There was that long, agonising pause where his finger lingered over the trigger, knowing that any moment he may have to end her life. Like always he didn’t have any particular feeling either way on it. If anything the only constant throughout this whole situation was that he understood what she was going through and in turn he completely understood why she wouldn’t listen to him or anyone else for that matter either. Even now she wasn’t completely aware of where he was hiding in the building, just that he was there ready, waiting, doing his duty if he had to do it. A part of him hoped that she would get what she was looking for but he knew it wouldn’t heal her. Only time would help her in that regard, vengeance being nothing more than a cold, hollow feeling in the pit of someone’s heart.
His finger edged closer as her hand moved towards her pocket only for it to back off when she retrieved her phone. It was apparent then that she was finally doing what would be considered as the right thing for all party’s involved and, dare he say it, there was a relief within him that he didn’t have to end her life for something that he wholeheartedly understood.
He’d given everything a few moments before he went to join her outside, finally revealing himself to her. There would be no anger on his part, no reprimanding for what she’d done. He’d leave that up to someone else and save the hypocrisy and red tape for someone else. After all, until they were in this position they would never understand inconsolable rage for the death of a loved one. “You did the right thing,” he offered, knowing it would do very little to extinguish the fire in her. “Dermot would be proud.”
There was some trust and faith when he walked back to his car that she would join him of her own accord. Again, he had no desire to thrust a weapon into her back to get her to walk that way. Maybe there was a part of him that hoped she’d turn back, run inside, do what she wanted to do and get it out of her system. It was a part that was dangerous and difficult to reconcile when duty was the most important thing on his mind. Nevertheless he sat in the car and waited patiently for her to join him.
She waited for him outside, leaning up against the warehouse wall, looking up into the dark night sky, the moon hiding behind scudding clouds. When he did join her outside, Tabitha was pleasantly surprised that he didn’t launch into a furious tirade, knowing that he would have received grief from M when she took off.
Her eyes widened in surprise at his comment about Dermot being proud of her. It was a nice sentiment, but it didn’t stop the fact that revenge lingered in her like the remnants of a long illness.
Following him back to his car, Tabitha noticed the police arriving surreptitiously, careful not to alert those inside the warehouse. She was pleased they arrived so quickly...using her MI6 identification didn’t hurt things when she reported it.
Sliding into the car beside him, she sat silently for a few moments, looking out into the dark night. Finally she turned to him, speaking quietly, “I think you need to take me out for a few drinks, and we need to get a hotel room,”