Private Vows, Public Fallout

"Your family is in the hospital." The words bounce around the room before sinking into a strange silence. "What? How?" I choke out. My mind was one blur of tangled questions, and that was the lone thought that pierced the haze. "There was an accident," Marcus breathes, sucking in air as he tries to steady his rough breathing, "Ivy and Mara they..." As Marcus trails off, bright red warning lights flare through my head at the thought of what might have happened. The very worst of them leaves me uneasy and horrified. "What happened?" I ask, moving closer and catching Vincent's cold, clenched hand. "They're both in critical condition, in the ICU." The voice reaches me from far away. The pressure crushing my chest eases by the slightest bit. At least there was still hope. I swallow and watch Marcus head out again, muttering about flights and checking out. A pull makes me glance at Vincent, who still hadn't said a single word. When I let go of him, he turns from me and hurriedly snatches up the bags. "Vincent." I whisper, touching his shoulder. "Just don't," he snaps, shrugging my hand off. "I don't have time to deal with your neediness." Then he storms from the hotel room and down the lobby, dragging the suitcases while I stay behind with sadness, confusion, and hurt tangling inside me. The flight back home passed in total silence. Marcus was never much of a talker, and Vincent clearly didn't want me near him. I was sick with worry over Ivy and Mara, and over why Vincent had turned so cold and harsh with me. I'd thought that in each other's worst moments, we would at least have one another. I keep checking my phone over and over, but no new updates had come through. Turning my head, I glance over at Vincent, rigid in his seat as he stares through the small window. I shift my gaze from him to Marcus, trying to say it with my eyes, and luckily he understands. Marcus clears his throat, and Vincent's attention snaps toward him. It was the biggest reaction he'd given so far. "I'm going to speak with the captain," Marcus says smoothly. Vincent gives a short nod and returns his gaze to the window. I hear the cabin door open and shut, and that's when I slide my hand into Vincent's. I squeeze gently, but he doesn't return it; he only sits there wrapped in that icy stiffness. "Vincent." I murmur. He ignores me, still staring out that damn window. "Vincent." I say, sharper this time. "What?" he snaps, looking at me. That's when I finally saw it. That cold, icy look in his eyes makes my heart lurch with dread. Afraid of what, exactly? I can't say, but I'd give anything to get the playful, teasing Vincent back, even with all this happening. "I-," the words die beneath his glare, and I can only look at him. "Vincent, it's going to be okay-" "Don't start with it'll be okay, Elena, for fuck's sake," he cuts in. "It will, just don't lose hope. They're both stable for the moment, and it'll be okay. I know you're hurting, but." Vincent jerks his hand from mine and gets to his feet. "You couldn't really know, could you?" he says with a sneer. "What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, rising too. "Just fuck o-," he catches himself in time while I just stand there, wide-eyed and disbelieving, tears stinging my eyes. He lets out a groan and drags a hand through his hair. He looks at me, gives a shake of his head, then heads out of the cabin and slams the door behind him. What the hell was going on?