Swimming to shore, and making his way back to the location of his team that way would take a very long time, and since he was very concerned about Frank\u2019s condition, Aaron was in a hurry to get back. There was a pier close by, so he fought the current of the salty river and swam over to it, then climbed up using the large stone bricks as hand and footholds.
When he reached the top, Vicky rushed over to help him transition back to the top of the bridge. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d she asked as he made the awkward leap through the suspension wires and across the railing. She reached out and steadied him upon landing.
\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Aaron assured her, though he was soaking wet, a sensation he didn\u2019t particularly care for. \u201cHow\u2019s Frank?\u201d
\u201cHe\u2019s just fine,\u201d Vicky assured him as they both rushed back to the location where Frank\u2019s throat had been cut.
Aaron couldn\u2019t believe that was possible. He hadn\u2019t gotten a clear look at exactly what had happened, but it appeared as if the wound were very deep, and he couldn\u2019t imagine Frank was \u2018just fine\u2019 only a few minutes later.
When they reached the rest of the team, Frank was sitting, leaning back against the side of the bridge, and Ward was crouched next to Jamie who was laying on his back, his knees bent, one hand over his face, as if he\u2019d just run a marathon and needed a few minutes to recover.
Confusion knit his brow. \u201cFrank? Have you really recovered so quickly?\u201d He could see a thin, jagged scar on Frank\u2019s neck and plenty of spent blood on his shirt and trousers, but the blood was no longer flowing, and his coloring seemed to be returning to normal.
\u201cI am,\u201d Frank assured him, only a slight hitch in his breath. \u201cI thought for sure\u2026 but Jamie saved me.\u201d
The physician said nothing in response, only reached out with the hand not covering his eyes and awkwardly patted Frank\u2019s leg a few times.
Aaron was still confused. \u201cAnd what\u2019s wrong with Jamie?\u201d he asked the group in general.
The answer came from Vicky. \u201cHe is exhausted,\u201d she explained. \u201cIt took all of his energy to heal Frank.\u201d
\u201cHe\u2019s a Healer,\u201d Ward continued. \u201cUnlike any I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d
Aaron felt his eyes widened as he looked from one face to the next. \u201cHe healed\u2026 that? This quickly? Through some sort of magical powers?\u201d
\u201cIt isn\u2019t magic,\u201d Ward insisted, \u201cwe just don\u2019t understand it. Yet. But, yes. He healed him that quickly.\u201d
\u201cFascinating,\u201d Aaron muttered. He\u2019d never seen anything like it. All the other Healers he\u2019d worked with were able to do very little in comparison to what this young man had just done. When he\u2019d seen the extent of Frank\u2019s injury, he thought for certain he would return to find his friend had met his demise.
\u201cYou got him,\u201d Vicky smiled, resting her hand on Aaron\u2019s arm. \u201cHe\u2019s gone\u2014at last. It\u2019s hard to believe it\u2019s all finally over.\u201d
Aaron hadn\u2019t even taken the opportunity to reflect on what the team had accomplished that evening. But Vicky was right. They\u2019d gotten Jack the Ripper off the streets at last. He had no idea what would come next, but whatever it was, he hoped it wasn\u2019t as complicated as this case. He could do without another Ripper for a very long time. \u201cWe did it,\u201d he confirmed with a nod of his head and a look of pride shared with each of his teammates, including Jamie who was sitting up now and managed a small smile. \u201cNow what?\u201d he asked, looking at Ward.
\u201cNow, Jamie can head back to Boston, and you and me and Frank head back to London to see what they throw at us next,\u201d Ward replied with a shrug.
Aaron looked at Vicky, who had removed her hand and was standing with her hands folded in front of her. Ward saw the expression on Aaron\u2019s face and realized he didn\u2019t know. He muttered an apology and she said, \u201cIt\u2019s okay. I just hadn\u2019t gotten a chance to tell him yet.\u201d
\u201cTell me what?\u201d Aaron asked, turning to face her.
Vicky glanced at the others and then took a few steps away, motioning for Aaron to follow her, which he did. Once they had a bit more privacy, she said, \u201cI\u2019ve decided to stay here.\u201d
\u201cIn New York?\u201d he asked, unable to believe his ears.
\u201cNo, but in America. I think\u2026 maybe I\u2019ll head out West. I hear there\u2019s quite the Vampire invasion happening in California, and there\u2019s not a lot of leadership out there. I think\u2026 I think I\u2019ll try my hand in San Francisco. Or San Diego.\u201d
Aaron wasn\u2019t sure what to say. \u201cVicky, I can\u2019t imagine our team without you.\u201d
\u201cI know,\u201d she nodded. \u201cIt\u2019ll be an adjustment. But I think it\u2019s for the best.\u201d
After the conversation they\u2019d had at the beginning of the Ripper case, when she\u2019d confessed her feelings for him, and he\u2019d politely declined, they\u2019d never mentioned it again, and she\u2019d gone on to court several other fellows, though she never seemed too serious about any of them. He\u2019d watched from the sidelines, still wondering how Aislyn would respond to the knowledge that he\u2019d taken another lover after what he\u2019d put her through. Now, standing on the East River Bridge, staring into the brown eyes of a woman who meant so very much to him, he realized Aislyn would truly want him to find someone else, to move on, to find happiness.
For him and Vicky, however, it was clearly too late. With a nod, he said, \u201cI hope that everything works out for you, Vicky. I will miss you.\u201d
\u201cI\u2019ll miss you, too,\u201d she said, wrapping her arms around him despite his wet clothing.
He enveloped her in his arms and kissed the crown of blonde curls atop her head. He had learned so much from working with Vicky, but certainly the most important lesson he learned was<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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