Chapter Thirteen #2
Even if he hadn’t been told he was no longer the Shaman if he chose the white world, he still would have run with her.
Finally, she spoke.
“Know what’s annoying?”
He waited.
“Being married to a shrink because you’re absolutely right,” she stated.
He laughed.
“Oh, trust me. I know that it’s annoying. I irritate myself sometimes when I talk to myself.”
Elizabeth said nothing.
“Decide, Elizabeth. What do you need from me?” he asked.
She laid it all out for him, trusting that Ethan would hold her up now that she couldn’t do it herself. Like with last night, she sat on his shoulders and he’d not dropped her.
“I need you to stay with me until I figure all of this out. I’m asking you to put me first, over your people, over our jobs, over everything. After almost sixteen years of being the Raven, I need you to tag in and help me fight this because I can’t do it myself. I’ve lost me.”
And there it was.
Trust.
Faith.
Respect.
Gently, he kissed her on the forehead, and Ethan was grateful she understood what he had been asking.
“Okay. So, we stay until you feel up to going back. What else do you need?”
She was surprised it was that easy.
“I think I need a big cup of coffee, and something to eat. I’m hungry today. I want to eat. I’m getting too old to run on anxiety and stress. For once, I want to eat food, not run, and not have to worry about kicking anyone’s ass.”
Well, that sounded like a vacation to him. Could his workaholic wife have finally realized what one of those was?
God.
He hoped so.
With tenderness, he kissed her softly on the lips.
“Well, let’s go get something to eat and enjoy our vacation together,” he said.
That worked for her. Honestly, this had all been so easy, and he was grateful, too.
Elizabeth stretched.
“I’m going to shower,” she said. “Had someone awoken me before, we could have done that together,” she stated, rolling out of bed and heading there. “Next time, wake me, Ethan.”
Oh, he would.
Bet.
On.
It.
As she walked away, he watched her ass and grinned.
His bad.
Next time…
Yeah, he was going to have her join him.
When she headed into the bathroom, Ethan picked up his phone that had been off, and he sent a text.
It was time he checked in.
By now, the jig was up, and EVERYONE knew where he was. It was surprising that they didn’t wake up with the men standing on the doorstep.
Don’t get him wrong, he loved Callen, Chris, and Gene, but he needed this alone time with Elizabeth so they could both come back fighting.
There was no doubt the bullshit, jackassery, and tomfoolery was not going to stay at bay for long.
Hitting send, the text was off to Gene.
‘I’m safe, and I miss you. I’m in Scotland, but I’m betting that by now, Ivan has figured that out.
Elizabeth is okay, but I’m going to be staying here for a while.
She needs me, and I need to be here. I’ll be home when I can, so don’t forget I love you because I do.
Both she and I need this to fix what we both broke. Miss you. Always. EJ.’
He’d been about to turn off his phone, since it was the middle of the night there. Only, he got a pleasant surprise. Someone was awake.
When he saw the number, he wasn’t surprised.
Gene was a light sleeper.
Answering, he heard a very familiar voice.
“Hey, handsome,” Gene stated. “I miss and love you too. Is our girl okay?” he asked, genuinely worried about her.
Ethan smiled.
The man he loved was a good person. He’d gone out with Elizabeth, doing their job for them, and making sure she had an ally.
He’d done a better job than they had.
That was for sure.
“Yeah, she’s better. She’s navigating this, and putting herself back together again, piece-by-piece. We’re going to be okay, but it’s going to take time to heal up and be ready to come back full force.”
Gene understood.
Honestly, they all wanted Elizabeth to take a break. Sometimes, you had to just call it a day and rest. This was definitely one of those times.
“How’s everyone?” Ethan asked.
His husband shared.
“Well, we were just getting ready for bed. Callen was up working on his book, and Chris and I were watching a movie. We’ve been thinking about both of you.”
He didn’t doubt that for a second.
Gene was curious.
“When you say it’s going to take a while, can you ballpark that for me?” Gene asked. “Asking because I’m about to step in and micromanage the fuck out of her team, and I don’t want her to be upset about it. Let’s face it though…Corbin and Alex can’t be left alone for a single freaking second.”
Ethan laughed.
Oh, that brought him back. Corbin was a walking trouble magnet on a good day. On a bad day, he got his ass abducted and nearly killed.
“Well, that’s an accurate statement,” Ethan admitted. “As for the rest, I’m going to say we’ll be working here at some point. If she’s not running cases, she can handle the FBI from here. What I do know is that she needs time, and I need to be with her. I hope that’s not a problem.”
Gene reassured him.
“EJ, she’s been through a lot. Stay. It’s not like the world will stop turning if she gets a vacation. Sometimes, you need to get away. Are you doing okay? I hope when you SNUCK into my phone and found out where she was, and headed there, she didn’t get upset.”
Yeah, about that.
“In my defense, we have a rule that all phones are open game to anyone, and second, the text flashed on the home screen. I didn’t actually have to do anything but look at it.”
He laughed.
“Trouble,” Gene said.
And the truth was that Gene was worried.
Ethan tended to make a mess by overthinking, and he hoped he reeled that in. Elizabeth was in no place to be babysitting a man and his antics.
“Most of the time, I am, but now, I’m not. Promise. Also, I’m good. I’m finding me again, too. It’s really nice here. Callen and Chris did a good job of finding a place for all of us.”
Oh, he bet.
Gene knew that now that Devon was handled, they were all heading there for Ian and Gryphen’s wedding in a few weeks.
“Have you considered the whole shaman thing?” Gene asked, knowing he had to make a choice. “Or at least tell Elizabeth what happened?”
Ethan hadn’t.
“I’m still thinking about it, and when I need input, I’ll ask my family to help me out. Right now, it’s not as important as helping her heal. I am losing a job. She was losing herself. Priorities.”
Gene respected that boundary. He knew when Ethan wanted someone’s opinion, or space. Plus, he was proud of him for putting Elizabeth first.
At some point, they’d have to deal with it, but it was clear this was NOT that point.
Ethan continued.
“I just wanted to thank you for helping Elizabeth get out, and all you did for her. She needed you, and you were there. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that.”
He didn’t mince words.
“This is my family. Of course, I’m going to be here for everyone.
Don’t worry about that and don’t thank me.
The kids will be home in a couple of days, and I’ve got it.
Just be with her, and give her what she needs.
Being a mother is difficult. Being a working mother with two other jobs, and the world on your shoulders, is impossible. ”
Ethan loved him.
“Thank you for understanding. Tell everyone we’re good. We’re working on the mystery here. It’s a fun one.”
Gene laughed.
“I’m astounded she’s not burned the place down because of the ghosts.”
Yeah, him too.
“There’s still time.”
That amused him.
Why?
Because he was right.
“I do have a question,” Ethan offered.
Gene was curious.
“What?”
“How pissed is Ivan?”
Gene laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
“Oh, EJ. Let’s just say he went to Defcon ONE on Raphael’s ass. He fired him.”
Ethan gasped.
“Oh, don’t worry. I pulled an Elizabeth, threatened his job right back, told Winn he wasn’t fired, and shut that shit down.
He’s not happy with any of this, but he’s calmed down.
We gave him time off, and he’s with Blue, I’m sure, making more crayons.
It was quiet today. Oh, and no one tried to kill us, or lock us down. ”
Well, that was good.
“As for Ivan, I just wouldn’t recommend doing the escape thing again, or if you do, take an Archangel on that journey with you.”
Oh, he wouldn’t.
Trust and believe.
Now that he had time, Ethan wanted to talk to him about something.
“I need a favor.”
Gene waited.
Honestly, he couldn’t imagine what it would be, but if they needed something, count him in.
“What?” he asked.
“Know how Callen and Chris asked me to go in on this castle with them? To be their partners?”
Yeah, he remembered,
“Yep. Why?”
Ethan went there.
“I want to go in on it and pay them back for some of the money they invested so we can be part of this.”
Gene was surprised.
What was this?
“You want to be part-owner of a haunted castle? The one you told Callen was going to be the reason Elizabeth had him neutered, and wore his balls like disco ball earrings after she bedazzled them herself?”
He laughed.
“God. I’m an insufferable drama queen,” he admitted. “How do you deal with me?”
Gene didn’t miss a beat.
“We all have our kinks, Ethan. Insufferable drama queen with a hot ass, great dick, and tendency to like to bring Tala out just happens to be mine. I’ve got one hell of a niche kink.”
He laughed.
Oh, well, he certainly did.
“Anyway, kink man, I want to chip in and be their partner. Will you join me? This feels like it should be all of ours, and on top of that, the vibe here is good. I can’t explain it, but this feels like home.”
Gene smiled.
Why?
Callen and Chris were right there, silently listening, and neither thought this day would happen.
“When I get home, I’m going to talk to them and see if they can forgive me for being a dick. They did a good thing, and this place changed her and me. It saved us. I want to be part of it, if they will have me.”
Since he was staring at Chris and Callen, he saw them both nod.
“I’m pretty sure they would love to have us help with this amazing gift. Plus, both men love Michael. I’ll talk to them.”
He wasn’t shocked.