A Parting

I moaned as the bright sunlight struck my eyes, sending an instant bolt of lightning to my head. I buried my head against Hatch's arm. "I'm going to die." I complained softly.
My stomach did flip flops as we stepped off the curb, to get to my car. Why had I ever let this guy convince me to leave the sanctuary of the birds?
"You'll be fine." he said confidently, shifting his grip to wrap one arm around my shoulders. "I'll catch you if your knees buckle."
Of course, now that he said it all my knees wanted to do was just that. "You're not helping."
"And here I thought I was."
I groaned. "Not what I meant...are we..."
"Nearly there."
I heard the familiar honk of my car. Hatch must have unlocked it remotely. But that didn't tell me how close we were...
"Here." He said, in his normal voice. I opened my eyes, squinting in the light to see my car door open and waiting for me. Finally. Relief. Sanctuary. I climbed in, okay it was more like I fell in to the drivers seat. Dumb knees collapsing on me. I didn't make an effort to sit up right away though. I just needed a breather.
"Thanks." I finally managed, pushing myself up to sit, oh so not confidently at all, behind the wheel. Could I even make the drive home? Like this? It had to be at least 15 minutes away. At least.
"No problem." Hatch said reaching out to push some stray hair out of my face. "I'm sure you can take it from here."
He said it so confidently that I nearly believed him.
"At least I'll be sitting down.' I managed.
He grinned. "That's half the battle there."
My hands tightened on the steering wheel. Why wasn't he offering to drive me home? I would have refused, but after all he'd done.
"You need to turn your car on." he reminded me.
"I know. I know. I preparing myself!" Had my stomach settled enough to actually manage this?
One way to find out. I looked at him, forcing myself to smile. I probably looked like a demented zombie. "Thanks again, for everything Hatch."
"It was my pleasure." he replied placing a hand on the door to shut it.
I stuck my arm out, preventing him.
"I'll see you around?" I asked, hoping I sounded nonchalant enough.
He hesitated, but finally nodded. "I'll be around. Just get better alright?"
"I'll hold you to that. I owe you. Big time."
"You don't"
"I owe you." I cut him off as I turned the car on.
He nodded, closing the door.
 
He stood in the parking lot as I drove away, visible until I turned the corner.
My hands tightened on the steering wheel. I hoped he'd be around. I had a lot of questions for Prince Charming, and I couldn't very well get answers from him if he disappeared back into my dreams.
 
Karen<3