Nemesis Chapter 49

Nemesis Chapter 49

Later that afternoon, Shannon's doctor came in and advised the team that she was well enough to be released from the hospital the following day.  Jim quickly called and checked with the airline to make sure they would be able to use their return trip tickets.

"Our flight leaves at three tomorrow afternoon," he smiled.  "That should give us enough time to get Shannon out of here and get to the airport."

The four men enjoyed dinner with their female teammate, and then they excused themselves early to return to the hotel.  It had been a long, difficult day, and all of them were very tired.

Jim's mind was still racing from the events of the day, but even it was no match for the bone-deep exhaustion that overtook him as soon as he lay down.  Like his companions, he was asleep in moments.

*******

The next morning was Sunday.  The men quickly checked out of the hotel and headed for the hospital.  They were pleased to find that Shannon had already been released and was free to go.  As a result, they were able to get to the airport, eat a quick lunch,  and get through customs in record time.

From the waiting area where the five team members sat watching for their flight, they could see the planes take off and land through a huge picture window.  Max was not the sort to read to pass the time as his companions were doing.  Instead, he walked to the window and stood watching the aircraft.

Grant sensed more than saw that Max was no longer beside him.  He glanced up, saw his restless friend staring out the window, and smiled to himself.  But in the next moment, Grant saw Max run a hand through his hair and his chest heaved as a heavy sigh escaped his lips.

Grant frowned.  He had known Max long enough to sense that there was more to this than just restlessness.  Something else was wrong.  He put down his magazine, got to his feet, and walked over to stand beside his friend.

"Hey, buddy," Grant said softly, laying a hand on Max's right shoulder.  "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah," Max answered, his voice low.  "I just wish we were home already."

"Waiting is hard, man," Grant agreed, smiling at his friend.  "But just think, in a few minutes we'll be in the air.  Then you can relax."

Max's love of flying was no secret to any of them.  He had earned his pilot's license at sixteen, and most of the time he seemed to be more comfortable in the air than he was on the ground.

"Yeah, sure," Max replied, still not taking his eyes from the window.

The comment was uncharacteristic of Max, and it took Grant completely by surprise.  He tightened his grip on Max's shoulder, turning his friend's upper body slightly until their eyes met.

"Hey," Grant said again, even softer this time, "you're not nervous about the flight, are you?"

The look in Max's eyes told his friend he had guessed correctly, but it was a minute or two before Max spoke. 

"I just can't stop thinking about the last time we were in the air," he said quietly, turning his gaze back toward the window.

For a moment, Grant was confused.  He, too, had nearly lost his life when Garcia's chopper had gone down - and would have certainly done so had it not been for Max.  Yet, facing the return flight home had not had the same effect for him.

This couldn't be just about the fear of crashing - or the fear of dying, for that matter.  Max certainly knew the odds  better than any of them, and yet his passion for flying remained strong.  Plus, they'd risked their lives many times in the line of duty during their time with the IMF.

No, there had to be more to it than that.  Didn't there?

"Yeah, that was pretty scary," Grant said aloud, trying to show empathy but also to break the awkward silence that had fallen between them.

Max turned to face Grant, and Grant winced at the pain that shone back from them.  "You almost died," he said simply.

Suddenly, Grant understood.  Max had borne the entire weight of trying to save the chopper - to save them both - on his shoulders.  But even without regard to the danger his own life had been in, Max had been singularly focused on one thing.

Saving his friend.

Grant's stomach lurched, and he reached for Max's shoulder once again and squeezed.

"We almost died," he reminded him gently, placing slight emphasis on the inclusive pronoun, "but we didn't, thanks to you.  You're a hell of a pilot, Max, and a hell of a friend, and if I'm gonna risk my life there's nobody I'd rather have beside me than you."

"But we might not get so lucky next time," Max growled insistently.

Grant shrugged, tilting his head to one side.  "Maybe not. It's the business we're in.  But it doesn't matter.  It's a chance I'm willing to take."  His brown eyes grabbed Max's ice blue ones and held on.  "I know you've got my back."

"Always, partner," Max replied instantly.  The sense of reassurance washed over him like a waterfall, and he suddenly felt much better.  Grant slung his arm around Max's shoulders and the two men returned to their seats.

Nicholas inconspicuously glanced up from his newspaper and smiled to himself.  He'd sensed that Max was struggling with something, but knew instinctively that it was connected to the ordeal he'd experienced with Grant - and that only Grant could help him through it.  So Nicholas had remained quiet, allowing the two men to have their moment.  Clearly, it had helped Max, and Nicholas was grateful for that.

The dark-haired agent shot a glance at Jim, and in a second knew that Jim, too, had been watching and thinking the same.  Jim nodded slightly in satisfaction, and then they both returned to their reading until their flight was called ten minutes later.