Page 17 of Elise
“I need advice from you guys. I hate to admit it, but I am too close to the situation to see it clearly.” Deadeye looks around the room at his friends. Charlotte is smiling at him as if she knows exactly what he is going to say. “I want to keep Elise here with me, but her parents are not going to be ok with it. Her father has already pointed out that I am old enough to be her father, granted I would have been a wet behind the ear’s teenager, but I get where he is coming from. She has been through Hell and I don’t want to make the situation worse by being another complication. She has indicated she wants to stay here with me, but is it because I was the one there when she woke up? Are her feelings real or just a manifestation of the situation?” Deadeye blows out a frustrated breath. He feels like he isn’t making any sense.
“Deadeye it is always a possibility that her feelings could change over time.” Charlotte begins. “Yes, you are older than her by several years, but that doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. I see the way she looks at you. Her feelings are real, but there is never a guarantee when it comes to love. You just have to take the leap and pray that everything works out.” She gives him a big smile.
“I have to agree with my wife on this one.” Hawk chimes in. “If you care for her, go for it. She is going to need someone to be there for her when the nightmares and flashbacks come. You can ground her and bring her back to the here and now.” Hawk brings Charlotte’s hand to his lips as he places a kiss on the back of her hand. “You know how Charlotte and I were. When you meet the one, you just know.”
“Deadeye, I am not sure it’s the right thing to do, but it should be a decision you and Elise make together.” Ace interjects. “It doesn’t matter what her parents want or don’t want. This is between you and Elise, end of story.”
Many of the team nods in agreement: Wallace, Hack, Virus, Straw, and Worm. Mercury is characteristically quite as usual. Tank seems to be contemplating the situation before he comments, and Bull looks completely lost. He’s not going to be any help at all, Deadeye thinks to himself. He is still torn up inside. What should he do now? The room is quiet as everyone is thinking about the situation he is faced with.
“Deadeye this isn’t something we can decide for you unfortunately.” Mercury says and all eyes turn to him. “However, it’s my opinion that you should let her go home with her parents with the understanding that if she wants to come back to you, she is always welcome. This way she has time to get her head on straight and you will know for sure she wants you for you and not because you saved her from Hell.”
The room is silent as they take in what Mercury has said. Deadeye nods in agreement. It’s true that he would always wonder if he had unduly influenced her because of his own feelings. He knows what he needs to do, but God it is going to break him to do it. He needs to do what is best for Elise, not himself. He stands and shakes everyone’s hands before heading back to have a talk with Elise.
She is waiting for him just where he left her a few minutes ago. Her parents are giving their statement to the press and so they are alone in the room. He is struggling to find the right words. He doesn’t want to hurt her, but he knows she needs to make a clear decision about being with him. Her eyes are speaking volumes as she watches him come to her. Deadeye could swear she already knows what he is going to say even though he has no idea what to say.
“Hey, sweetheart. How are you holding up?” Deadeye asks in an effort to put off the heavy conversation they need to have. He reaches for her and she melts into his embrace. They stand for a long time just holding on to one another.
“I know what you are going to say, Warren.” Elise whispers quietly. Deadeye chuckles with remorse.
“I’m glad you know what I am going to say, because I have no idea what to say.” Deadeye answers her. “I want you to know that I want you with me more than anything, but I don’t want to take advantage of you, Elise. You have been through hell and you need time to heal and get your mind in the right place before you make any life changing decisions.” He tightens his hold on her when he feels her stiffen in his arms. “I’m not saying you can’t come live with me, but I want you to be absolutely certain, first.”
“I get it Warren. I’m too much for you to take on.” Elise straightens her spine and pulls away from him.
“Dammit, Elise that is not what I am saying. I’m trying to do the right thing, here.” Deadeye growls his frustration. “If I had my way, I would take you to my place right now and never let you leave, but that’s not what’s best for you, sweetheart. I want you forever. I don’t want you to wake up in 6 months or a year and realize I was a mistake you made in reaction to being held hostage.” Deadeye holds her head, so she is forced to look him in the eyes. “Please tell me you understand.”
“Warren, I do understand where you are coming from, but what I am feeling for you is real. I am thankful to all of you for rescuing me, but I don’t feel this way about Tank or Straw or any of the others.” Elise is willing him to see she is sincere by never losing eye contact. “Please believe me, Warren. We feel something for each other, right?”
Deadeye nods in agreement and pulls her to him. When she looks up at him, he lowers his head and kisses her like there is no tomorrow. Her arms go around his neck and she pulls him down to her. He has his arms around her waist. They are touching from head to thighs. He knows she can feel his desire for her as it is pushed against her belly. She moans when his tongue enters her mouth and they begin a fierce duel of tongue and teeth. They are lost in each other for several long minutes. Thankfully, he had ended the kiss and was holding her against him when her parents come back into the room.
Her parents are glaring at him as he holds her close. He knows this is going to be the fight of a lifetime. Even heading to raid a known ISIS compound hasn’t made him this anxious. He is prepared to battle until the bitter end. Whatever it takes to make Elise happy. He still has some reservations, but there is no way he will let her leave her thinking he doesn’t want her.
“Vickers, what are you doing?” Jackson Sommers growls when they reach the couple. “Elise, this man has brainwashed you into thinking he is your savior. He probably does this with every woman he rescues.”
“Dad, stop. Warren isn’t like that.” Elise fires back. “I care for him and he cares for me. Please for once in my life, let me make my own decision.”
“We let you make a decision and you ended up held hostage in a foreign country for a week.” Her father says nastily. “You obviously aren’t capable of making good decisions. He is too old for you, hon. You need to come home with your mother and me. Let us get you some therapy and you will see that we know what we are talking about.”
“Please don’t do this.” Elise begs. “I need him, can’t you see? He has kept me from falling apart.”
“Elise it’s because he was the one to save you. Once you have some distance from him you will see we are right.” Mrs. Sommers says. “Edward told us how you were glued to him in Germany. You need some time to figure out what you really want.”
“I will report you for misconduct if you don’t leave our daughter alone.” Mr. Sommers threatens. “I will ruin your career. I have friends in very high places, Vickers. You need to think about that.”
“Dad! You wouldn’t!” Elise exclaims, but she sees the determination in her father’s eyes. He would do just that and she knows he has the right connections to make it happen. She can’t let her father ruin Warren’s career. He would never forgive her even if it wasn’t directly her fault. “Alright, I’ll go home with you for now, but don’t think you are going to control my life for much longer. I’m a grown woman who can make her own decisions. It’s past time you stopped treating me like a child.”
“We are just looking out for your best interest.” Ellen Sommers says. “We love you, honey.”
“I know you think you are doing the right thing, Mom, but you are just trying to control me like always. I’m only leaving for Warren’s sake. I won’t have you and Dad hurting him and his career that he has worked so hard for all these years.”
Elise then leans up and kisses Warren deeply. When she pulls back, she whispers in his ear so only he can hear her. “I’ll be back, Warren. This way you and my parents will know what I feel for you is real.” He hugs her close.
“I’ll be here, sweetheart. No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait for you.” Deadeye whispers in her ear before placing a kiss on her temple. He sets her away from him then and leaves the room before he lets his instincts take over and beat the shit out of her father. How dare that man threaten his career. It would be worth losing his career to have her in his arms forever. Deadeye can walk away, because he knows that she will return. She meant every word she said, and she will come back to him.
Deadeye catches Hawk in the hallway and pulls him aside.
“Tell me I just did the right thing.” Deadeye looks Hawk in the eyes as he waits for his response. Hawk lays a heavy hand on his shoulder as he thinks about his answer.
“Yes, I think you did the right thing for her sake. It’s not going to be easy, but I know you will get through this.” Hawk turns to leave when Deadeye stops him.
