new, but praised and pushed her to develop her skills professionally. They were friends.
"You heard from Shelby?" Dekon asked knowing that the last time he saw him was right before he and Shelby were about to head out of dinner on Wednesday after work.
Elyse looked down at her work quickly. "No I haven’t." she muttered.
"I only ask because he called in sick yesterday and you were the last person I saw him with." Dekon explained while dropping another file on the desk across from Elyse’s, where Shelby normally sits.
"Deke, we went out on Wednesday night for dinner. That was the last I saw of him. Maybe the food made him sick. It was Mexican." She smiled trying to divert the conversation.
"So long as my two freshmen aren’t cavorting romantically and breakin’ each other’s hearts on company time I care not." Dekon gave Elyse the look of shame and decided to watch her face a bit longer.
"Romantic? What’s that? That word isn’t in my vocabulary anymore." She said loud enough for him to hear.
"Good. This is the FBI, not the matchmaker service of America. And don’t think I haven’t seen him do this before either." Dekon explained.
"There was a pretty young thing, just like you, a floor up in Intelligence. Obviously the word ‘Intelligence’ takes on new meaning in that department. After THAT little tryst, there were a few more. And then I didn’t see him for three days. He said it was the flu. I knew better. I have the mind to have him fired but no. I rather torture him with the look of shame and more work." His mannerisms were gentle but very expressive as he spoke.
"You’re late!" Dekon spoke out loudly as he saw Shelby James walk into the room. Shelby’s solid 5 foot 11 frame moved slowly toward his desk. He had the looks of a southern prince charming but the mind of a beaten and weepy sore loser sometimes and this was one of those times. His façade quickly changed to a vacant reception.
Elyse had rejected him the night they had last seen each other and it seems he didn’t have the professionalism to show up for work the next day. Elyse acted as if nothing happened but ignored him for a while just the same.
"Sorry guys. I don’t know what was in that food on Wednesday but…" Shelby locked eyes with Elyse for an explanation and relief flooded her senses. She was glad he wasn’t going to make this an issue. Besides, the fact that Shelby was her co-worker, she had no time for silly dating issues.
Just then Elyse started to feel a headache coming on again. She had pain killers on hand.
"Now I know what I should have gotten you for Christmas…a years worth of ibuprophen, honey." Dekon saw her reach for the advil and had to comment. He had seen her use pain killers every other day since she came here. And now, it was every day. He was worried a little but didn’t say anything more. He knew the stress of the job could get to you.
"Speaking of Christmas, what are you guys doing next week for the holidays?" Shelby asked as he was settling into his chair.
"Me and the misses are taking the kids to nanna’s." Dekon answered with a pleased grin.
"I just got a plane ticket home last night. I’ll be there the weekend." Shelby looked relieved.
"Nothing, really. Maybe Uncle Will’s." Elyse answered looking to be the loneliest of the three.
"Sugar, you can always spend the holidays with us you know." Dekon offered.
"Thanks. We’ll see how it goes." Elyse said, being grateful for the offer and that she had a friend. She thought of Lordez for a moment but quickly disconnected that thought.
"Maybe I’ll drive back to the city." She said thinking outside of her normal realm of consciousness.
"So you DO have some sort of family there?" Shelby asked curiously.
Elyse looked away and down at her stack of papers, thumbing through the first set. Her cell phone started ringing again.
"Who is that keeps callin’ you?" Deke questioned.
"My past." She whispered.
"The only person who calls me like that is my wife. If you told me you had a husband then I’d understand why you wouldn’t pick up the phone but honey…" Deke winked.
Elyse stared down at her phone.
"How long you been married Deke?" Special Agent James was just furthering the conversation to avoid getting back to work.
"Oh about 4 years." He said and continued. "You know I’m just messin’ around when I make jokes about my wife, right? She’s the beat in my heart." He smiled as he moved paperwork around on the desk.
"How’d you meet her, Dekon?" Shelby asked as he picked up the phone to dial out.
"She was my best friend’s fiancé." Dekon chuckled as if remembering something so far gone from his mind he’d almost forgot.
The three started laughing out loud in unison. Elyse’s jaw dropped.
"You’re kidding, right?" Elyse asked, stunned.
"I surely am not, Olivera. He was my college room-mate. They were dating about a year. He’d proposed to her before he set off to college. By the end of that first semester, she was MY fiancé."
"Just like that?" she questioned confusedly.
"Just like that. How do you think it happens?" He said with an expression of a man who had been wise to the game of life. "Oh I know. You’re one of those people who believes in molding a man before you marry him huh? No wonder you don’t have a husband yet."
"Whatta you mean?" she asked still laughing at Dekon. "No I don’t." she became defensive.
"You know. The kind of girl who settles far into a relationship enough to find problems that you need to fix." He said trying to read her. He focused his eyes on her expression but another idea came over him.
"I was about to get married once." She said trailing off.
Both Shelby and Deke’s eyes widened. This was the first time Elyse had opened up at all about her past in about a year of working with them.
"And I would have but you know…shit happens." She said being nonchalant about it.
"Well sometimes things happen for a reason. I believe in fate." Shelby interjected.
"He treat you right?" Deke asked.
"So how about this case? Do we have any new leads?" Elyse tried changing the direction of conversation.
"So then I have a new theory about you, Elyse. You’re one of those girls we hear about in books and magazines. You know. You put up a wall cause you’ve been burned, turned yourself off from finding the right guy. I think you need to get out there. I’m tired of seeing this nasty frown on your face. The past is the past. Start dating again…anyone…. so long as it’s not Shelby." Deke pointed at Shelby and started laughing. Shelby looked like he’d been elbowed in the face.
"I’m fine without dating, guys. I’ve been doing ok. There’s more to life than dating. I’ve come to the conclusion that maybe being a wife and settling down isn’t for me. Besides the kind of guy I’m looking for just doesn’t exist anyway. And if he does, he’ll just have to find me." She said jotting notes into a case file.
"That’s not the attitude to take. Look at my friend I told you about. I had no respect for him. You wanna know why? Cause he was a quitter. That’s why. When he found out about us, he just walked away. Had he stepped up and fought for her, she might not be my wife today. And then he got married to this other woman…left him about a year ago. She called me..told me he just didn’t care enough about her to go after her. You gotta discipline yourself. Go after what you want. It won’t just come to you. When love comes you have to have the balls to do something about it." Deke trailed off as a picture on a magazine from his desk caught his eye.
To illustrate a point he lifted TIME magazine up and showed it to Shelby and Elyse.
"Take this bright eyed marine for example. You think he’s just sitting around waiting for love to knock on his door? I think not my friends. He was taught to go after life. Life waits for no one."
Elyse recognized something on the cover of interest.
"Give me that." She said standing up in shock. She thought her eyes were deceiving her. For a second she thought she saw someone she knew. But after looking closely at the picture, she now knew it was him. It was Alex.
The title of the cover article was "OV-22 Osprey makes Debut deployment."
On the inside there was a lengthy article on the new plane. Specific marines were being interviewed on its capabilities. There was an excitement about it. ‘Staff Sergeant Alex Medina’ was among the three being interviewed.
"He was promoted." Elyse whispered, cracking a small smile. Her heart swelled with pride.
"I know this guy." Elyse pointed to the one marine on the left side and smiled widely in a way that Dekon wasn’t used to. Her attention to the article was overwhelming. She hadn’t stared at anything but a case like that since she had been in the bureau.
"Which guy?" Shelby stood up to see the TIME cover with them.
"This the guy you were going to marry?" Dekon asked curiously.
"No, but I knew him once." She said staring back at the picture. Her fingers gliding across the page where his face was, her memory was jolted to the night they shared. Suddenly it was a somber sadness that found her. In the pit of her stomach, emptiness settled in.
"That is a kick ass plane!" Shelby said, impressed.
"It’s a special mission aircraft." Dekon said enlightening them both, still keeping one eye on Elyse’s reaction. "So what happened? How did you meet this guy, Olivera?" Dekon asked, letting her take the magazine back to her desk.
"…Fleet week. One of his buddies was dating one of my friends. Matter of fact, I think they’re getting married. Anyway, it was her birthday and I met them all down in the city. He was there. Nice guy." She said making light of the evening.

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:47 pm

"And that’s it?" Deke looked suspicious.
"That’s it." She said minimal.
"Olivera, you’re lying to me!" he accused with a loud chuckle as he pounded on his desk once.
Elyse smiled over at Dekon. She felt oddly that she could trust him but because they were in front of Shelby she decided against discussing it.
"Maybe one day, Deke." She said looking at the TIME cover once more before covering it with a stack of files.
The days seemed to fly by over the course of the next week and Elyse still hadn’t called Lordez back. She had contemplated it several times over but it just brought back so much thought of the past that it almost had an immediate affect on her decision. As soon as she thought of it, she quickly remembered everything that New York meant to her. It meant home to her and with that came a lot of crushing realities about her life. She would remember all the things she had lost, the huge void in her life that would never be filled.
She had no mother. Her father was dead. She remembered the life that could have been not only with regret of the choices she had made but the happenings in general. Sometimes she thought that if she could go back she might have turned left instead of right one day and maybe that would have made all the difference. She remembered her father’s death and how she played a hand in it. If she was not with Matt that night…If she had just heard her phone…He might not be dead right now. She believed she was selfish. She believed she should have listened to her father more. But now it didn’t matter.
This year no Christmas tree went up. For the past 3 years it had been the same way. On Christmas Eve normally she would have drank a bottle of wine before crying herself to sleep, but something was changing inside her. Maybe it was just the time of year playing tricks on her heart right now but she had tried so hard to stop herself from this very thing.
Dekon had left a voice mail on her machine requesting her attendance on Christmas Eve with his family. She thought about calling and making up some excuse not to go but she didn’t want to be alone this year and uncle Will had made other plans, thinking she wouldn’t make it for Christmas. So, she took up Deke’s offer to join his family.
When she stepped inside his home she felt something she hadn’t in so long. It was a familiar feeling that she couldn’t place. There weren’t many people there anymore as many of Dekon’s relatives had come and gone earlier. Elyse lost track of time and wound up at his front door at around 7pm.
There were white lights everywhere. Outside the house. Inside the house. The tree they had was 12 feet tall and beautiful. Deke had a lovely and quite large house in the Alexandria area. In fact, in his neighborhood there wasn’t a house there that wasn’t worth a half a million dollars or more. It was a spacious Victorian home with a wrap-around porch.
"I’m glad you came, Elyse." Dekon said warmly, wrapping his arms around her.
"It’s just nice to have somewhere to go on Christmas Eve. Thank you for inviting me." She said with a smile. He felt bad for her in earnest, but he also did have some fondness for her, as a co-worker and a friend.
"I somehow don’t believe that someone like you doesn’t have a place to go on Christmas." He said bluntly. "Something tells me you have a dozen places you just don’t want to go." And he would be correct in his estimation.
"Maybe, maybe not." Elyse smiled again softly.
"You know. Our jobs are hard enough, Elyse. The people we know in our lives shouldn’t be a mystery to us. We have enough cases to crack. I’m willing to let you into my home with my family at Christmas time. All I want in return is a straight answer when I ask you about yourself. And while I know that wasn’t really a question. You know it was an attempt at opening a door metaphorically of course." Dekon said as a wiser counterpart. It was a shameful truth but he saw Elyse as broken young lady. And all he could think was that he was here, a presence in her life for a reason. Generally, he was a Christian man hoping to affect lives in a positive way. In the grand scheme he believed our lives led us in the direction of angels. He was hoping maybe he could be one of those angels sent to Elyse to guide her on her way.
"I’m sorry, Dekon. I’m just used to being a certain way with people. For a while its how I’ve been." She became a bit fidgety, crossing her arms over her waist. She looked down, embarrassed.
"Well, let’s try to correct it. Let someone help you." Dekon suggested.
"What makes you think I need help?" Elyse became a bit defensive.
"What makes you think needing help is a bad thing? Look, let’s go into the kitchen. I’m sure you’re hungry." He said hoping to break the ice a bit more. Food always had a way of chipping away at people’s defenses a bit in his experience.
He made her a plate of food and then grabbed a bottle of wine.
"I hope you like red wine." He smiled moving from the fridge to the island in the middle of the kitchen.
Elyse pulled up a stool next to it, across from him. "May I sit here?" she asked. Dekon looked at her wondering why she asked if she could sit. He nodded his head naturally nonetheless.
"Of course. That’s what it’s there for." He answered.
She sat herself on it apprehensively. "I love red wine. Thank you." She said respectfully. He noticed an air about her. She seemed to always be careful about what she was doing and saying. It was obvious she was raised properly.
As she began picking away at the plate of food, Dekon poured the wine. He began talking.
"I don’t normally invite people over here from work. My home is a very sacred place to me. It’s where my family lives…my wife, my children…You know. I like to keep everything separate. I would never let Shelby in here." Dekon said, with a mild shudder in his expressive body.
Elyse smiled. "Why me then?" she questioned curiously.
"Honestly?" he asked forcing his eyebrows upward then retreating to a thoughtful countenance. "Christmas is not a time for people to be alone. I took pity on you." He laughed noticing that Elyse took the sentiment well.
"But more than that…" he continued.
"You seem like a good soul and although I’m not inclined to make new friends at this stage in my life, I want to be yours. I respect you. You’re a good worker. But you’re a tidy mess and it makes me want to improve upon you. Maybe it’s my co-dependent nature." He smiled at his own honesty.
"Well, thanks I think." She laughed. She was used to brutal honesty. It made her feel at home in an odd way. "Wait, an untidy mess?" she asked confusedly.
"Yes. You come to work in your suits and dresses, clean and prompt. You offer this presence but I see something is missing from your life."
"Is it that obvious?" she said almost in a whisper, putting down her fork.
"To the untrained eye, maybe not but to me, yes." He said.
"So let me ask you. What made you want to become an FBI agent, Elyse?" Dekon asked purposefully.
"It’s been a dream of mine since I could remember. I don’t know. My family was no stranger to this line of work. I guess that’s how it started." She shrugged.
"Your father was a cop, right?" Dekon pushed.
Her eyes lifted to his sharply at the sound of the word ‘was’. She wanted to discern if he knew anything more than he was saying so far.
"Yes, a detective with the NYPD." She confirmed automatically.
"Actually he was Detective Sergeant Anthony Olivera and only by choice. He was being positioned as Captain of the precinct he worked at in 2000 but then he’d have to run the whole gamut and he loved his unit too much to do that. He was known for his work early on in tactical operations and narcotics while he was in uniform but even better known for his dedication to the homicide division he entered into as a detective. He was awarded six medals during his career, not including the purple shield shortly after his death in ‘01. He was a brilliant mind. He could have been a great crime scene investigator too I imagine." Dekon’s smile mixed with sadness as he stared at his friend.
Elyse looked stark white. When Deke noticed this he apologized for being so forward about it.
"It’s ok. I kind of figured you knew about my dad." She said taking a long sip of her wine.
"Actually I didn’t until I decided to look at your file. I have to say Elyse…I was impressed by everything I read. And I wasn’t surprised. You started to make sense to me after reading it. You’re father handed down to you some impressive gifts. He sounded like a great man on paper. And I imagine he was even more so off of paper."
"He was." She confirmed with a hint of contained sorrow in her tone.
"I’m sure it must have been hard for you after he died, especially being an only child. Your mom died when you were 5 years old. You had it rough."
"Did you bring me over here to rehash all of this bullshit, Deke?" she snapped at him, losing her inner resolve. She threw her napkin down on the island surface and stood from the stool. She took a few steps away from where they were seated.
Dekon stood to follow her.
"Yes actually…because it occurred to me while reading your file that you left New York quite abruptly after all this took place. And then it occurred to me ‘well could this be the reason why my young friend seems so joyless?’ Because I’ll tell you, if it is, then you need to find the strength now to deal with all the ‘bullshit’ as you put it. There’s more to come and then what? This life is too short to waste, freshman…to short to waste it on the pain…" he said about to take off into an even longer rant.
Elyse passed her hand over her forehead. Her fingers rubbed her right temple.
"Stop it, Deke." She said seemingly strained by his words.
"I will not stop. I’m trying to save you, girl. And now look at this….This is exactly what I mean. These headaches you’re getting. It’s because of what you’re doing to yourself." He said sounding like a concerned father. He pointed to the couch in the living room.
"Anna Mae, honey! Can you please make us some tea, darlin’?" Dekon said, summoning his sweet wife into the kitchen from one of the back rooms.
"Sure. Is Elyse alright?" she asked looking concerned.
"I’m sorry Anna Mae. I think your husband gave me a migraine." Elyse said turning this bleak moment into comedy. Her full lips tensed to form a smile.
"He’s been known to do that from time to time." Anna Mae smiled before heading off further into the background again.
"Stop trying to deflect, dear. It won’t work." He said leading her further into the living room and onto the soft sectional couch.
"I’m asking you as my friend not to continue this line of conversation right now. If you care anything at all about me please understand that I don’t want to talk about this. Another time, Deke." Elyse said closing her eyes, leaning her head back.
Deke’s expressed turned into defeat as he realized he was trying to beat sense into her. She had a pace and this might all be too much, too soon.
"I will under three conditions." He leaned forward, as if to tell her a secret.
He continued. "There’s something I want you to keep in mind from now on with regard to work. In a year or two, I’m probably going to be heading off to the NCAVC department at Quantico, which means a spot will open up in the department to become lead investigator. I want that position to go to you. Matter of fact if we do well on this next case, I want to start getting you affiliated with the right people to get you in line. You’ll need to move into that spot, Elyse. I’m counting on you and I need you to be perfect. Mind – check. Body – check. Spirit – check, check. You hear me loud and clear? Once you’re lead investigator a few years I want you to follow me into the NCAVC." Deke was speaking quickly as a swarm of ideas engulfed him. Elyse listened intently in excited shock that she expressed with reverent silence.
"That was the first thing. But in order to get the first thing you need to do the second thing and here it is. I am putting you in contact with a doctor I trust. You need to get those headaches under control. And you need to get yourself checked out. I’ll give you the information to get in contact with him on Monday. Okay? Okay." He said being forceful in his demands. He searched for Elyse to acknowledge them.
She turned her face in his direction.
"This is a big deal and it can’t be compromised." He said making sure he was understood.
"What’s the third thing?" she asked curious.
"That’s of a more personal nature." He answered.
She moved her torso forward further becoming more curious of his last request.
"The other day when we were chatting at work and I pointed to the TIME cover, your face lit up. I’ve really been wondering what happened between you and that guy in the article." He chuckled. "I’m a sucker for some dish. My momma was a gossip queen. What can I tell you?" he explained feeling silly about asking.
"I can’t even believe this is one of your demands." She laughed as she noticed Anna Mae head into the living room with a tray with three tea cups filled to the brim.
"I hope you don’t mind honey in your tea, Elyse." She smiled sincerely, offering her the biggest cup next to two pain killers.
"Not at all. I love honey. Thank you, Mae." Elyse smiled.
Anna Mae sat quietly on the love seat across from Elyse, while Dekon sat kitty corner to them both.
"I hope I’m not interrupting FBI talk." She said mindfully.
"FBI talk? Your husband is asking me about my love life." She jabbed.
"Dekon, Leave the poor girl alone." She scolded her husband for being nosey.
"Woman, don’t act all church girl in front of Elyse. I know you like scandalous stories just as much as I." he said with one eyebrow raised in her direction.
"Is it scandalous?" Anna Mae questioned, eyes widening, then giggled.
"No it’s not scandalous." Elyse amended. She then continued by explaining what happened in the office last week with the magazine cover.
"So you know him? How do you know him?" Anna Mae asked curiously. "I mean it’s not every day you see someone you know on the cover of a magazine, girlfriend, especially an ex-boyfriend." She said, poking.
"No. You don’t understand." Elyse shook her head.
"Well then make us understand." Dekon pushed then looked at his wife. "Anna, darling, the girl lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw his picture. It was amazing, since the girl’s mannerisms have screamed despondent since she came to work with us." He dug into Elyse with words.

Subject: Re: A Second Chance Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:48 pm

"He’s a marine…a married one at that, Deke. There’s nothing to tell. I think he’s even got a little boy now about 4 years old." She explained.
"And nothing happened with the two of you?" Dekon questioned, still confused.
"We met. We kissed once while he was in the city during fleet week. The day after, he came looking for me, but he saw me with my boyfriend and he walked away. I never saw him again."
"He came looking for you?" Anna Mae questioned getting that sentimental look in her eyes at the sound of it. "Well did you go looking for him?" she asked wanting to know more.
"I did but it was too late. He was gone. He was back on cruise by that time. I had no way to reach him really. I mean I could have asked my friend to get in contact with her boyfriend to let him know but I didn’t. His aircraft got shot down about a week later. I sent him flowers with a note saying congratulations on his happiness with his future wife. I just didn’t want to be responsible for him separating himself from her. If he didn’t love her, he wouldn’t marry her." Elyse answered getting that old fluttering feeling in her gut again.
Dekon and Anna looked at one another with a knowing glance.
"That almost happened to us…sort of." Anna added with a look of nostalgia.
"There was a winter formal at the University. Kevin asked me to go and Dekon was there. We had talked before but that night was the first time we’d spent more than 5 minutes together in the same room and it was, in a word…wonderful. It was the best night I had ever had. Kevin had disappeared for a while. He was very into his friends, but Dekon paid very close attention to me at the time. We talked and talked. Before the end of the evening, he kissed me. It was unlike anything I ever felt. Kevin saw us. It was a mess. The following day, I went looking for Dekon. I wound up misinterpreting something I saw. I just felt foolish coming all that way to see him. So I did an about face and vowed never to go back." She smiled embarrassed.
"I didn’t know until about a week later. I mean I thought the girl wanted nothing to do with me. I had kissed her and ruined her relationship with Kevin. I believed she was in love with him. Kevin kept it s a secret that she had actually let the relationship go. She didn’t want to be with him. Then I ran across one of Anna’s friends one day and she called me every name in the book for having slighted her. When I finally realized she came looking for me I went after her at her home. She was about to leave for college the next day. It was luck that I got there in time. And the rest is history." Dekon smiled widely at his wife.
They looked at Elyse completely fazed by the story she related.
"It’s quite possible this girl is married to your man, Elyse." Anna Mae said, surprising Elyse with her message.
"He’s hers now. It just wasn’t meant to be." She said taking a sip of the tea.
"A man does not go back to find a woman unless he feels something in his heart, Elyse. He might have just thought you were happy with your boyfriend at the time and that’s why he walked away. It was fear crept up on him. For all we know the man is suffering now." Dekon said empathizing with her.
"Or not. All I know is that he’s married and I take that very seriously. I would never be able to be with him now even if he divorced this girl. He has a child and a whole other life he lived. He probably doesn’t even think of me, but I’ll tell you…not a day goes by that I haven’t thought of him. Maybe he just presents an idea for me. I felt safe with him. He was different." She said with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Maybe you’ll meet him again." Anna Mae hoped for their new friend…because she knew how easily it could have been her and Dekon in the same place right now in life.
"I doubt it. Besides, if I ever saw him again, I don’t know how I’d be. I’m a little rough around the edges these days. I’m not the same girl he knew that night." Elyse said solidifying her jaded stance on life.
"You’re fierce now. You’re wiser. Maybe a little cold, but nothing a little love can’t fix, sweet pea." Dekon said with a charming drawl.
"Well here’s to love in the new year then. 2005 here we come." Anna Mae said holding her cup of tea up in the air. They all raised their cups. All smiles were hopeful except for Elyse’s.
Elyse’s drive home was pleasant. She had to admit there was a bit of warmth in her tummy still lingering over the events of the evening. She wasn’t alone this year or at least she didn’t feel alone anymore. It was nice having a family on her side. In the quiet corners of her mind there was a negativity screaming for her to get back to the solitude of her home in Alexandria just a few minutes away. She probably wouldn’t be able to open up to someone else like she did to the Reynolds family tonight but it was a nice feeling in increments. For someone to know you is a gift from both sides.
She had a few messages on her answering machine. Her family in New York was looking for her still.
Instead of calling them back, she nestled into her bed, covering up for the night. The darkness was calming and the silence of her bedroom was comforting.

Alex stood in the den of his house as the sun began to rise slowly over the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Recently returned from deployment, Alex had not yet finished unpacking. Normally his squadron would have several months turn around before deploying again. That is how it was until his wife Jamie woke him at 3 AM.

"Alex, wake up." Jamie shook Alex awake. Groggily he sat up squinting as she turned on the lamp.

"What's the matter? Is the baby crying?" The Medina family had been with child for the past five months. Alex had only just returned from a six month deployment a few days before.

Jamie handed him the phone then rolled out of bed and left the room. "Sgt Medina? This is Cpl Teal. I'm sorry to wake you so early but you are needed back at base ASAP. I was told to tell you that you may want to bring your cruise gear with you."

Alex hung up the phone and looked over at his clock. It was only 3:15 AM. Jamie slowly walked back into the bedroom. She already knew what was said.

"Alex would you ever reconsider reenlisting? We have a child now. You haven't been back even a week yet and now they are calling you in already?!" She was already raising her voice. Alex looked up at her.

"Jamie we don't even know what is happening yet so no need to get jumpy over it." She looked at him with anger in her eyes. "Don't you play that line with me Alex! I know very well what it means when they call in the dead of night telling you to come in!"

This was an argument they had been running through even before he had left on his previous deployment. Alex came from a military family. One may say he was born to follow his family's tradition of service. The quarks of the life were normal to him. Jamie came from a small farming community. She was accustomed to a slow and steady-never-changing world of small town America. She wasn't adjusting well to the demands of military life. Jamie had fallen hard for a young Pvt. Alex Medina at a Memorial Day Parade. It started out like a fairy tale. The dashing young Marine in his sharp class "A" uniform surprising her at work with a bouquet of flowers. A classic knight in shining armor, he was larger then life and she thought her ticket to a fairy tale life. After a year of dating they were married. He moved her in with him on base and that is when things went down hill. Falling for a man in uniform wasn't hard, but unfortunately for them both dealing with deployment separation was.

"Jamie, this is my job. This is my responsibility, I will not reconsider. I am doing the best i can for our son" Alex replied, his voice was calm as he walked to the shower. Jamie followed close behind.

"You didn't have responsibilities past your enlistment period! It could have ended right there clean and you could have moved on! You have responsibilities to your family here Alex. You aren't a bachelor anymore. You can't avoid your duties to us!" She was seething angery now. Even as Alex turned on the water, she continued to yell at the shower door.

Alex quickly finished his shower amid his wifes' rant. As he opened the shower door she stood there baring his path. "Jamie, I am doing my duties. I don't leave for deployments to aggravate you. I'm a United States Marine. When that phone rings, I go where my country needs me." He slipped past her and started to get dressed.

"Alex, do you have any idea how hard it is to take care of an infant all alone? Have you any clue how hard it is to see you leave for months at a time?" Tears began rolling down her face. "You don't love me Alex, or our son."

He stopped getting dressed and looked at her. "Jamie, I do love you and our son. And you know perfectly well that I understand how hard it is. I watched my mother and stepfather deploy into combat zones. I didn't even know if I would see them alive ever again. They were actually getting shot at. Why don't you go to the Military Wives meetings? They really do help." Alex finished lacing his flight deck boots as Jamie stared at him in disbelief. When she finally did respond her voice was harsh and quivering.

"Those damn propaganda meetings are noting but brain wash meetings! A bunch of mindless zombies sitting around making excuses for their husbands running off to war and abandoning them here!" She threw her hands in the air in frustration. "Why am I even bothering? In your psychotic family, it was perfectly acceptable to abandon the children and family to go to war!." Just then they could hear the baby cry. Jamie went off to comfort the boy and Alex followed. She picked him up and spoke softly to him. Alex tried to touch the child's cheek but Jamie pulled him away. "You need to go. You didn't feel the need to be with him a few minuets ago." She pushed him out of the room and closed the door in his face.

Although he didn't outwardly show it he was being torn in two between his convictions. He was dedicated to his family. But he was also dedicated to his job. The longer he spent with her the stronger the conflict inside him became. After listening to Jamie comforting the baby for a few more moments he went down the dark hallway and entered the den. He sealed the thoughts away and mentally prepared himself for the task ahead. If the squadron members were being called in then something serious was