One Journey Ends

Tara watched them lower the casket containing Ben's body. Few people remained around the gravesite after the service ended. But she couldn't go just yet. She just couldn't seem to accept that everything important in her life was gone. Ben's parents hadn't come in for the funeral, choosing to remain in California. They sent a small flower arrangement with a terse note that didn't mention her at all. She'd expected nothing from them anyway.

The small box containing her unborn daughter was already resting in the ground beside her father. Tara felt a chill stab through her chest and work its way around to the rest of her. Her jaw was still wired and her rib still bandaged from the attack that fateful night. She blamed herself a thousand times over for leaving the room at all. All of the emptiness she'd felt before meeting Ben had found its way back to her, curling around her like a boa constrictor.

"Tara," she felt a hand touch her elbow gently.

She looked up to see Tony watching with a concerned expression. Although it had undoubtedly been an uncomfortable task for him, he'd stayed with her to plan the funeral service and pick out the casket. She didn't think she'd have been able to get through it without her. He'd also helped her fill out the necessary forms for the insurance company and get the rest of Ben's affairs in order. She was lucky Ben had such a good friend.

"We should go now," he said.

"You go," she whispered sadly. "I just need some time alone with this."

"Are you sure?" he asked uncertainly. "I could wait for you."

"No, Tony," she said trying to give him a reassuring smile. "Thanks, but it's okay. You've already done so much for me, I can't impose on you anymore."

"I don't mind," he tried again furrowing his brow.

"I know," she said. "But it's fine. I need this time and the bus drops me off right near the house. I'll be okay."

"Okay," he said not fully convinced. "If you're sure."

"I am."

He patted her elbow one last time and turned to walk to his car and she watched him pull away before turning back to the grave. The men had finished lowering the casket and were removing the chains before covering it with dirt. She sighed, as she stood motionless wondering how she was going to go on without her husband.

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Sven watched the funeral service from behind a nearby crypt. The small woman looked so isolated it hurt him to watch her. He had made no secret of where he was going, wanting Justin to come along. But the dark haired man only sat stoically behind the computer and told his partner they didn't have time for this.

The blonde man couldn't explain why he had the feeling that Tara was connected to them. He just knew that she was and that he needed to ascertain her health and emotional status before he could let the matter drop. He looked on as she watched the cemetery workers lower the casket and fill in the grave. Flower arrangements were strewn around the ground and the day was cold and misty. He wondered briefly if she was in danger if catching a chill in her light coat. She stood uncomfortable, shifting from one foot to another. Sven mbermbered from the information he'd gathered at the hospital that she'd suffered from two broken ribs in addition to her fractured jaw. He guessed she was having a difficult time holding herself up.

Deciding he could stand the scene no longer, he approached her slowly to keep from starling her unnecessarily. She turned as he sidled up to her and he registered a flash of fear in her dark blue eyes. But, to her credit, she remained in place looking him over warily.

"Hello," she said apprehensively.

"How do you do?" Sven returned calmly extending a hand to her. "I am Sven."

She briefly took his hand after a few seconds of hesitation. "My name's Tara."

"I am very sorry for your loss," he said looking to the freshly filled unmarked grave in front of them.

"Thanks," she said uncomfortably.

"I come here often," he went on nonchalantly. "It is a sad place to be but I feel closer to my wife and son when I am in a place such as this."

"You've lost family here?"

"Not here," he said shaking his head slightly. "But when I cannot be where they are buried I like to come to a nearby cemetery and think about them. It is strange but it makes me feel closer to them somehow."

"I guess I'll be trying that now," she said looking up at him sadly.

"If you do not mind my asking, who was this person?"

"He was my husband," she sighed, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "And our baby."

"I am so very sorry," the blonde man said taking her hand between his and rubbing gently. "I did not mean to compound your loss."

"No," she said. "It's all right. I should probably be going now anyway."

"May I walk you somewhere?"

"I'm just getting on a bus over there," she said pointing to a sign across the street that indicated a stop.

"I will wait with you until the bus comes," he said falling into step behind her as she began to walk.

"You don't have to," she said over shoulder. "Really, I'm okay."

"I would not feel good about leaving you sitting there alone," he said determinedly. "Call it a holdover from a more gallant time, if you will, but allow me to do this."

"All right," she acquiesced giving him a searching look before resuming her stride.

Sven stood next to the bench on which she sat as she waited for the bus. She didn't seem to want to talk so he remained silent lending her moral support instead. She seemed to appreciate his presence though and thanked him as the bus came into view.

"I will likely see you again here, will I not, sweet?" he asked as she pulled some money from her purse.

"Probably," she said smiling sadly.

"Until then," he answered watching her board. The bus pulled away and he walked sadly back to the hotel.

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Tara watched the stranger's face as her bus pulled away. She speculated wha what might have made him approach her in the first place. Still, it was nice to have someone there that didn't have any connection to her life. He hadn't pried when she indicated that she didn't wish to talk. He just stayed with her. She looked out the window at the passing scenery and tried to imagine what Ben would have been doing now if they had never gone out that night and he hadn't been attacked.

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"She is not stable," Sven told Justin upon arrival.

The dark haired man regarded his partner with a concealed sense of dread. He'd beaitiaiting for news of Tara's condition though he'd never admit to it. She was on his mind almost constantly since he'd met her. He was still dreaming of the look in her eyes as the staff wheeled her away from him that night. And knowing that she had no one to turn to made his plight that much worse. Still, he steeled himself against his emotions and waited mutely for Sven to continue.

"I am very concerned about her state of mind," the blonde man went on. "She would still be standing at that gravesite had I not gone to her."

"You approached her?" Justin gasped. "What were you thinking? We have no time for this."

"You would not be saying such had you seen her standing there," Sven growled. "She sent everyone away and watched as they covered the coffin. Her eyes never left that grave, though her stance indicated she could not hold herself steadily for long."

"Her ribs are still causing her pain?"

"We both know how it feels to suffer such injuries, do we not?" Sven replied looking into Justin's eyes as if he could see down to the depths of his soul. Justin doubted anything would be left there for the Scandinavian man to see if that were possible. Becoming disconcerted with the gaze, the darker man broke it and sat back down behind the laptop.

"We have very little time for distractions, Sven," he admonished. "Or are you no longer interested in bringing Henderson to justice."

"Make no mistake," Sven said darkly, "I want Henderson brought down for what he has done."

"Good," Justin replied. "Then there is work to be done."

"Agreed. But I will keep myself apprised on the girl's condition."

"I thought we just agreed . . . "

"We did," Sven said interrupting him. He hated when the blonde man did that. "But she is in a bad way and has no one to look after her. I will not abandon this notion until I am completely convinced that she has recovered."

"What if you find she has not?"

"I will face that dilemma when I come upon it."