THE SUN WAS CROSSING THE THRESHOLD OF DAY, causing dawn to break over New York, as the blades of the Sea King helicopter cut through the cold air of the freezing morning towards the location designated for the rescue. It tore through the half-cloudy skies of the city, above the gray cluster of buildings of various heights and shapes.
Floyd Kenagan anxiously awaited his arrival, peering through the window curtains as often as he could like a child. Kenan Vaine tried to remain frugal in his waiting, but he ended up showing a certain tension for what was to come.
Gregory Evans watched him silently, imagining his fears about what he would find in the White House when they got there.
With Katherine in his arms, Tommy took refuge from his tension by inhaling the soft scent of her perfume. She, in turn, found comfort in the arms of her husband, who held him tighter than he had in his embrace a few times before.
— It feels like a goodbye... — she whispered under the light pressure of his tight embrace.
— Sorry, I didn't understand. — Tommy replied, interrupting his rambling.
— This hug, it seems like a farewell. A goodbye. — he observed again.
— Not every farewell is a goodbye. — the young man replied, loosening his arms around her.
—But not everyone who leaves says goodbye... But I just said it seemed that way, that's all. —said Katherine, upset about his departure.
— I told you I'll be back soon, didn't I? I just want to get this problem out of our way as quickly as possible. I don't want to see you in danger again...
— You keep justifying that you do things for me! — he got angry. — You said the same thing when you agreed to work with Tony! And I don't even know what you do there! How can it be for me, if we're getting further and further apart? Now you're going far away...
Tommy hugged her again as tightly as before.
"He's coming," Floyd Kenagan exclaimed after glancing out the window. Tommy went out to the front of the house, Katherine followed him.
He watched the aircraft approach high in the cloudy sky, the unknown destination flying towards him. He smelled his wife's hair, as she rested her face on his chest, pulled her earlobe affectionately and whispered in her ear:
— Forgive me.
Greg who was nearby said:
— I'll take good care of him, don't worry, Katy.
— Thank you, Mr. Evans.
—But you don't need to worry about the past... the fact that he worked for Anthony Capretti made him save President Vaine's life, and that's what matters.
She gave a smile to her husband who agreed.
Tommy could feel her eyelashes brushing against his shirt as his eyes widened at the sound of her saying that. The cold wind chilled the dampness of her tears on his shirt as she lifted her head and looked away, trying to hide it uselessly.
The helicopter lifted its nose and leveled off, hovering in the middle of the empty street in front of Greg's house. The strong wind pushed by the blades further chilled their faces, which had cold and painful expressions.
The time had come to leave.
FLOYD KENAGAN WENT FIRST, to check if there was anyone there besides the pilot. The empty street, with few glances through the windows and cracks in the doors, would not pose any danger, any more than someone inside the "bird". From the side door he waved, confirming that there was no one there besides the pilot. It was safe to enter.
Kenan looked at Gregory Evans, expecting him to walk alongside him until he entered the aircraft. When he looked at Tommy, he found him saying goodbye to Katherine with a light push, as she was having difficulty letting go of him. For the first time in all those moments of crisis they had lived, he saw her hold back the tears that were so often in her eyes.
— Let's go, Mr. President. — Greg said, walking past him resignedly. Kenan followed him.
Katherine watched from the door as the helicopter took off into the distance, slowly shrinking until it was too small to see.