Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

MEMPHIS

A week later…

"Heyyyy, where are you going so fast?" Trophy asked laughing as he elbowed a couple of their squadron in the small bunk room. "We're all getting off this blasted thing and taking off to go enjoy the Big Apple."

"I'm going to see my wife," Noah bit out in frustration, jamming his things into his sack and slinging it over his shoulder.

"Are you okay, brother?" Orion asked solemnly, standing up from where he was sitting and looking at him.

"Keep your cell phone on," he said grimly. "I'm calling you if I need bail money…"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa…" Tic-Tak grinned. "We're going to a bar, but if you are going somewhere to scrap, I wanna know."

"My wife has been threatened, and I'm going to take her out, talk some sense into her, and then put her on the next flight back to Jacksonville."

"Did base housing open up yet?"

"Do I look like I care?"

Trophy raised both hands in mock surrender as Orion put an arm between the two men, looking at Noah. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife, and the other men who had been changing clothes or gathering their things, stopped to watch what was about to unfold.

"Memphis, you know Trophy is just running his mouth," Orion began quietly. "No one blames you for being upset. I will have my phone if you need something, need help, or need an extra set of hands to bury whoever that look is for, but we're a family here and you need to dial it back a notch, brother."

Noah nodded silently and turned back to tie up his sack so he could go track down Madeline. She was going to be working until six this evening, and he fully intended to meet her at the museum. He wanted to see where she worked, the path she took to the hotel, and see if there was anything else going on before he dragged her out of there kicking and screaming.

He knew she wasn't happy. The last few days had been short conversations, and every time he brought up the subject, she had to go. The text messages between them were not much different. He was frustrated and angry, she was scared, and that only succeeded in making him even more upset.

A hand appeared beside him – and he looked up to see Trophy standing there. Orion, Tic-Tak, Shellac, Pasteur, Ohio, and Moonbeam, all standing there behind Trophy in support. The arrogant man stood there, smirking, and remained there with his hand out for Noah to shake it.

"What?"

"Where are we going?" Trophy said simply, tossing his thumb over his shoulder. "You're too pretty to end up with a broken nose or worse, so we'll go help even out the score… and you buy the first round of drinks as a ‘Thank You' to your wife for making sure she still thinks you're hot."

"For some reason, none of us understand," Ohio retorted nearby, shaking his head in disgust, causing Moonbeam and Pasteur to high-five each other in solidarity. Even Orion cracked a smile.

"Shake his hand, y'all hug it out, and let's get moving," Tic-Tak chastised. "Let's get going – oh and fellas?"

"Yeah?" Noah replied, shaking Trophy's hand as the other man clapped him on the shoulder. "What now?"

"Remember, we're in our ‘dress whites' and blood stains badly. So, if things go south and we are about to throw down - show off the muscles and save your wallets, fellas. These uniforms are ridiculously expensive."

All of the men exchanged a smile as they headed out of the bunkroom and further into the ship in order to reach the stairwell that had a line of uniforms standing on it, waiting to leave. Hurry up and wait, Noah sighed, slowly plodding his way forward in a single file line that was forming ahead of him to exit.

An hour later, Noah was walking up the steps to the museum and buying his ticket to enter. To his surprise, a couple of the fellas were treating this like a mission, giving orders, designating roles, and cracking a few jokes.

"You. I need you on lookout… you're at twelve o'clock, and I need you at his three. Got me?"

"Yup."

"Just point me in the direction of the ladies or the beer – and I'll keep watch on both."

"Can you focus?"

"I am focused and realized that I do not fit in here. This is where brainiacs go to pick up chicks…"

"Which isn't Trophy…"

"Maaaannn, seriously? I'm smart – smarter than you at least."

"Oooh," Tic-Tak mocked, waving his hands beside his face playfully. "Was that supposed to be a ‘burn'?"

"Did it hurt?"

"Stung the only nerve I have left…"

"Memphis," Orion said bluntly, interrupting the duo. "Head inside, and we'll handle this. If you need something – shout. We won't be far from you."

"Thanks, guys… and the beer is on me tonight," Noah offered, meeting their faces that suddenly perked up in delight. These guys were as solid as they come, he realized. They worked hard, played hard, and stood firm against anything together. He never asked for their help, but they had volunteered it without hesitation.

Before Madeline, it was always a joy to get off the ship and explore the area. He would go play games, take a few tours, and occasionally end up in some seedy bar with his squadron crowded around a table. No one drank enough to get sick, but it was more of a moment to relax and bond – to reinforce the feeling of a found family and belonging.

This was not a moment he wasn't going to be participating in this evening. No, he was going to provide the entertainment as a way of saying ‘thank you' because he wanted to be alone with his wife, enjoying a different sort of bonding.

Nodding to his friends, Noah started up the steps and opened the door, treasuring the cool, dry air that hit him like a wall. There was always a sense of peace and admiration that seemed inherently present when you walked into any museum – and this was no different. He wasn't sure if it was the lighting, the flooring, the glass displays that held pieces of pottery, art, or ancient weapons. Maybe it was the hushed whispers as patrons stood close to each other, whispering politely to keep from disturbing the other guests.

Moving forward, Noah passed several displays with a cursory glance because he was looking for something much different and felt his heart skip a beat as he saw a golden glow in the distance on the far right along with a stone obelisk on a platform as a guide to the newest wing in the museum. As he moved around the corner his steps slowed, wanting to witness his wife in her element and savor the pride that came with knowing someone so special, so amazing, was his.

Madeline was in the distance with her back toward him, pointing at a wall. She was talking with both children and adults, explaining and setting the scene for their imaginations, and Noah smiled, coming to a stop in the distance and simply leaning against the wall, watching her.

"… These were their bibles," Madeline was telling the people, smiling and pointing. "Each passage was used to establish the laws for the people, to document past battles and important events, but it was also a way to record their religious texts in an organized manner." She turned and mo ved her hand, touching the plexiglass before the massive stone display.

"The pictures or glyphs are read from right to left, from top to bottom. Some of the pictures represent letters whereas others represent whole words or phrases. It's learning another language and interpreting what is before you."

"What does this one say?" a child asked her and Madeline smiled easily.

"This oblong figure around these pictures," she began, pointing. "This is a cartouche, and only the royal names are drawn like this. This one is the symbol for Ramses II and was found in Tanis, Egypt."

"It's showing Ramses II making an offering to the sun gods after the victory at the Battle of Kadesh, and if you look at…" Madeline paused, spotting Noah. Her entire face seemed to light up with joy as she raised a hand slightly to him to say ‘hello' before continuing. "If you look carefully, you can see that some of the figures are the same. A bird, a feather, a chariot, and at the tables, you can make your own cartouche."

Noah straightened up and moved forward as Madeline headed toward him, crossing the floor of the wing without hesitation.

"You're here," she breathed, immediately hugging him tightly. It felt so good to hold her close after several months, and Noah was glad to see that she wasn't going to hold back. He wondered for a moment if this was the appropriate place to hug or kiss her, but she seemed to answer that for him. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Same here," he whispered, breathing in her sweet perfume. "How much longer do you have? I know I'm interrupting your day, but I wanted to see where you worked. "

"Do you want the grand tour?" she chuckled, grinning at him. "I promise there is zero chance of entombment or getting shot."

"Are you sure? I mean, being trapped behind a door with the hottest woman in the world is starting to appeal to me," he murmured tenderly, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"I don't know about ‘hottest'," she preened, smiling at the compliment. "But you are certainly allowed to think that."

"Give me the ‘grand tour,'" he requested, wanting to give her this chance to show off her knowledge to a very attentive audience of one – him. Leaning forward, he whispered invitingly. "How about after the grand tour, we find a place with Middle Eastern food, and then we can indulge in a behind-the-scenes tour tonight…"

"I like the way you think… husband."

That soft husky sound of her voice was going to make it hard to concentrate, but he was so relieved at seeing her here, happy and safe. She slipped her hand into his, treasuring the feel of it, and walked him to the furthest corner of the wing where he'd entered, before starting to speak.

Noah could have listened to her for hours on end – and did. As they got to the very back of the wing, there was a door labeled with a ‘No Admittance' sign and a lock number pad. Madeline looked at him, smiled, and punched in a number quickly, allowing them access to a hallway that only had a few doors.

"This is my office," she began and then pointed at the far doors. "We get shipments through that one for different exhibits. It can get a little noisy sometimes, but it's a nice place to step back and take my lunch. I don't do much in here but… "

"But your biggest fan could sneak a few kisses?" he said softly, pulling her into the office and treasuring her delighted laughter. Shutting the door, he pulled her to him almost in a casual manner, giving them time to just enjoy this easy moment of love.

Not only could he listen to her for hours, but every single movement was a masterpiece. From the delicate arch of her neck as she laughed happily to the way she would slide a sideways look at him, everything about Madeline made every cell in his body stand up and take notice. She was magnetizing, and he was helpless in the pull toward her.

"Help," he whispered teasingly as he lowered his head toward her. "I'm being ravished by an employee…"

"Noaaaah," she chuckled, drawing out his name. "I'm not – and we can't. Not here, at least. Maybe when we get to the apartment then…"

"Wait a second," he hesitated and frowned, looking at her. "I thought you were staying in a hotel until I got here?"

"Hotels near here are over four hundred dollars a night."

"So?"

"So, my apartment is already an arm-and-a-leg. I can't pay my entire month's rent for four days at a hotel. Besides, the apartment got the door repaired on my unit and replaced the lock, so I'm safe."

Noah took a deep breath and let his arms drop as he prayed for patience at that moment. He understood what she was saying and agreed the hotel was expensive, but sometimes there was more than money or a job that mattered more in this world, and it wasn't his position to force his way, belittle her, or yell at someone he loved .

"You're mad," she began again. "I promise that I'm safe."

"What value do you put on my life?" he asked quietly, looking at her and saw her face freeze as she hesitated in surprise. "If I were to die today, how much would it be worth to you?"

"Don't say things like that," she whispered painfully. "That's not funny and I get what you are saying – but this is not the same."

"To me, it is," he murmured gently, taking her hands in his. He lifted the hand with the wedding rings to his lips, kissing that band of gold pointedly and looking at her. "I cannot replace you. We already have a shared history where we were threatened and narrowly escaped being entombed alive, remember?" And continued when she nodded mutely, her concerned eyes holding his gaze as he spoke. "You, or possibly both of us, have a very real enemy that left a sign in your apartment. I thought I was going to lose my mind when you finally told me about that. Someone tracked you down, broke into your apartment to scare you, and it should, because it terrifies me."

"I am scared," Madeline admitted tearfully, and while he hated to see her cry, he was glad she understood the seriousness of what had happened and wasn't minimizing it. "What am I supposed to do? I can't afford to stay in a hotel indefinitely or…"

"I want you to come home," he urged. "We'll break the lease on the apartment and set up a home together."

"If they found me here," she began, and he heard the tremble in her voice. "They will find me in Florida, too. I cannot keep running, nor can I give up. I'm scared, Noah, but I have to be able to live, too. We don't know if it's Travis, Ahmed, or some other goon who worked with them. The police found no fingerprints and there is nothing they can do – but wait. We have to wait, and there is no guarantee that I will ever be confronted or attacked."

"But the chances are not zero, sweetheart," he said grimly.

"No, they aren't," she agreed tiredly.

"I am never going to back you into a corner or put my foot down, but I'm doing it now… for us." His voice was quiet yet firm. "I've asked and been very patient regarding your wishes to keep your job here. We've already agreed to end the lease when it's up – so why not end it now?"

"I'm scared that if I keep giving up parts of me… then I won't be me anymore. If I lose the parts of me you admire, then someday you might not be interested in hanging around. What if you decide someday that I am dragging you down or boring you? What if I can't find a job in my field in Florida? What happens when I'm a burden to you?"

"What?" he chuckled in disbelief, staring at her. "Are you serious?"

" Yes ," Madeline strangled out, and he saw that she was holding back tears. This actually concerned her, which made him wonder what else she'd held onto. "We barely knew each other when we got married, and I know we keep saying that we'll put our best foot forward… but I'm losing my ‘feet', Noah. I'm losing what makes me who I am. I'm not in Egypt anymore. I'm giving up my job. I'm doing all of this in the hopes that our marriage is strong enough to handle what life throws at us – because for some reason, we keep getting thrown a curve ball, and I truly suck at sports ."

He almost laughed at her ‘sports' comment, but it wasn't funny. This was really how she felt, like she was giving up everything to be with him. Realizing that was what was in her mind, her heart, really hurt, but it was also a brutal truth.

His job was demanding on his time and his life, but his job was no more important than hers – and part of making this marriage work was compromise and communication. He was glad that he was still holding her hands, because it made him feel connected to her and made him feel safe to say the words he never thought would be spoken aloud.

"You're right," Noah admitted quietly. "I've been very unfair to you and your needs – and this marriage is a partnership. I'm glad you told me how you feel because we should be able to talk. I love you – all of you – and if having your job makes you feel valued or worthy, the last thing I want to do is take that from you. Your job is no less important than mine, although mine is a little tougher to get out of than yours." He gave her a tender smile, pausing to let her process things, to realize that he was trying to be supportive however he could. "What if we compromise? Maybe we take time to see if we can find something that is a fit for you in Jacksonville – and let you enjoy life with me. At the end of my contract, instead of renewing or accepting the bonus, we can look at letting my contract lapse. You would be free to take a position anywhere in the world – and we could go together."

"What?!" That single word was ripped from her throat hoarsely as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "You would do that for me?"

"Sweetheart, I would do it for us ," he stressed softly, feeling his heart swell with emotion at the love in her eyes. "Being an aviator, an officer, a sailor, is not who I am… it's a job that once allowed me to soar mentally, physically, and emotionally, filling an emptiness inside – but that spot is no longer empty ," tugging her toward him, he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close. "I love you more than you will ever know – and if you need this to feel valued, then I would be happy to provide a way for it to happen."

"I just don't want to have that door closed permanently," she said quietly after a few moments. "I might change my mind, or there could be another curveball, but as long as I know there's a chance or we can talk about it – then I'm happy."

"The door is always open for you, sweetheart," he breathed, kissing her temple as he held her close. "You're the only one with the key."