Ellen was extremely relived when Edward quickly return to the dinner table and lightheartedly explained that the 'intruder' had been nothing more than a lost bum. Afterward, the topic of conversation waved from the more tamer exploits of the team to Edward and Ellen's engagement party and upcoming wedding.
After dinner, everyone sipped cocktails and conversed as Ellen pulled Face aside. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to announce during the engagement party that you're Richard Bancroft, Face," Ellen said as Face looked apprehensive.
"What difference would it make?"
"Face," Ellen said with a giggle. "It would open up a whole new world for you. You'd be the talk of the town! Everyone would want to know who the mysterious man that didn't know who his parents were! We have to get this in the paper and I know the exact reporter to do it!"
"Wait," Face said grinning at his sisters enthusiasm. "You don't even know if we're related yet. We haven't gotten the test results back."
Overhearing the conversation, Edward stepped forward and smiled as he pulled an envelope from a pocket inside his jacket. "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot, this came just a little bit ago."
Face took the envelope and read the address on the front before handing it to Mo. "It's from the hospital in DC," he said as Ellen smiled broadly.
"But, that's impossible," Maggie said taking the letter. "It's only been a day! They couldn't possibly have the results back already!"
"They could if a somewhat wealthy financier made it worth their wild to do so," Edward said grinning as Ellen looked at him in surprise.
"Edward," she said softly. "You didn't?"
"Sorry, El," he said shrugging his shoulders. "I couldn't help myself. Consider it, my engagement present to you."
She smiled before turning back to Maggie. "Open it, please," she said taking Face's hand and squeezing it tightly.
"Alright," Maggie said looking at Face uneasily. "You ready?"
"Yeah," Face said with a nod as he looked at Ellen. "We need to know."
Maggie calmly and slowly opened the envelope as Hannibal stood just beside her and watched over her shoulder as she read the letter. Looking up, she sighed before making eye contact with Face and Ellen. "I'm sorry," she said her face an unreadable mask. "But, you two do have the same father!"
At first, Face wasn't sure he had heard Maggie correctly after she apologized, he was sure the news was bad. But then, Ellen squealed with delight before giving him a ferocious hug. "I knew it!" she said kissing his cheek before running to Maggie. "Thank you! Thank you!"
"Congratulations," Edward said passing Face a glass of champagne. "You're a Bancroft!"
"Yeah," Face said taking the glass. "I guess, I am."
Face wasn't sure how to feel as his friends congratulated him. Alone in his room that night, he knew once the news of who his father was got out, it was going to change everything. But, did he want the change? Was he ready for the change?
The arrival of BA and Murdock took his mind off of the whole affair along with his daily work outs with Maggie. But, as the engagement party grew nearer, Ellen's pressure to reveal Face's true identity intensified and he finally relented much to her delight.
"She says, it's because she doesn't want my father's money to go to anyone else but me," Face said looking up at Murdock as he bench pressed two twenty five pound weights. "The lawyer told me, he'll start the paperwork and I should have the inheritance by the end of the month." Murdock nodded and tried to look interested but deep down inside he was afraid. "Are you listening to me?" Face asked before setting the weights on the stand next to the bench.
"Well, sure I am," Murdock said as Face sat up. "But, I don't know what it is. I guess, I just want to know."
"Know what?" Face asked as Murdock got up and paced away from him.
"You planning on coming back?" Murdock asked quietly his back still to Face.
"Back?" Face questioned. "To what? The team?"
"Well, yeah," Murdock said turning around expectantly.
"Murdock," Face said gently. "I'm paralyzed. What good would I be to the team in this condition!"
"But, you've always been there," Murdock said almost pleadingly.
"And, I still will be there for all of you," Face replied. "I didn't want to say anything but if this works out the way I'm hoping it does. No one on the team is ever going to have to do another mission again. I want to set it up so that you're all taken care of."
"I don't know what to say," Murdock said in disbelief as Face grinned.
"Then don't say anything at all."
The day of the engagement party arrived and Face and Ellen found themselves in Edwards study with AJ Bancroft's personal lawyer. Edward, Hannibal, Maggie, BA and Murdock all watched as the lawyer slid over a new identification and social security card to Face.
"You're now legally Richard Bancroft," he said with a smile before handing him a piece of paper. "I'll need your signature on the transfer documents in order to put your father's money into your name."
Face took the paper and read it before looking up at Ellen. "Are you sure, I can't give some of this money to you?"
"I don't need it or want it," Ellen replied gently. "Please, Face. Sign it!"
"Alright," Face said shaking his head as he signed the paper in the name of Richard Bancroft. "Seems like a lot of money for one person."
"Well," the lawyer said as he took the piece of paper. "It's all yours now, son."
"Can I ask you something?" Face asked as the lawyer got to his feet.
"Of course," he said as Face looked confused. "I'm your lawyer now."
"Did my father ever find out," Face said and trailed off slowly. "I mean, I'd like to know about my...mother."
The lawyer nodded his head before reaching into his brief case and pulling out a folder. "I figured, you'd ask?" He said passing Face the folder. "Everything you want to know is in that file."
Face toyed with the file a moment before he looked up and met the lawyers intense gaze. "Is she..."
"I'm sorry, son. She's no longer in this world," the lawyer said quietly with a little sadness. "How she died and where she's buried is in the file."
Face nodded as he set the file unopened on the table and pushed it slightly away. "I figured, but still, I wanted to know."
"I understand," the lawyer said before pulling out another file. "This one contains your father's whole personal diary. The one we turned over to Washington was a condensed version but, I encourage you to read it. If you truly want to know what kind of man your father was."
"Thank you," Face said taking the file and setting it atop the other one.
"My business here is concluded," the lawyer announced as he picked up his brief case. "You now have access to your father's fortune so if you should want anything, please call my office and I'll have everything arranged."
"Thank you, sir," Face said shaking his hand. "I'll definitely be in touch. I have a few plans I need to make first."
"Excellent," the lawyer said with a smile. "I look forward to hearing from you, Mr. Bancroft."
"Thank you, Mr. Thompson," Ellen said sweetly as the man nodded at her before Edward showed him out the door.
Face sighed as Ellen sat down beside him and took his hand. "I'm sorry about your mother," she said as Face shrugged.
"What's it matter?" he said as Hannibal and the others moved in closer. "I didn't need her then and I certainly don't need her now. All the family I need," he said looking from her to his friends. "Is right here!"