Higgins drove Holly to the extraction point in his once immaculate police car. After spending a few weeks with Holly, the bumper was destroyed, the windshield cracked and there was trash and hair-ties discarded across the passenger side from her messy tendencies. In a heartbeat, he would trade his perfect car again though. Holly had awakened a part of him he’d never felt before. She made him feel like a nervous schoolboy every time she looked at him with those intelligent, radiant eyes. Now, she was leaving and there was so much he wanted to say to her that kept getting stuck in his throat.

  “It’s not too late to back out, you know,” He watched Holly’s jaw set and her expression grow intensely stubborn and he knew her answer already.

  “You know what I have to do,” Holly said and her expression softened as her gaze turned his way, “I’m not going to change my mind.”

  Higgins shrugged and forced a smile, “You can’t blame me for trying, right?”

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  Holly nodded and smiled in a shy way. Higgins loved how she could shift from such intensity to being so gentle. She kissed him on the cheek and then spoke softly, “I’m glad you did.”

  Higgins watched Holly, stunned by the kiss. He was sure he had gone beet red from the flush he felt in his face. Holly put on a brave face as they heard the helicopter approach.

  “I.. uhh..” Higgins said lamely.

  “I know. Me too,” Holly said as she handed Higgins a package and got out of the car.

  “What’s this?” Higgins asked.

  Holly leaned down into the doorway, “It’s a few supplies to stay in contact with me. I have a feeling you are going to need it with the conditions out here. Keep that family safe, Higgins. I have a feeling they are going to be more important than we both understand.”

  “You be safe too,” Higgins shouted over the noise of the helicopter landing in the distance.

  “I promise I will. I’m not done with you,” Holly shouted back, then closed the car door and jogged off to the helicopter that landed in the distance.

  Higgins watched her go and his gut roiled with worry. A sense of dread was growing inside of him and he did his best to not humor the feeling. As Holly flew away, Higgins squeezed his eyes shut and he whispered quietly, “Please be safe.”