Chapter 7: Taking a Friend

"Please?" Eliza begged, recognizing the unsure look on her long-time boss's face. "Cadence wants me to, don't you?"

Cadence nodded. She would feel better knowing she had a true friend among the team members who would be accompanying her.

"All right," Aaron agreed, seeing Cadence's expression shift momentarily to one of relief and Eliza's to joy. "But, I don't want all three of you going to the hospital with her; that's just too much. We don't need any speculations. So, while Hannah and Elliott accompany her in public, you lay low at the hotel. Stay out of sight and just be a support person, got it?"

"Got it!" Eliza agreed, patting Cadence on the shoulder. While she was happy to have the opportunity to help her friend in this difficult time, one glance back at Cadence's broken expression was a distinct reminder of all that she was going through. "It'll be all right," she said softly, nodding her head.

Cadence nodded as well, though she wasn't sure she believed it. However, thinking of a life without Jack in it was more than she could handle just now, and she became even more resolved to wait until she reached her destination to fully digest all of the information she had recently acquired. Taking a deep breath, she pulled herself to her feet, the others stepping back out of her way as she did so. "I guess we need to get going," she said, looking at Eliza and then at Elliott.

Jamie reached over and wrapped his arms around Cadence, wishing his healing powers could work on emotions. "Take care," he said quietly, brushing her hair back.

"Thank you," she replied, releasing him. "You, too," she added, smiling meekly.

Christian was still standing in the aisle, and she embraced him next, feeling a bit awkward at first but pushing those thoughts out of her head. He kissed the top of her head softly and messaged her directly saying, "If you need anything at all, let me know, and I'll be there."

Cadence did not reply; she just caught his eyes, a look of gratitude in hers, and waited for him to step out of the way.

Eliza and Elliott were already exiting the plane, clutching their carry-ons. Though Elliott headed straight for the smaller plane waiting nearby, Eliza lingered at the exit, waiting for Cadence. Jamie squeezed his way past her and followed Christian down the aisle, leaving Cadence alone with Aaron, who still hadn't moved.

This alarmed Cadence a bit. "Are you feeling okay?" she asked.

He smiled up at her. "Don't worry about me," he replied, avoiding her question. "You've got a plane to catch." He had been busy giving orders to get Eliza's luggage from one plane to the other, but the true reason he hadn't gotten up yet was because he wasn't sure his lungs had healed completely from where the bullet had ripped through them the night before, and he wanted to take his time getting out of the plane. He certainly didn't want to alarm Cadence or give her anything else to worry about.

But she was worried. "Do you need some help?" she asked, wondering if she needed to call Christian or Elliott back in, though she knew with her now superhuman strength she could probably lift him herself if she needed to.

He waved her off. "I'm fine," he declared, finally deciding he was going to have to prove it to her and pulling himself to his feet, mustering every ounce of determination he could come up with to do so without grimacing or falling over.

Cadence wasn't completely convinced he was being honest with her, but she knew she needed to be on her way. The fact that Jamie was nearby was comforting to her, and she knew the Healer would do whatever it might take to help their Leader make a full recovery. "All right," she said, lingering for a moment in those piercing blue eyes. "I guess I'll go, then." She glanced down the aisle and then back at him, wanting to say more, but not sure of exactly what she wanted to say or how she was going to say it.

"Let me know if you need anything," he said nodding slowly, the pain in his chest making it difficult to keep up the charade that he was all right much longer.

"I will," she nodded, taking a step backward. It was all she could do to keep herself from leaning forward and kissing those soft lips. But thoughts of Jack and the difficult journey ahead of her kept her from doing so, and instead, she reached out and placed her hand on top of his where it rested on the back of the seats in front of them. She closed her eyes for just a second, as if she were soaking him in, and then turned and proceeded down the aisle and out of the plane.

As soon as Cadence exited, Aaron collapsed back into his seat, his strength finally giving out. He ran his hand through his light brown hair, and watched Cadence make her way onto the other plane, Eliza's arm around her. Sighing in exhaustion, he collected his thoughts and attempted to regain his strength before he endeavored to exit the airplane. He didn't want to call for help unless he absolutely had to. As much as he didn't want to, he was beginning to realize he might have to ask Jamie to do a second round of healing. There seemed to be some damage that had not been completely corrected the first time. The longer he sat, the more the pain in his chest subsided, and he contemplated the possibility of walking out of the plane under his own power.

The pain from the wound was not the only unsettling thought on his mind, however. The circumstances surrounding the sudden illness, odd behavior, and unusual symptoms that had led to the tragic and unexpected death of Jack Cook also seemed both familiar and disconcerting. He was concerned that Cadence may be walking into an even more devastating situation than she realized.