Page 256 of Chaos has a Name
Oh, God.
She wasn’t ready to face anyone.
When the door opened, just a little, a head popped in, and it was Gene.
She wasn’t sure whether to be worried or not. The man tended to tell Ethan everything, and she didn’t want to burden him with her breakdown.
He was fighting his own battles.
“I heard you crying,” he admitted. “Are you okay?” he asked.
What she meant to say was yes.
What came out was anything but.
“No, I’m not okay. I’m freefalling, and I don’t have a parachute,” she whispered.
And that was his cue.
In that moment, he could go get Ethan or Callen, but honestly, they were in no better shape than her. He’d left them downstairs, wrangling the kids for transport, and they were busy.
So, he was going to take a chance.
Elizabeth needed someone, and he’d let her lean on him for this. After all she’d done for him, and Ethan on that last case, he wanted to be there for her.
For once.
Moving into the room, he knelt on the floor in front of her and wiped her tears with his thumbs.
“Are you on an emotional rollercoaster over all of this?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Need someone to ride it with you?” he asked, willing to help her if she needed him.
Once more, Elizabeth nodded.
That’s when he took over.
Scooping her up, he carried her to the bed, and with one hand, pulled the blankets back. Still holding her, he toed off his shoes, and then placed her in the middle of the big bed.
Then, he climbed in.
At first, he wasn’t sure if this was what she needed. He didn’t know much about soothing women, but he just did the same thing he’d do with Ethan when he was inches from falling and breaking.
He opened his arms, and she moved into his body without hesitating.
And he held her.
The whole time, he let her mourn.
Instead of talking, Gene let her get it all out and he held her up.
When the tears slowed down, then, and only then, he kissed her on the temple, right next to her stitches. She would be okay.
All Elizabeth needed was some time.
“It’s been a rough week,” he admitted. “We flew to Philly, and dealt with some horrible things.”
