Rating: PG
Authors Note: Hi everyone!! This is just a short little something to break down the walls in my mind. Also, I know that quite a few people don't think that Mr. Chapel's last name is really 'Chapel' but for the purpose of this story, it is. Enjoy! I want to know what you think!!
“KC, do you always have to talk so much?!”
Mr. Chapel stood by the door to the tiny hotel room, staring at KC whom was sitting on the bed. Her mouth was open in shock, and she arched her eyebrows.
“What’s up with you? You’ve been completely out of it for days!”
The tall man by the door rubbed his forehead, and stared at the floor. He spoke almost inaudibly. “Just worry about yourself, alright?”
Turning, Mr. Chapel opened the door and walked out of the room, the door only slightly slamming behind him. KC remained in her position on the edge of the bed, and stared at the door that the mysterious man had just walked out of. She shook her head, and lay on her back.
For the last couple days, Mr. Chapel had been even more of an enigma. He stayed quiet unless KC asked him something, and more than a few times she caught him staring at nothing, and she had to shake his arm to bring him back to earth. She was glad he had left, because for the first time since she met him, she realized that the ache in her stomach was telling her to be careful around him. He was scaring her.
On their last case that had been finished up the day before, he had no patience whatsoever. Then when they got back to the hotel room, KC was just about to leave when Mr. Chapel picked up a lamp that rested on the bedside table and threw it against a far wall. Now there wasn’t a single piece of the lamp that was longer than an inch. She had never seen him so angry. Sure, he had lost his temper once in a while, but that was nothing compared to the fire that filled his eyes now.
Sitting up straight all of a sudden, KC grabbed her purse off the bed next to her and sprinted to the door. Hoping she wasn’t too late and she could still follow him, she sprinted to the parking lot.
Looking around, she saw the familiar black Charger pull out of the parking lot, headed west. Racing to her own car, KC pulled out into traffic a few cars behind Mr. Chapel. She followed him as he got onto the interstate. Once they were on the highway, she allowed herself to fall back a little, becoming less discrete. After 10 minutes on the interstate, KC saw the Charger pull of at an exit. Going off the same ramp, KC became more alert, wondering where he was leading her.
In a few minutes, the gas stations and restaurants turned into lawns and country houses. Up ahead, she saw Mr. Chapel turn down a small road. KC felt a twinge of concern as she saw that he had pulled into a cemetery.
KC pulled over on the next street and watched as the tall man got out of his car. He straightened his jacket slightly, and then half pushed himself away from the car. As he weaved his way through the white marble markers, KC got out of her car and stared. He stopped soon and knelt down.
Her heart dropped to the ground. She walked to the other side of her car to get a better look. She could see him knelling in front of a grave, but nothing more. She felt her eyes water as Mr. Chapel lifted his hand and traced the engraved letters on the marble.
Endless moments later, Mr. Chapel stood, and leaned down, placing a simple kiss on the top of the gravestone. Then he turned and walked back to his car, his head down. KC waited until he had driven away before she ventured out from her vantagepoint.
Making her way slowly through the cemetery, she felt cold. She had never liked these places; they always were so quiet and bare. So lonely. Arriving at the gravestone that Mr. Chapel had just been at, her tears fell unabated.
The gravestone did not mark a single person, but two.
Anna and Jason Chapel.
KC looked at the dates. They had died on the same day four years ago. Anna had been 29, while Jason had only been a mere 3. Her hand unconsciously went to cover her mouth as she cried. Four years ago Mr. Chapel’s family had died, on this very day.
KC stayed a little while, then smiled a sad smile and turned to walk back to her car. She had her head down, and when she reached her car, she looked up, only to see Mr. Chapel leaning against her door. Her heart beat increased.
He had his hands clasped in front of him, and was staring at the ground. KC stopped walking, and stood in front of him. Neither said anything for a few minutes. Without looking up, Mr. Chapel spoke to KC.
“Why did you follow me?” His voice was as cold as ice.
KC cleared her throat, unsure of what to say. “I uh, I wanted to know, um…” her voice trailed off. “I don’t know what to say.” She lifted her eyes to meet his, but his head was still facing the ground.
“I ask you to simply talk to me, but you don’t, so I have to find out on my own.” KC kicked herself mentally, unbelieving what she just said. It had come out completely wrong.
“Don’t ever follow me again.”
KC almost flinched as Mr. Chapel’s eyes lifted and met her, and she felt them burn. She simply nodded. He stood up straight and brushed past her, walking to his car. She stared at the spot where he had been for a second, then turned and called his name. He stopped and turned and faced her.
“Yeah?”
“Was that your wife and son?” KC braced herself, not expecting what kind of response she might get.
He stared at a spot over her shoulder, then shook his head.
“No,” he replied sadly. “They were my soul.”
- - -
The EndSequel or Not? Its up to you! Let me know what you think!
