Chapter 31

Friends With Benefits

"So you proposed Natasha?" Dr. Markle asked.

"Why do you ask?" John asked in return "I don't think I have

"If that had happened I'd have known.

Natasha had been visiting me since you lost your memories, she was very depressed, she missed him."

He narrated,

"Do you think John loved you, would have married you?

"No, he never loved me, we too are together because I love him."

"You still want to be him. Do you think this relationship has future?" he'd asked

Natasha was on verge of tears but she was holding on "I was sane earlier because I had him, so went for him."

"Can you elaborate" Dr. adjusted his glasses as he eyed the brown eyed girl and the color seemed more transparent specially when her eyes were glassy."

"Our profession is such that we both were together because we knew that when we slept together, nightmares would be at bay, we had each other to hold on to when we woke up at night."

"Do you think this was more than friendship?"

To answer, Natasha chuckled "more than friends with benefit, $ex was always an advantage. That way I could hold him" she passed a wickedly but harmless smile "and stop him from flirting with other girls."

"Is that enough? Is this viable for you to wait for him? It's already been more than a year"

Dr. stated the fact "and you also mentioned he is not sure about love."

Natasha sniffled "I don't know how long would the vehicle of our relationship keep moving with only wheel carrying the power of love is me."

"It's going to be okay you know "Dr. extended his box of tissues.

"What would you do if he proposes?" Dr. Markel tried to lighten the mood.

"He can never propose" she chuckled at some past memory "he is very poor at that "he did once and it was a blunder."

"He proposed you." Dr. asked.

"No he didn't. I told you he doesn't like commitments, attachment. I wonder if he'd ever get married. He proposed this girl. Well that was strictly business. So let it go Doc" she stood up all of a sudden flattened her creased pants and pulled her shirt for a formal look "I am feeling better now. Thanks for the session."

"I am not done yet." Dr. Markle tried to stop her from leaving so abruptly.

"Sorry cant wait, just got a page. John is up and awake" she had a bounce in her step "gotta go"

"Yes yes" My smile was bigger than hers. She was a friend first and a patient later. I was happy for her

'''''''''''''

"It was Ayoka" John mumbled.

"What is Ayoka?" Dr. Markle was lost in his thoughts for a moment.

"Ayoka means pretty child in Japanese. I proposed her but it all went bizarre."

"What happened?"

"She was highly allergic to flowers I got her and so I took her to the doctor who was also her ex boyfriend and though I was using her for a purpose." John took his own time remembering the scenario "but finally we did exchange rings, she gave me one too"

"You loved her?" Dr. enquired "Ayoka."

"NO" John's denial was louder than expected "She was work. We needed her."

"Why did you need her?

We were getting some information from her" John was taking irregular deep breath now.

"What kind of information?" Dr. knew he was pushing John's limits but he had to. It was important both for John and his sanity; his strong determination to work it out.

"Top secret information ssh.." John sealed his lips, his eyes still closed as he was in semi amnesia.

"You can share the information." Dr encouraged "the secret is safe with me, you can trust me."

"We can trust nobody" John was clear and convinced.

"Okay then what was Aayoka's " Dr spelled the Japanese or tried to pronunciation the name properly "profession"

"She was in charge of recruitments in airports." John answered, his brows furrowed even in sleep. "She knew exactly who was in what division in Narita International airport.

"How was she helping you?" Dr. asked.

"SShhhh" John silenced him making a T of keeping his left hand vertical and right hand perpendicular to other hand "top secret"

"Did you get the required information?" Dr. asked.

"I was waiting for someone who'd bring the details." John mumbled

"Then what happened?" Dr. prodded.

John paused for a long time and then he finally spoke

"It was busy street. Regular traffic, normal day and then gunshots were heard all of a sudden.

I fired bullets too. They were chasing me, trying to kill me. Instead I followed the guy and when I was about to reach the person another bullet was shot from behind.

It was very painful

I couldn't breath

I could see stars shimmering in front of my eyes...

He paused for a very long time..

"what happened? Why were you feeling like this?"

No answer

"When was this?"

No answer.

"John can you listen to me?" Dr. was worried about lingered silence

"John what happened ?" Dr. Markle shouted worried.

"I was shot.. All I could feel was darkness, dead end..

'''''''''''''

John woke up in an instant, his head spinning and hurting at the same.

He was about to leave when Dr. Markle stopped him "no John don't. You are not in right mind set."

"But I think I have got the hunch, I think I have got what exactly they are going to do." John was swaying like a drunken man. "I have to go"

"No you cant. John understand " Dr. Markle readied a syringe "I am sorry but I cannot let you do this." He said and shot him with a small dose of sedative. "you need to rest" he said

"but I know wh..at the...y ar.. pla..nn..I know" and he went to a deep slumber.

D eased him to his room with the help of his staff and thanked Dr. Markle for his services.

"You have been staring at him for long" Hailey, D's wife said.

"I love him as my child but his duty towards his nation is important. I however cannot see him suffer like this," D said as he took a long drag of his cigarette.

Hailey snatched the burning stick form him "you know how much John hates smoking still you do it.'
"He is sleeping" D said "and he'd understand. I am too stressed."

"Everything will be fine" Hailey rubbed his shoulders "give it time.

"We do not have time." D pressed his eyes with his fingers tired and deprived of sleep.

"Cut him some slack D, Natasha was closest to him and we do not have any idea how hurt he is with his little memory recovery." She looked at John lovingly missing the son she lost "I am scared that you are pushing him too hard.

"Me too Hails, me too" he said and hugged her.

John woke up to the smell of bacon and waffles.

"I can get used to staying here all my life Hellhole" John complimented as he bit into a huge portion of waffle.

Hailey dropped the jar of juice she was holding letting it tumble and break into pieces.
"Everything alright" D and John stood together to asses about Hialey.

Both the guys bent to closely examine her.

She caressed John's cheeks "you remember the name you'd called me?" she asked tears in her eyes "I was so scared that I'd never listen to you ever again when you were in comma."

John scrunched his brows, he wondered how he remembered her name but it just flew all his mouth all of a sudden

The aroma, flavor, taste, smell and the environment felt so familiar and the name slipped out of his mouth without his own acknowledgment.

John was uncomfortable with the love showered by the elderly lady and her tears. He awkwardly hugged her saying "I am her now ain't I?"

"Why don't you shift in here with us?" Hailey asked expectantly "it will be great to have you here."

"Hailey" D warned her but she continued "John promise me you'll at least now think about shifting here with us."

"Now?" John was surprised "You had asked me earlier too to move in with you guys?" he looked at D for an answer. "Why?'

"Our house is most secured and if you were here we did not have to bother too much about your security and also Hailey would love to have you here. You are like her son."

An unsettling feeling appeared in the pit of John's stomach at the mention of those words by D but he said nothing

"But why would I deny coming to stay with you guys. You guys are awesome." John asked confused of the inner turmoil.

Before D could reply Hailey brought another batch of pastries and shouted "guys the food is getting cold. I guess we should eat first" getting herself seated on the table she rubbed her hands and stated, "I am starving."

John's stomach growled at the same time making three of them laugh as they sat for breakfast.

"Tell me D why didn't you get me from the hospital or you did not even check on me?" John asked half way through the breakfast.

"You were always on close surveillance " D answered "we had to be discreet because they were wondering that they had picked the wrong guy. John the agent was invincible and getting him shot at first attempt was impossible.

So to let them have benefit of doubt and keep them off your back we pretended or behave like you did not exist at all." Hailey pressed John's hand on the table "we are so sorry. It was difficult not visiting you either." She sniffled "we missed you."

"What was I doing when I was shot?' John asked.

"You and Natasha were working together on this terrorist huge attack plan and you were supposed to meet someone very important who was going to give you certain names."

D looked at John in a very serious note "By any chance do you remember those names? Anything related to Ayoka?"

"Nopes" John denied, my brain goes blank after that.

"Where does Ayoka live?" John asked, "I can go to her and talk to her."

"NO you cant" something was odd at the way the two of them D and Hailey shouted together and then looked meekly at each other. They made a sad face muttering, "She is dead."

It was another setback for John.

He vividly remembered Ayoka, Asian looking girl with porcelain skin, her almond shaped eyes were very expressive and she smiled very often.

He remembered he listened to her for hours, her stories of various recruitments she'd received and some were really terrible.

They would go beyond to get jobs at the airport

One of them wanted to be on air even he wasn't qualified enough. He was even ready to sleep with Ayoka to win a position.

John abruptly stood from the table.

"What are you up to?" D asked.

John didn't know hay he hesitated to speak the truth "Get some fresh air...."