It's Quiet Again (IC)

While my caseload builds and works gets busy again, my personal life is once again quiet. Peaceful, in the sense that I finally know the whereabouts of all those I love. Markko is here in town, quietly doing whatever it is he does. Khailis has been back for some time, thankfully, seemingly in good health, despite not remembering anything that happened to him. Even Raive, who most days I want to give a swift kick in the ass, is back, and seems to be healthy.

Raive...boy...I'm not really sure what happened there. All I know is when his actions almost got Khail killed, I was done for good. I knew there was no way I could accept his proposal, but seeing a fellow officer nearly die as a direct result of Raive's actions sealed it. What a horrible time that was...those sylphs... I'm not sure I'll ever recover fully from that attack. I'm taking fewer of the pills now though, so I suppose that's progress. The night we eliminated the artifact was awesome. The power of the thing vs. the will of the people of the city...it was a horrible, fantastic, amazing battle. I'm glad I was a part of it.

That was a tough night...the artifact, dealing with my own issues with the sylph attack, Khail reopening a recent wound, and of course Raive showing up. The unfortunate part is that he believes Khail is the reason I left him...the reason I couldn't marry him, but it's just not so. I certainly don't plan, however, to spend any extra energy trying to convince Raive of anything, so I guess he goes on thinking what he thinks. Doesn't really matter, it was doomed to fail eventually. He was just a lot of fun...safe...safe fun. I couldn't fall too far for him, so if he ever disappeared on me, I wouldn't fall apart like I have before. C'est la vie...it's done.

I'm at a crossroads now...L'ordean is dead. I no longer feel I need to stay on the island for my own safety. Five years of searching, he never found me, and now he's no longer a threat. I think about leaving, I've already given up my apartment and begun building a house back on the mainland. I think of going to Alexandr, bringing him to me, raising him on my own. But the I consider that he's been in a really good place his entire life, and he loves Dea and Leo. Would it be wrong to take him from that environment? That security?

And of course, all the rest of the people I care about are on the island. What life would it be if the people who I've come to trust and love weren't involved anymore? I can't imagine not seeing their faces anymore, not stealing a hug now and then, or popping in to check on them. Somehow the misery of this city has become worth it to look out for the people I love.

Then there's work...well, that'll be for another day. A new group of cadets awaits me tomorrow, and I feel a phone call to Alex coming on. Should be taking that call in the same room as his father...well...that's an entire other day as well.