The Gift Issue 2

Athan sat uneasily in the chair. He wanted to leave. He suspected this inevitable song and dance. In fact he was surprised that they let him operate on the mission this long. Being called into Inquisitor Donovan�s office for a meeting meant only one thing. He was being pulled.

Inquisitor Donovan leaned forward in his armchair, closing the distance between Athan and himself.

Donovan was a demonstrative leader, always patting people on the back, getting into their personal space� Athan hated that. He was tired of hearing everyone�s half-hearted sympathies. At first, during the initial shock he ignored it, now it bothered him. No one could know the anger and hurt he felt�no one. It was impossible. Yet, time and again they�d give their condolences and Athan�s stomach turned all the while.

The inquisitor put his hand on Athan�s shoulder and spoke.

�There�s a lot at stake here Brother Athan. You can�t just go waltzing in there and extradite the girl without putting some of our other �undercovers� at risk. Too much planning� too much time invested for you too take this personal vendetta of yours right to the front door of the enemy.�
�I know sir.� Athan�s cold, monotone response made his superior pull away.
�You�d better,� the Inquisitor paused. He knew there was no reason to berate the man. He continued, �Look Athan� I know you�ve been hurt. I know your sublimating your grief into something you think is worthwhile but you�re too close to the situation.�
�I�m fine sir.�
�You�re wounds run deeper than you let on. There�s no medal for a brooding hero in this organization. You do the tasks that you are asked to perform and step away from the ones that you must. This mission�this is one of those missions that you need to step back from and let others take care of.�
�With all due respect, sir. I have a job to do. I need to��
�You need to obey the orders of your superiors, Athan. This order comes from a higher authority. My hands are tied. I�ve been directed to place you on sick leave and have someone check in on you. You know I don�t want to do this, but don�t make me be the bad guy. If I have to restrain you from doing what I know is in your heart to do� things could get ugly.�
Athan�s mind raced. He was going to do what he had to. Forget the mission. Forget his devotion. Forget orders. To hell with it all.
Athan paused. The anger waned slightly. �Will that be all sir?� he said through gritted teeth.
�Yes� you are dismissed.�

Athan stood, pivoted on his heel and made for the door. As he opened the door, Donovan spoke again, �Athan, try and get some rest� you need it.� Athan did not answer. He only closed the door behind him and carried himself out of the building. His mind was heavy with the burden of painful memories. He was haunted. Haunted by the faces of family that he�d never behold again. Not in this life. Never again. It is in this life that those wrongs would have to be corrected. This life is forfeit until the wrong is undone.

The rage was festering inside him.

The conversation with Inquisitor Donovan was all but forgotten by the time he arrived at his flat. After swallowing down his dinner, he sank into the couch and looked at a photo album. He looked at a picture of his wife and son at a birthday party for his niece. They were smiling. Athan tried to smile but couldn�t. He flipped through the pages. There was Elise, his niece. A blonde haired, blue eyed twelve year old with a gift�a gift that ultimately brought destruction upon her own family� and Athan�s family as well.

Bzzzzzzzzt.

Someone was at the door. Athan got up and answered it. It was Jonah. What the hell did he want? He let him in.
Jonah attempted to appear cheerful, �Hey buddy! How ya doing?�
�Did Donovan send you to baby-sit me?�
Jonah was crestfallen, �Huh? No� no, no man. I just came to see how you were.�
�Save it. Donovan told me he�d be sending someone. No offense Jonah, but I�m fine. You can let yourself out.�
�Are you sure you don�t want to talk about�?�
�Uh huh�
�Okay Athan. I�ll leave. But, I wanted to pass something else on to you��
Athan escorted him to the door, �What?� he asked.
Jonah swallowed hard, anticipating an explosion from Athan, �Uh� they assigned someone else to the mission��
�Who?� Athan already knew the answer.
�Arik�
Athan appeared calm on the outside. Jonah knew how Athan really felt and he wanted to leave. You could have cut the tension in the air with a knife. �You sure you�re okay Athan?�
�I�m fine, goodnight�
�I know you don�t want me too, but I have to stop in again to check on you. I�ll be by in the morning okay?�
�Uh huh�
Athan closed the door. �I�ll be by in the morning� echoed in his head. Athan looked at the clock. It was 10:36 p.m. He glanced over at his gear in the closet.

His mind was set� to hell with everything.