Page 36 of When We Collide

“Baby, it was a dream. It was just a nightmare. I promise you, DJ is fine.” I assure her and she pulls away and stares at me.

“How do you know that, Dean? How can you possibly be so sure that he’s alive?” She wipes away the tears from her cheeks.

“I spent months with Lukin, working alongside him. Watching his every move and tactic. If he had any intention of harming DJ, he would have made it known by now. Taking the life of an innocent child does not align with his typical methods. As longas we comply with his demands—me being his main target—DJ should be safe.”

Jeyla lets out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping. “I want to believe you Dean, I really do. But your words just don't hold the same weight they used to. I’ve been burned too many times.” Her voice is tinged with disappointment and mistrust, a stark contrast to the once unwavering faith she had in me. Honestly, it would have hurt less if she kicked me straight in the bollocks with steel toed boots.

Of course, she's well within her right to feel the way she does after everything I have put her through. She's a mother, she shares a bond with DJ that far exceeds our relationship. A bond between a mother and her baby.

I watch Jeyla push the car door open, step out of the car and walk away. With every step she takes my heart sinks deeper into that dark, hopeless abyss buried inside me. My arms crave to gather her against me and console her whether she despises me or not. There’s a big part of me that is sure that I won’t survive this nightmare… but the possibility of me dying with her hating me fucking hurts. Even if it is for the best.

I gracefully step out of the car, my duffle bag slung over my shoulder, and follow her through the bustling airbase toward the second security point. My boots click against the pavement as I walk, my eyes scanning the surroundings for any familiar faces. We finally reach the checkpoint, where Jeyla is stopped by the guards. Without missing a beat, I flash them my security badge and confidently state, “She's with me.”

The guard's gaze shifts sceptically between Jeyla and me before finally letting us pass. As we make our way through, I catch sight of Chief Scott standing behind the guards. Immediately, Istraighten my posture and salute him. He returns the gesture with a nod and a polite smile.

“At ease, Captain,” he says in a deep voice. “It's good to have you back.”

As we approach him, I drop my hand and he reaches out to shake it before turning his attention to Jeyla. “Mrs. Reyes,” he greets her cordially. “It's nice to see you again." He holds out his hand in a welcoming gesture.

Jeyla’s face remains grim and she just stares at his hand dourly and makes no attempt to shake his hand.

Come on JJ, for the love of God that’s my superior. Just shake his fucking hand.

When Jeyla lifts her angry gaze to his, Chief Scott nods understandingly and withdraws. “I wish we could have welcomed you under better circumstances.” Jeyla shakes her head and walks off without so much as a word. Chief Scott casts me an quizzical look and I sigh, rubbing the back of my head tiredly.

“I’m sorry sir, she's just?—”

Chief Scott holds up a hand and shakes his head, dismissing my apology. “I get it, Captain. The last time I met her I was telling her she had lost her husband and now her son has been abducted. I think her dislike for me, and her reaction is very much warranted. After all she's a concerned mother, and has every right to be aggravated and upset, this situation is a lot for anyone to carry. I can’t even imagine what the poor girl is feeling right now.” My eyes look over his shoulder and follow Jeyla as she walks toward the main building, her hands fisting and unfisting by her sides. “Come on, let's head on in, Chief Bennet isexpecting you.” I nod and follow him through the airbase to the quarters. Jeyla slows until we walk ahead, and she follows a few paces behind. When I glance back a couple of times I find her looking around inquisitively, taking in her surroundings as we head through the main building to the briefing chamber.

Chief Scott walks straight in and I stop, waiting for Jeyla to catch up. She stops, folds her arms over her chest and gazes up at me. “Anna,” I call Chief Scott's assistant over, she smiles civilly as she stands from her desk and walks over to us.

“Yes, Captain?”

Jeyla's weary emerald eyes shift towards Anna with a calculating gaze. I can sense the weight of her scrutiny, analysing every detail about her. “Can you please escort Jeyla to my personal quarters and arrange for some food for her?” Jeyla's forehead creases in confusion, her eyes darting between Anna and myself before settling back on me.

“Personal quarters? Why can't I come in there with you? I need to know what’s going on, Dean.” She questions, understandably wanting to be kept in the loop.

Turning my head I look over my shoulder at my superiors observing us through the window. Sighing, I turn back to face Jeyla before speaking. “JJ, I'm already pushing it and breaking several regulations by bringing you here unannounced. That’s the briefing chamber where we’re going to discuss crucial and highly classified matters. You can't be in there. Once we're finished, I'll fill you in on everything. Just go and wait for me in my room and try to get some rest. If you need anything, Anna will assist you,” I urge her. Reluctantly, Jeyla bites down on her bottom lip and nods before following Anna down thehall towards my room. She steals one last glance at me before disappearing out of sight.

“Captain Reyes, please join us,” my superiors call out, beckoning me into their presence. With a nod, I enter their chamber and close the door behind me, all the while trying to mentally prepare myself for the inevitable storm that is about to fuck me.

“Mrs. Reyes,please, you should eat something,” Anna pleads for what feels like the hundredth time as she stands in the doorway of Dean’s dorm-like room. My eyes scan the room, taking in every detail… not that there’s really much of it. A double bed sits in the centre, a tall set of drawers opposite it, and a comfortable two-seater sofa tucked into one corner. The walls are bare and painted a crisp white.

Anna walks through the doorway holding a dark grey tray adorned with a freshly made sandwich and a small bottle of orange juice. Her long tan legs peek out from beneath her short skirt, adding to the allure of her slim figure. Her silky blonde hair cascades down her back, shining in the soft light that filtersthrough the window. But it is her eyes that truly captivate me; crystal clear blue, yet with a hint of mischief lurking behind their kind expression. She is breathtakingly beautiful, more suited for the cover of a fashion magazine or gracing the runways of New York City than working as an assistant to the Chief of Air.

I can't help but wonder why such a stunning girl would choose to work as an assistant in the RAF when she could have had a more fulfilling career than spending her day serving a seemingly grouchy older man. I mean, there are certainly worse jobs than spending day in, day out ogling strong, attractive fighter pilots in uniform.

Inwardly I silent my musings and resume my restless pacing, my mind too consumed with worry to spend too much time focusing on anything but getting my son back safe and sound.

“Why is it taking so long? They’ve been talking for over two hours now,” I mutter anxiously as I stride across the room, wringing my fingers. The tension in the room is palpable and my heart is beating faster with each passing minute. Why isn’t Dean back yet? Could they have gotten some news about DJ? Maybe they know where he is and they’re devising a plan to get him back.

God, please let that be the case.

“Oh, this is normal. Their briefs can go on for some time. If you continue to pace like that, you’ll burn a hole right through the floor before their done,” Anna quips blithely clearly trying to lighten the mood and I fix her with a blank stare. “Perhaps if you sit and eat something you’ll feel a little better?” she suggests with a shrug.

“I highly doubt that, Anna. Look, I appreciate your efforts to try and make me feel comfortable, I really do, but eating asandwichisn’t going to magically fix my problems or somehow erase this crippling fear and worry inside me that my innocent baby boy may have been killed or is currently being tortured by some deranged thug who wants to kill my husband. It’s been hours, there must be an update by now, surely? I can’t just sit here anymore. I need to know what is going on.” And with that I make a beeline for the door behind Anna. However, as I lean forward to reach out to pull the handle and open it, the door suddenly swings open almost hitting me in the face.

With a startled gasp, I step back and am met with the sight of Dean standing in the doorway, his imposing figure filling it almost completely. My eyes widen as I take in his strong, muscular frame, but my focus is quickly drawn to the look of sheer exhaustion etched on his face. A sharp pain tightens in my chest as I meet his gaze, searching for some form of hope, but finding only weariness and distress staring back at me. As he walks further into the room, my heart races with anticipation and worry.

---