Chapter 1003 - He is back

"I'm sorry I made you wait for so long…", Aiden whispered while wiping her tears away.

Sarah sniffled and cried while smiling. She was a mess. "Silly… I'm sorry for crying selfishly without asking you how you feel. Are you in any pain?"

"I feel…", he thought for few seconds. "…rusty. I could use a good stretch… and a shower… I'm hungry."

She smiled while thinking how that is just like him: cleanliness and food. But he puts her first, so he let her cry. "Let's take it easy on stretching, and I can help you with the shower, as for food… let's start with water. I'm sure you need to start slowly... a popsicle, maybe? Let me call Anna and ask…"

Aiden held her hand, preventing her to reach for her phone. "Food can wait. Give me water and let's shower."

Sarah gave up on getting her phone and turned toward him. She didn't want to call anyone either. They would all gather around, and she would not have him only to herself.

"Why are you whispering? Can't you talk?", she asked while he took few sips of water from the glass she gave him.

Aiden swallowed and cleared his throat.  

"It hurts, but it's better after water.", his breaking voice was like a beautiful music to Sarah's ears.

In the shower, Sarah hugged Aiden and washed him and rubbed her face on him while he supported himself on her shoulders. She could not believe that this is real. He is awake. Now that he is standing in front of her, last three months feel like a bad dream.

Sarah sat at the edge of the tub and watched Aiden brush his teeth and shave, without blinking. As if she was afraid that if she blinks, he will disappear.

Sarah helped him dress up in fresh clothes and get back on the bed. She was pleasantly surprised to see that he is much more stable on his legs than when they went to the bathroom.

"Don't cry.", he said softly before kissing her forehead.

"I'm not sad."

He kissed her cheek and she closed her eyes when his lips brushed against hers. Oh, how much she longed for this… to feel his lips move against hers. She kissed his unmoving lips numerous times and now her whole body trembled from that familiar feeling she didn't experience for what seems like forever.

Aiden's arms were around Sarah, and he kissed her slowly, almost shyly at first. He deepened the kiss and a sensation ran though Aiden, forcing an involuntarily whimper to escape him when he remembered his time in the void, and that presence which forced him to stay focused… her warmth is so familiar, with a difference that now she is solid and in his arms.

Sarah fisted his t-shirt while enjoying his scent, and the softness of his lips, and his taste… a hint of the minty toothpaste mixed with the sweet taste of Aiden… and that feeling of his body pressing on hers. And she knew that it's real. He is awake. Holding her and kissing her desperately like there is no tomorrow.

"I'm sorry for allowing this to happen. I can't imagine what you went through in last three months."

"It's not your fault. You protected me and…", Sarah saw a confusion in his expression. "How much do you remember?"

"I remember the company meeting, and your presentation…", the more he thought about it, the more images came to him, but it was blurry.

"After the event, the two of us stayed behind to debug a high priority production issue. That was a sabotage done by Alexander. He was a spy sent by the Voronins to watch over you."

Sarah paused to give him time to process that information.

He noticed that she spoke about Alexander in past tense, but he didn't want to interrupt with his questions. If Alexander was a Voronin, Aiden does not care what happened to him.

"Continue…", Aiden urged her.

"On the street, Evalina showed up with a gun. You protected me. You have two gunshot scars on your back, and I was hit in the arm. Evalina was working for Voronins as well… And then we were kidnapped by King's men. They removed bullets from both of us. They released me because I'm of no use with my left arm not working, and they injected you with some chemicals which put you in a coma."

Aiden looked at Sarah's left arm. "Not working?" He remembers that in the shower she used it.

Sarah smiled and flexed her fingers. "There was a shattered bone and nerve damage. But Anna operated on it, and I got an upgrade."

"An artificial bone?", he guessed.

Sarah confirmed. "More than one."

Aiden observed her left forearm. His index finger traced the faint scar of the recent bullet wound, the one she got when she protected Ron.

Sarah saw him frown and wanted to say that it was much worse, and that thanks to the Eastern European medicinal cream it healed well, but he asked a question only he can ask…

"Can you shoot missiles out of it?"

His serious expression made Sarah dissolve into giggles.

"I guess that means no.", his disappointment was apparent. "So… other than stronger bones, is there any other upgrade?"

"I will show you later. As much as I love to have you only to myself, there are others who are eagerly waiting for you to wake up. Who do you want to come here first?"

"Jeff… and Anna.", Aiden responded.

Sarah got her phone and paused. "Let's make it a surprise…"

…

"Anna? What brings you here?", Sophia asked when she saw JoAnna and Jeff arrive in a hurry.

Sophia and Felix were having lunch in the dining room when they heard Eve announce arrival of guests.

Charlie took Emma out for lunch, and Penny is at work.

"Where is Sarah?", JoAnna asked with urgency.

"In her bedroom… What is going on?" Sophia asked while rushing after JoAnna and Jeff.

Felix was right after Sophia, supporting her.

…

"Surprise!", Sarah exclaimed at the bewildered JoAnna, Jeff, Sophia and Felix when they entered the bedroom.

JoAnna wanted to throw something at Sarah, but nothing was handy. "You! I left everything in a rush! And I used a helicopter!"

When Sarah called and told JoAnna that something is wrong with her arm, JoAnna immediately suspected that there is some rejection, or some side effect, or something… after all, she used an experimental technique and… but she is more than happy to see that Aiden is awake. Now she understands why Sarah told her to come quickly with a helicopter... because Sarah knows that Jeff will accompany her.

JoAnna got busy checking Aiden's vitals, to make sure he is OK.

"When did you wake up?", JoAnna asked Aiden.

"About eight hours ago.", he responded.

JoAnna looked at him blankly and then at Sarah. "And you called me only now because…? Do you know that the most important thing is to confirm that he is OK? How can you be so irresponsible? What were you doing so far? …." JoAnna continued raining scolding questions on Aiden and Sarah while checking that Aiden is OK.

Aiden looked at Jeff who was still standing at the door. They exchanged nods and smiles and Aiden knew that Jeff is welcoming him back.

Felix and Sophia made their way inside and they sat on the sofa and waited silently for JoAnna to complete the exam.

When JoAnna confirmed that everything is normal, everyone started talking… at the same time.

Sarah observed the lively scene and her smile widened when her eyes met with Aiden's. He is back.

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