Chapter 17
Their first time together the night before had led to their first argument in the early hours of the morning after.
“What do you mean the UK is on lockdown?” Carla spat at Lisa, frustration etched in her voice as Lisa packed her suitcase.
“I don’t know a lot at the moment Carla, I’ll be briefed when I get back to England, but for now, I just have to go. Please don’t make this harder than it already is.” Lisa’s voice breaking.
— —
It was 5am when Lisa had received the call. Her phone buzzing lightly on the nightstand.
She hadn’t even glanced at the Caller ID, thinking the only person that could be calling her was Betsy.
In hindsight, if she’d even glanced at the alarm clock, she’d have wondered why Betsy would be calling her at four AM, but she hadn’t even looked at the clock either, too resistant to leave the warmth of Carla’s body pressed against her, arms draped around her waist.
“Hi Bets…” She’d spoken through the receiver softly, eyes still firmly tight shut even though she knew their room would still be in darkness.
“DS Swain.” A gruff man’s voice echoed through the receiver.
Lisa bolted upright, her heart sank. Fear etched over her face.
Carla had murmured, stirred in the bed next to her but once she heard the soft noises of her laboured breathing, confirming she was still asleep, Lisa slipped into the bathroom and closed the door.
“Sir, everything okay?” Lisa asked, her voice now trembling.
She thought there was only one reason he could be calling - her daughter. Something had happened to her, she knew it.
“Is it Betsy, is it my daugh-“
Lisa was swiftly cut off.
“Your daughter is fine, Swain. Where are you, have you seen the news?”
“I’m in Paris, sir.”
“The UK is in lockdown, you’ll be briefed on your arrival. No one gets in or out the country apart from additional resources.”
“I need you to head to the airport, there’ll be a private jet waiting to pick you up at zero eight hundred hours.”
“I need you back, Swain. You’re the best in my department, if not the best in the country.”
“You’ll be brought into London, to the Metropolitan Police. We’ll brief you there.”
Lisa hung up the phone.
Her whole world had just come crashing down.
Tears filled her eyes and as she tried to regain some composure, she gently opened the bathroom door to try attempt to face Carla, but that came sooner than she thought as she found the tall brunette already at the bathroom door, eavesdropping.
”You’re leaving?”
“I have to Carla, I have no choice.”
“But you’re supposed to be taking a break, an indefinite break if I remember rightly.”
Carla was right.
”I know but-“
”But what Lisa? Are you running away?”
Carla’s tone was becoming heated now, her voice laced with frustration, her temper rising.
“Running away? Carla, no. I am not running away.”
Lisa’s words tumbled out as she tried to explain to Carla, tried to get the other woman to understand.
“Carla…in case something happens to me-“
“No Lisa, no. We are not having this conversation.”
“But-“
“No, really. You do not get to make me feel like I did last night, and then-“
Carla swallowed hard. Tears threatening.
“And then, try telling me that I may never see you again. Not happening.”
“Come here.” Lisa’s voice softened.
Lisa watched as Carla moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Not making eye contact with her.
Lisa made her way over to Carla, gently kneeling down in front of her.
She placed her hands softly on Carla’s thighs as she placed herself between them, their bodies flush together.
She then cupped Carla’s face in her hands, softly using the pads of her thumbs to brush her cheeks, to wipe the tears away that Carla had now not been able to prevent escaping.
“I’ll call you everyday.” Lisa whispered.
“You better.” Carla replied, barely audible.
“I need you to be brave for me.” Lisa wasn’t asking, as she kept searching Carla’s face.
Carla, eventually looked at Lisa. She eventually allowed her eyes to find Lisa’s.
Lisa pulled Carla in for a gentle soft kiss, their lips delicately brushing against each others.
She leant her forehead against Carla’s, eyes still closed.
She could feel Carla’s hands sliding underneath her sleep shirt. Embracing the warmth of her hands on her bare skin.
“I don’t think you quite understand how much I’m going to miss you, Carla Connor.”
Burying her head into Carla’s neck as she wrapped her arms around the other woman, leaning gently into her embrace as Carla’s arms wrapped around Lisa, her sleep shirt still risen up.
“I’m sorry for shouting.” Carla whispered softly.
“It’s okay.” Lisa mumbled into Carla’s neck.
“No, it’s not okay.” Carla’s voice breaking.
“Carla-“
Lisa let out a soft laugh, leaning back slightly to capture Carla’s pained expression.
“We will argue at times. You’ll think you’re right, I’ll think I’m right, it’s completely normal. But it doesn’t mean I-“
Lisa cleared her throat.
“It doesn’t mean you mean any less to me.” Lisa’s voice laced with sincerity.
“Just promise me one thing Carla. That’s all I’ll ever ask.”
“What is it?” Carla asked.
“Promise me we will never go to sleep on an argument. Promise me you’ll never walk out on me and never let me walk out on you on an argument.”
“Only if you promise me that you’ll be safe. Only if you promise me that you’ll come back to me. That you’ll…”
Carla’s voice was quite clearly breaking.
“That you’ll save the world and we can have the rest of our lives together.”
“I promise.” Lisa whispered, her eyes filled with tears.
“I promise too.” Carla whispered back.