One Journey Ends

"How are you today, sweet?" Tara heard from behind her.

She looked up to see Sven striding towards her and mentally erected her emotional wall to keep him from seeing into her any more than he already had.

"I'm fine," she replied pasting a small smile on her lips. "How are you?"

"I have no complaints," he said, returning her smile with a broad one of his own. "I trust that Seka has settled in well?"

"Yes," Tara exclaimed, happy to steer the conversation away from herself. Though she valued her time with Sven, his perception was unsettling, so any time she was able to deflect him she grabbed the opportunity. "Her first week was a little stressful, but she made a new friend at school who's helping her find her way around."

"One of the local school children?"

"No, apparently she's another exchange student who's been here since last fall," she explained. "From Argentina, I believe."

"I am glad Seka was able to find someone to talk to."

"Me, too," she sighed. "School can be an awfully unpleasant place without friends."

"Did you have many friends in school?"

Tara looked up in surprise. Darn it! He'd done it again. He'd seen an opening and pounced on it. Well, she would have to veer him away from it as skillfully as she could.

"I had enough friends," she answered. "But Seka will likely have as many, if not more. She's a very charming girl."

"That she is," he replied enigmatically. "Once she gets past the shyness."

"The shyness may be helpful right now, actually," Tara smiled again. "The boys would be beating a path to my door if she were more outgoing. Then I'd have to replant my flower beds."

"That would prove a nuisance," Sven chuckled softly. "So, she is no trouble then?"

"Absolutely not," she assured him. "She's been very helpful to me doing the dishes and straightening out the rooms, even though I've told her it's not necessary."

"I believe she likes to feel as if she is repaying your kindness."

"Well, she doesn't need to," Tara said. "Even if I didn't volunteer to house her when she first came over, I wouldn't have turned her away. And it isn't as if the scholarship didn't pay for her board. I just don't want her to feel as if she has to use her valuable time in the US trying to please me. I think she needs to spend more time with Maria and other students, and experience American life. That's the whole point of an exchange program, isn't it?"

"She will do what she wishes to do, Tara," Sven said gently. "She would not feel honorable if she did not do these things for you. It is in her own culture."

"But she should suspend that for the time being," she argued weakly.

"Would you ask her to stop honoring her heritage, which undoubtedly brings her much comfort?"

She stopped and thought for a few moments. "No," she said finally. "I'm just not used to having people do things for me."

"This I can understand," he replied. "But try to put yourself in her shoes before you ask her to change how she behaves."

She nodded silently.

"You have been coming early these last few days," he remarked.

"I have a job in the shoe department now," she said dismissively. "It helps to have somewhere to go every afternoon."

"I can well believe that."

Tara looked at her watch and jumped up. "In fact, I have to go now so I won't be late."

He helped her put her coat back on and they commenced their traditional walk to the bus stop.

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"How is she today?" Justin asked when his partner returned from his walk with a pensive expression.

"It does not appear as if she has lost any further weight," Sven said. "But she has not gained any either. I continue to worry."

Justin said nothing, but put a comforting hand on the blonde man's shoulder from behind and rubbed gently. Sven sighed and relaxed into the ministration.

"One day soon, we will have to discuss this," he said over his shoulder.

"When you are ready, then we will," the darker man replied, placing his other hand on Sven's waist.

"Thank you," he said as Justin tightened his grip. "But I think I am ready."

"Do not push it," Justin warned. "I can wait as long as necessary."

"Why should it be necessary?"

"I think you know that once we have the discussion," he answered the blonde man, "things will change dramatically. And the situation can never return to the way it was before."

"Are you uncertain of this now that we have started?"

"No," Justin asserted turning Sven in his arms so that they faced each other. "I am most definitely sure of where I want to take this. But I need to be certain that you are sure as well. I cannot imagine having to go back to a life without you in it."

"Youl nol not have to."

"You need time to be certain," the dark haired man sighed releasing Sven's waist and stepping back.

But the Scandinavian would have none of that, snaking his own arms around Justin and pulling back against him.

"I am quite certain," he whispered before capturing Justin's lips in a fiery kiss that put their first one to shame.

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Tara eyed the small envelope on the table suspiciously. It was waiting for her in the kitchen when she got home from the department store to change into her uniform and report to the supermarket. Seka had taken in the mail when she returned from school and left it on the table. Now Tara found herself slowly filling with dread as she picked it up and held it. It wasn't a bill, she could see. It was addressed to her in neat block letters, but printed by a human hand. She toyed with it in her hand for a bit before finally deciding to end the suspense. Taking the letter opener from the counter, she slit the top open, pulled out the small sheet of notebook paper and unfolded it. She read it with a mixture of shock and terror.

Dear bitch,

Thought I was gone, didn't you? Just because my partner was stupid enough to get caught don't mean I am. I'll be seeing you again soon.

Later.

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head when she read it. SHIT! She immediately picked up her phone and called the detective who'd been by before to keep her updated on their progress is the case. The desk sergeant took a message for her, as the young man wasn't in. Then she remembered he'd given her a cell phone number as well. Dialing it quickly, she tried to regain her breath before he answered.

"Sullivan," he said without preamble.

"Detective Sullivan?" Tara asked softly.

"Yeah," he answered distractedly. "How can I help you?"

"This is Tara Connors," she replied finally getting her thumping heart under control. "I received some disturbing mail I think you need to see."

"Mrs. Connors," he answered, no longer dividing his attention. "I'll be right over."

"Thank you," she said gratefully before hanging up and curling herself into a ball on one of the kitchen chairs.

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Seka heard the doorbell ring and wondered what was going on. She thought Tara had gone to her supermarket shift. Getting up from her homework, she crept downstairs as Tara let a tall lanky man with light brown hair into the house. She kept to the shadows so that she wouldn't be seen.

"Thanks for coming so quickly, detective," Tara said to the young man.

"Not a problem, Mrs. Connors," he replied. "Where's this mail you mentioned?"

Seka's English was improving some since she'd begun school, but she could still only understand when people spoke slowly. Neither Tara nor the detective was accommodating at the moment and Seka knew this would probably be important for the two men who saved her to know. She also figured that Tara wouldn't let her find out much if she knew Seka was listening.

She slowly crept back up to her room and pulled her cell phone out of her purse. Sven answered after a couple of rings and she quickly explained in Japanese what was happening. He told her to take the phone back downstairs with her, hiding it, and act as if she were getting a glass of juice. While Tara and the detective were occupied, she would hide the phone in the room they were sitting in and go back upstairs as if nothing were wrong. Seka agreed and set out to accomplish her task.

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"She has set the phone down now," Sven said to Justin who sat as close to him on the couch as possible.

Both were still a little disappointed to be interrupted in the middle of their private moment, but Seka wouldn't have called if it weren't an urgent matter. Now Sven placed his phone on speaker and held it close so they could pick up what was being said. He was enjoying the new proximity to his partner but was doing his best to conceal it.

"This the only piece you received?" a male v, pr, presumably the detective, asked.

"No," Tara said softly getting up and walking away. About a moment later sounds of her return could be heard. "I got this last week." It sounded like she dropped something light onto the table.

"What is it?" the detective asked.

"It's the necklace I was wearing the night I was attacked."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," Tara replied. "I'd never taken it off after my husband gave it to me. I'd know it anywhere."

"Well, then I guess this proves it's connected to one of the guys in the hallway that night."

"The one who ran away," Tara said.

"Or the other one."

"The other one's dead."

"No, the one who killed him."

There was a moment of silence then Tara's annoyed voice cut through it.

"He saved me," she said resolutely. "He wouldn't be stalking me now."

"You can't rule anything out, Mrs. Connors," the detective answered quietly. "Look, I need to pursue all avenues. If it's not him, I'm glad. But I have to follow each lead. Now are you sure you don't know where he went after he left you in the emergency room?"

"No," she sighed. "I haven't seen him. But I wouldn't fear him if I did. He didn't do this."

"I understand," the detective said kindly. "I'm still after the second attacker and I will find him. Are you sure you don't want to go visit any relatives for a while? Until this dies down?"

"No," she replied sadly. "I don't have any relatives. Anyway, this is my home and I don't want anyone pushing me out of it."

"Okay," the man said uncertainly. "Will you at least check in with me regularly?"

"All right."

"And call me on my cell phone immediately if you get any other postal surprises."

Sounds of Tara seeing the detective to the door could be heard. About ten minutes later, Seka retrieved the phone and asked in Japanese if they were through. Sven told her they were and thanked her before severing the connection.

"It appears that Tara has been less than forthcoming in our conversations," he said pensively as Justin watched him carefully.

"So it would seem," the darker man replied. "What shall we do about this?"

"I am not sure yet," Sven said meeting his partner's gaze. "But we will need to do something."