Budapest [Chapter One]
Monday, October 31st, 2011 10:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sectioneightentertainmentAuthor's Note : The continuation of my first ficlet, "Copenhagen". Again, constructive criticisms are welcome, but please don't be too harsh! Second story from "The Hunter Chronicles" series.
[Posted originally in Fanfiction.Net last 16-12-2010]
Disclaimer : I don't own any of the original characters. That honor belongs to Jeff Eastin, White Collar writers and USA Network.
Summary : Set months after "Copenhagen". Trying to get by with a little help from her friends, Alex has fled Denmark and is now living in Hungary. And, oh yeah, it's the holiday season and she's just about ready to give birth.
CHAPTER ONE
Yet another cold and grey early winter morning in Budapest. It has been months since the Copenhagen job. Alex's leg has healed quite well. Her shoulder, good as new, except for the scar that slice wound had left. As Alex lay in her bed, she thought back on what has happened since Denmark.
FLASHBACK TO MONTHS BEFORE IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK...
"Alex, please listen to me, dear! You really must let Neal know about this! Something as life-altering as this one shouldn't be kept as a secret!" Hale, always the voice of reason.
He had flown immediately to Copenhagen after she made that urgent phone call to him. She knew she could always depend on Hale. She couldn't call Mozzie. She knew that at the end of the day, the only side that Mozzie would ever be on was Neal's and she couldn't risk him telling Neal about her condition.
Hale, on the other hand, was someone she could trust. Hale and his wife Iola had been kind enough to treat her as part of their family since her parents death when she was just a teenager.
"Don't think that I haven't thought about this long and hard, Hale. Believe me, I have! My child and I have no place in Neal's life at the moment. He has this whole fantasy of him and Kate living happily ever after, together! As in the just the two of them! I get that!" Alex sighed.
In a much calmer tone, "Look, Hale, this isn't permanent. I just need to get out of Denmark as soon as humanly possible. Start somewhere fresh. Preferably, in a place where I can gather my thoughts and plan my next move without any additional distractions. Maybe, I'll call Neal. Then, again, maybe I won't. I don't know what will happen next! All I know is that I have another person's life to think about now." Alex gave a him a reassuring look, "Listen to me, it'll all be alright. Now, how about getting me out of here!" she said with a smile.
A couple of days after that, Hale was in the seat next to Alex at the airport. She didn't know how Hale did it, but somehow he had managed to convince Dr. Aubrey to release her into his custody.
They sat there, awaiting her next destination. "Here is your passport and a few pieces of I.D. for your new identity. You are now Anja Gardner. Off to Budapest to live your sister. The folder contains all of Miss Gardner's paper works. Quite a legend I've made, if I may say so myself!" Hale said with a proud smile on his face. "Almost up on par to Mozzie's standards!" There's that sheepish grin again.
"I don't know if a mere thank you will ever be enough, Hale, but thank you!" She squeezed his hand. "And thank you for agreeing to keep this as our secret. I know it's hard for you to choose sides, but I'm glad to have you on mine!" Alex said emotionally.
Hale took her hand and gave it a little kiss, "Oh, Alex! You know you've always been like a daughter to me. I do wish you well. Just promise me you will call if you need anything. And I mean ANYTHING! Let us know you're okay, because you know Iola worries about you too!"
"I will, I promise!" Alex said with a smile.
Just then, the airport speakers announced "Malev ungarske Airlines Flight MA 751 fra København til Budapest nu bording på terminal 3. Malev Hungarian Airlines Flight MA 751 from Copenhagen to Budapest is now boarding on terminal 3."
"Well, they're playing my song." Alex said with a chuckle.
Hale stood up and pushed Alex's wheelchair till they were in front of the gate.
"I can take it from here, sir," one of the airport attendants said to Hale.
Alex looked at Hale and said, "Give Iola a big hug and a kiss from me when you get home. Tell her I will call as soon as I can."
Hale gave Alex a hug, "I'll do that. You better keep your promise."
"Wish me luck!" Alex's said, as her eyes began to well up with tears.
Hale's eyes were starting to fill up too. "Alex, my dear, you are not the kind of lady who needs luck! But good luck, to both you and your child!" Hale said, as a lump formed in his throat.
With that, they said their goodbyes. The airline ground crew proceeded to wheel Alex inside the gate. With a worried look on his face, Hale followed her with his eyes until she disappeared inside the terminal. He waited a few minutes, and then he left.
ALEX'S ROOM IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY...
Alex's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the huge gust of wind coming from outside her window. Forecast said 70 % chance of snow later today. Yippie!
It's too early get up. Besides, she's not doing anything today. She can afford to stay in bed late, even all day if she wants to.
She made a mental note to call Hale and Iola later. Just to catch up and to let them know how much she misses them. Alex then pulled the duvet over her head and went back to sleep.
~End of Chapter One~
**Delighted that I got a lot of positive reviews from my previous ficlet, "Copenhagen". This inspired me to write a sequel, of sorts. Not a lot has been said about Hale's character from "Point Blank". Just that he's a good friend of Neal and Mozzie and that he has quite fond of Alex. So I decided to expand on that. I tried my best not to stray too far from the sidewalk though, so to speak. Hoping to get some positive feed backs from the readers for this chapter. In the mean time, I'm trying to find inspiration for the succeeding chapter(s). New characters will be introduced, including of course the baby. I haven't decided yet whether it will be a boy or a girl. Again, waiting for inspiration. Many thanks for taking time to read this chapter **
