Hesparia's Tears (15 page)

When she reached him, she sobbed angrily. He enfolded her in his arms, uncaring of who saw them together. She rubbed the back of her head, breathing roughly as if in pain and he let go. “You need a healer.”

“I think I just might.” Then her eyes rolled back in their sockets as she slumped to the floor.

* * * *

Her head hurt like blazes was her first rational thought. She moaned slightly. The bright lights annoyed her and she lifted her hand, feeling his fingers which moved over her head. But no matter how gentle or soft they were, the touches still hurt as they checked over her skull.

“Oww.” She complained weakly.

The sound was met by a watery chuckle. The voice she was pretty sure she knew.

“Jessa. My Jessa. You scared me so much. You will never be allowed anywhere by yourself now.”

Galan.
Yes, he was here and she was safe. Scenes from before the black rose in her mind almost overwhelming her. She opened her eyes to see him leaning over her and smiled. Another quick glance showed her lying on the seat of the car with her head cradled in Galan’s legs as others huddled around the open door. “Oh I need…” She rose up and a moment of vertigo saw her sink back down. Her stomach jostled and she regretted the action.

“Jessa, you should lie still for a while.”

She nodded carefully, noting how the pain in her chest and head had abated, unlike the weird sensations that she still experienced, such as her stomach rising into her throat. “The healer has seen you, but he thought it best that you rest still for a little longer.” Galan hugged her a little closer. Jessa soaked up the comfort before attempting to push him away. She had no intentions of causing a scene.

“Galan!” Her voice was a little stronger than before, but the thud and thump continued to reverberate in her head.

He grinned tightly. “It’s all right. We are among friends.” He pushed her back onto his lap with soft hands.

“Sure. Fine I’ll lie down again too.” She closed her eyes as she settled her head down, only to open them seconds later. “My phone! Where is it?” Agitation flowed through her.
Where is my phone?

“We haven’t found it yet.” She could feel the vibrations of Galan’s words.

“I hid it. Behind one of the toilets in the ladies room.” She could see Agent Foley nodding and as he made to move and she flung out a hand. “While you are there, could you please retrieve my clothes? I would prefer them to this.” She grabbed a handful of the dowdy cloth in disgust.

The agent smiled and retreated without a word.

“So you obviously found me well enough.”

He nodded silently.

She smiled. “Did you get Jace too? I didn’t see him in the room when you arrived.”

“He got away.” Galan’s face tightened. “No one seems to know how.”

She sighed. “So, as you were saying. How will you protect me, even in the ladies room?”

Galan smiled tightly. “That is easy. The team has arranged for a female security guard to travel with us. She will meet us in Rich Mond?”

Jessa sputtered a laugh at his pronunciation but didn’t correct it.

“After this, there will be no chances taken with your safety.”

Closing her eyes, she rested against him. How much more difficult would it make the situation, she wondered.

“Apart from the head injury… You were unharmed?” He seemed hesitant.

She sighed. “Yeah. Humiliated. Embarrassed. But that is the worst of the injuries I received.”

He shuddered and she understood his concern. “No! Oh heavens, Galan. No one touched me like that.” She sat up and turned, resting a hand against his cheek, waiting for the world to stop spinning. “I would tell you. Truly, I am fine.”

He folded his arms around her. “Then my world is right again.”

Chapter Eight

Jessa shook in the cold air. They had finally arrived at the air force base, taking off a good five hours after their appointed time. Galan had been solicitous, keeping her by his side until summoned away. When the female agent, Danni McCall had joined them, he had given her strict instructions that Jessa’s safety was of priority to him. The Prime Minister had quirked an eyebrow at the comment before dragging him away to discuss tactics and personalities. So Jessa reclined, watching while all the agents sat to the back, companionably chatting away. Seth had managed to find someone to talk to, sitting opposite Joras and discussing algorithms. She also noticed the glances he had sent in Agent McCall’s direction.

The agent was young looking, with a short black bob. Of average height perhaps, but there was a fierceness in her eyes that made Jessa blink more than once. Her brown eyes were hard in her small pixie face, which seemed to marry with her whipcord lean figure that exuded strength and determination. But she’d been friendly enough so Jessa smiled at the introduction and continued to watch her.

Freezing tremors racked her body, and a touch on her shoulder surprised Jessa. She jumped.

Galan frowned. “Jessa? Are you cold?” His swift motion forward nearly overwhelmed her as his arms folded once more around her.

“Yes… No…” Confusion set in. Just what did she feel? Sadness? Fear? Loneliness? She looked up to see him scowling and a hostess moved to attend him.

“Captain Galan? Is there something I can do for you?” She smiled at him and Jessa nearly rolled her eyes.

“Jessa is cold. We need a blanket and warm drinks.”

The woman smiled and strode away purposefully. Galan found the empty seat beside her and settled in, drawing her close against him. She savoured the warmth of his body. The subtly erotic scent emanating from him acted as a sedative for her overwrought system.

The fear that she had ruthlessly suppressed bubbled to the surface as another quiver racked her body. Jessa squeezed her eyes shut. A single fat tear escaped and rolled down her face, burning itself onto her cold skin.

“You’re safe now, Jessa.” He pulled her closer and she burrowed in, closing her eyes and seeking the strength she could only draw from him.

“I was so scared.” Her words wavered and she wanted to swallow them as they escaped. But she couldn’t contain the racking sobs. Galan seemed to understand her fears and concerns, rocking her back and forth. Time slowed and dragged out while she was lost in her misery. Gradually the mists of the negative emotions left her. Jessa became aware of the blanket around her shoulders and the way he rubbed on her back, a slow up and down caress which relaxed her.

“It’s okay. You needed to let it go.” His quietly whispered words were meant to be reassuring, she was sure, but instead reminded her of how she had fallen apart on him. It wasn’t the look she wanted him to see.

Instead, Jessa pulled away, scrubbing at her face. “I shouldn’t have lost it like that.”

He sighed. “Jessa, you’ve had a really difficult few days. It’s okay to feel hurt, dismayed, frightened and even concerned about the dangers you’ve already encountered. It doesn’t make you seem any less capable in my eyes.” He stopped and put a finger under her chin, pushing it up so that she looked into his eyes. “It just tells me that you have softness where it counts and yet can still be strong when you need to be.” He bent his head until he pressed his lips against hers, the brief touch reinforcing his words.

A sigh escaped as he gently pulled away. “Shame we are here…” She turned her head away.

He chuckled. “Maybe, but we have some work to do right now.”

She looked at him.
Work?

He reached for her hand and holding it tight, tugged her towards the meeting table area where she had seen other people congregating earlier. This time, Joras and Seth waited for them and she found herself smiling even as she continued wiping at her face.

Seth stood and came over, eyeing Galan off before he opened his arms. Jessa found herself in a hug. “I’m so pleased you are ok, Jessa. Jace should never have done what he did.” Seth’s earnest voice nearly set off another spate of tears, but she bit her lip, letting the pain battle her ragged feelings into some form of submission.

Joras smiled, one that reached his eyes as he held out a hand. “I am pleased you are back and unharmed.”

Then they sat down, talking about what they needed to achieve with the United Nations.

“So, then. What do we do next?” Seth sat forward in his seat. “You have a plan of attack and Joras and I have worked out how we can display the images of Hesparia through a data projector. Joras reckons he could take some doctors back to Hesparia to show them how to heal others.” He was so earnest sitting there, that she wanted to smile and pat him on the head. Instead she restrained herself to grinning at his boyish enthusiasm.

A meal was delivered to the table by the new agent, Danni McCall. Jessa watched, amused as Seth quieted, becoming both thoughtful and charming in her presence. She made a note to discuss it with Galan later, noting the faint blush and shine in the eyes of the agent every time she looked at Seth. A budding romance was what she saw before her. Maybe even possible life partners…another couple to repopulate Hesparia, she thought, before stopping herself. That was the sort of pressure he probably didn’t need at the moment.

* * * *

Touching down in New York was a revelation to the crewmembers of the
Princess Gospah
. Officials entered the plane in order to process their entry into the United States and Galan watched bemused at the to-ing and fro-ing that took place. Only the members of his crew were immune from the customs routine. But that didn’t include Seth or Jessa. Specialist agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the Diplomatic Security Services entered the plane while others waited below at the vehicles and steps.

When they checked Jessa’s details, faces were pulled and a huddle ensued. Galan watched, the muscles in his face tightening as he thought over the facts as he knew them. She had made a mistake when she was younger and judging by the murmurs and shaking heads she was about to be made to pay again.

Not while she is with me.
He tensed as an older man moved towards him.

Galan watched the man look at Jessa then back to him. Jessa’s face was red and her eyes teary. “Captain Galan… Sir… We have to refuse your companion entry into the United States. She has a criminal record.”

“I am here as part of the diplomatic mission for the Hesparians.” She countered with a quiet dignity. But he could clearly see the crimson tide staining her cheeks and the way she shook.

His anger rose. “Her presence is not negotiable to me. Either Jessa Bankia is with me, or I do not enter your country myself.” He sat himself down on the seat. He knew the political ramifications of his actions. And frankly, right now, he didn’t care. If Jessa wasn’t with him, he would be beside himself the whole time she was absent. A little political leverage at this point might just hold sway, he told himself.

“Sir. I don’t think you understand…” The man looked earnestly at him and Galan glared back infusing his with all his ire which had built within him. The man backed away and started conferring once more with his counterparts.

Jessa moved scooting along one of the bench seats by the open door, until she leaned against him. “Galan, don’t give this up for me. I’ll be fine.”

He knew she wouldn’t be. Couldn’t be. He placed his arm around her shoulder. “Wait and see what happens.” He continued watching the urgent discussions across the cabin noting that one left the craft with his mobile device against his ear. He controlled the grin that he knew would break over his face if he let it, aware that wouldn’t help his cause. He glanced towards Joras and Seth and his security team, their huddle at the other end of the plane showing their discomfort with whatever was happening. Even the Prime Minister had left her office and frowned unhappily at the situation.

“Captain Galan…” He raised a hand and looked to Jessa where she continued to confer.

Finally the one who had left returned, whispering furiously with the rest. They shook heads and one shrugged before he advanced towards himself and Jessa. Once he understood their intentions, amusement filled Galan.

“After checking with our central office, it has been determined that we will allow Miss Bankia entry. However, should there be any issues, the temporary entry visa will be revoked immediately.” He looked at Jessa and once more Galan’s ire rose at the expression of menace on the man’s face.

Jessa laid a hand on Galan’s wrist. “Fine. I understand fully.” She cleared her throat, the heat in her skin burning him as they rose together and made their way closer to the open door of the aeroplane. He didn’t really understand but shrugged it off. Right now he had to focus on the task ahead. The Prime Minister had already made it clear she couldn’t give any guarantee of assistance to himself or the cause, given they were talking not just migration within their planet, but off world.

She had pressed for special favours including trading agreements and diplomatic missions. Something he couldn’t presently agree to, until he knew what other offers would be made and he had stated that. She had been most unhappy but then recollected that he would be under her auspices, as if that alone gave her some sort of cachet. He had shrugged and let her continue to think that. It suited his purposes for now.

A sound at the doorway drew his attention and he noted that the Prime Minister stood waving before a range of flashing lights. He looked to Jessa. “What is going on?”

She smiled. “It’s called a media scrum. There are lots of journalists taking photos of this momentous occasion. That is why there are so many waiting for you. Australia doesn’t usually have this kind of reception, from what I understand, so I guess she’s making hay while the sun shines.”

Galan frowned.
When else would you make hay except during the daylight hours? And what did that have to do with the Prime Minister?
“I don’t understand.”

Jessa sighed. He turned, savouring the glinting of reflected light he saw in her eyes. “Well, she is taking advantage of the opportunity this presents to increase her profile. But that will only last until you make it to the door. Then you will be the one they want to see.” She smiled and stepped away seeing the Prime Minister holding out her hand. “Go on and join her. I’ll stay with Joras and Seth and the rest of the team until we catch up.”