1At long last, the final chapter of my story has arrived! I apologize immediately for the obvious poor quality of this chapter compared to the other ones, but I was writing this while on vacation and didn't really have the entire chapter plotted out really well. Other than that, I hope you all enjoy the conclusion to "of Fragile Leaders and Terrorists"!

Chap. 11: Atonement

The infirmary corridor was quiet, quiet enough that i8t could be considered spooky. This was the thought that circled through Rachel's head as she walked through the dark corridor, her footsteps being the only visible sound present. But even in the dimly lit corridor, there were two noticeable things that stood out about her. One was the visible bandaged gash on her right cheek, and the other was the visible look of melancholy on her beautiful face as her mind drifted back to the guilt she felt over the whole situation involving Alpha. This look remained on her face as she came to stop and face the door leading to Room 119, the room she had been informed Patton was staying in.

After hesitating for a moment, the young blonde opened the door to the room to see Patton sitting on a stretcher, wearing a white shirt and pants. Upon seeing her enter, the raven haired boy flashed her a small but sincere smile. His smile not only caused Rachel to blush a light shade of pink, it also caused her to flash a smile back at him.

"Hey", he greeted in a low, almost flirtatious tone.

"Hey", she greeted in a low, melancholy tone. Walking into the room, she closed the door behind her and walked over to the infirmary bed, seating herself next to Patton as she did. After doing so, a long moment of silence then immediately plagued the room, one that was only broken once Rachel spoke up.

"So...how are you doing", she asked in a slightly nervous tone.

"Ah...I'm okay. I've been better though", he replied.

"Are you alright", the young Drill Sergeant asked as he began to gently stroke the cut on her cheek, silencing her. As he did, a small sigh escaped his lips as a look of regret became clear in his gentle black eyes.

"To think if I hadn't distracted you, you might not have this", he whispered in a tone of regret.

"It's alright...Besides, it's not like it will take long to heal", Rachel replied with a small smile as a moment of silence came upon them once more.

"Does it hurt", the young blonde innocently asked as she gently touched his wound, ending the silence. Upon feeling her soft fingers add pressure to the wound, he winced in pain, giving Rachel her answer as she breathed a deep sigh.

"Now you see why I didn't want you getting involved", she asked in a melancholy tone that caused him to sigh deeply.

"Rachel...I knew from the start what the consequences would be if I tried to help you...but even then I was willing to risk everything just to keep you safe", he calmly replied.

"Wait. So you knew the whole time what the consequences were, but you did it anyway", she asked.

"Yes, because I love you and because I knew you needed help", he replied. "Is that a problem?"

"Yes it's a problem", she began in an annoyed tone. "Because you almost got yourself killed for no reason! I was doming just fine when you showed up."

"He was a bout to kill you when I showed up" he replied rather ruthlessly. "You're lucky I showed u just in time before he could pierce that switchblade into you!"

"I would have preferred to have been hurt or even killed instead of you getting hurt or almost killed! You I can';t stand it when you put your life on the line so recklessly", she shouted, her building anger becoming more obvious by the second.

"Well I'm sorry you can't that about me, but at least I have enough courage to die for those who deserve better", he yelled back as a moment of silence came between them.

"Just don't ever do it again", she replied in a stern yet angered tone as she turned away, crossing her arms as she did.

"That's not really something you can turn into an order", he sternly replied. "but then again, if it were a rule, you probably wouldn't break it", he said, his sentence causing Rachel to turn and face him once more.

"Are you accusing me of being a hypocrite", she asked in a furious tone.

"I might as well", he yelled back. "You have a problem when I put my life on the line for others, and et you have no problem sacrificing yourself for other!"

"That's because it's different", she defensively yelled

"Hoe is it different", the raven haired boy angrily asked.

"Because I'm a leader" she yelled. A leader is supposed to sacrifice herself for the greater good of her people."

"But why", he angrily asked. "Why do you have to-"

"Because I can't be responsible for the deaths of other people", she screamed, causing Patton to stare in shock as a moment of silence came upon them. As it did, all Rachel could do was sigh as she tilted her head away from his gaze, a melancholy expression visible on her beautiful face as she opened her mouth to speak.

"I'm sorry Patton...that's probably not the answer you wanted to hear", she replied in a melancholy yet saddened tone. " Sometimes I wish I could be more selfish...sometimes I wish I didn't have all this courage inside of me...Sometimes I wish I could be like everyone else...But then I see all these people...all these innocent people suffering pointlessly...and I just want tp protect them....That's my whole reason for being so selfless...that's my reason for wanting to be Supreme Leader...That's my reason for everything...But what good can protecting people as a leader do if all I do is screw up?...Numbuh 48Flavors was right about me..."

"Now he's not", Patton sternly replied. "You've got to remember that Numbuh 48Flavors is crazy."

"Yes he is", she screamed as she turned her gaze back towards him, surprising the raven haired boy.

"Patton...I'm a terrible leader", the young blonde continued in a stern yet shaky tone. "I've let me feelings and my beliefs get in the way of this organization, and I've run it into the ground on several occasions as a result. I thought I was protecting people...I thought I was doing good. But instead all I did was hurt innocent lives...and my operatives. I don't deserve to be a leader, I don't deserve to lead anything", she finished in the same tone as she tilted her head away from his gaze once more, allowing tears to fall from her beautiful chocolate brown eyes as she did.

"The Treaty incident...the Tag incident...the ZERO incident...I've screwed up so many times...but why has no one noticed...Why do I keep being forgiven...Why am I constantly being given opportunities for atonement that I don't deserve...", she asked herself in a rather melancholy tone as tears continued to run down her beautiful face. Suddenly though, she felt Patton rest his hand on her shoulder, not that she cared.
"Because you're fair", he replied in a low, yet sincere tone, one that surprised her as she turned to face his gaze once more. "You don't treat us like we're inferior to you, you treat us like equals. You give us a second chance when we deserve one, you get on top of our mistakes, but most importantly, you give it your all yo protect us, just like you do with the people you swear to protect. That's why we can forgive you, that's why you're so loved as a leader...because you give us a chance."

"But having said that, you've got to remember that being a leader doesn't mean you're a god, you're still just a human. You're allowed to make mistakes", the raven haired boy said, his words now helping to surface a smile onto her face.

"And for the record, it was my fault that the Kids Next Door fell during the ZERO incident...I was the one who laughed at your defeat", he said in a tone of regret.

"True, but even then I sort of created my own downfall. I was the one who insisted on fighting you", the young blonde replied.

"Well if you knew that, then why did you fight me", he asked in a very confused tone.

"Because I thought I could buy Fanny and Numbuh 2 some time...and because I wanted to try and snap you out of it...if I could", she replied.

"How typical of you. Although...you could have spared me the guilt", the raven haired boy replied, his remark causing the young blonde to slightly chuckle at his joke.

"Speaking of which Patton, I have to ask. What Numbuh 48Flavors said back there, it sort of reminds me of that dream you had awhile back. What exactly does it mean", she innocently asked, causing him to cringe as he recalled the words his foe had said to him, words that revealed his hidden secret from ZERO incident he was still not sure how she'd react to. But knowing he couldn't not give her an explanation, the yung Drill Sergeant sighed as he turned to face her once more, prepared to give her an answer.

"It's like I said before Rachel...I did things...things that went against both our morals codes...And because I still don't know how you'll react I don't want to risk what I have with you...especially now because I've told you how I really feel about you...so please just wait awhile longer...I'll tell you when I'm ready", he replied. "Besides, right now I want to focus on you Rachel. I want to know...what's your next move?"

Upon hearing that question, the young blonde felt herself become confused, a look of surprise now apparent on her beautiful face as he continued to stare intently at her. Although not expecting that question, she began to think over what he had asked, wanting to give him the best answer possible. After a few minutes of silent thinking, the young Supreme Leader finally turned to face her friend, prepared to give him an answer.

"Well...up until this point I was seriously considering retiring from my position. But you're right, I'm just human, and I'm allowed to make mistakes. And with that and my passion to protect innocent people in mind, I will continue to lead the Kids Next Door wile seeking a way to make up for my past mistakes...that will be my atonement", the young Supreme Leader replied as a small smile formed on her beautiful face, causing him to flash one back at her.

"Great", the young Drill Sergeant replied as he gently put his strong hand on top of her soft hand. Then if I may ask...can I sort of help you lead the Kids Next Door", he sincerely asked, his question shocking her as silence incased the room.

"Thank you Patton, but I think it's best that you stay away from me in the future...along with everyone else", Rachel replied in a sincere tone.

"What? Why", he asked.

"Because I can't risk hurting anyone else! Patton, I understand that you and everyone else cares about me and wants to help protect me. But you must understand that I'd never forgive myself if I lost you, my friends, or anyone involved with the Kids Next Door", she replied. "Besides, being Supreme Leader is a solitary code of honor, one that requires strength and patience, as well as the ability to resist anything that may cloud my judgement. That's why I must surcome to the idea of isolation", she sternly continued.

"You can't avoid those closest to you ", Patton sternly replied.

"Well I can try", she sternly replied back.

"No you can't", he replied as he raised his voice to a tone of anger, surprising her.

"Look, I know you're scared of losing the ones you care about. But no matter what you do Rachel, Sector V, Numbuh 86 and I will always be looking out for you. Sure we may get battered and bruised, but we don't care...because we care about you...You've touched us, inspired us...and loved us in a way that we can never forget. And as a result...we can't stay away from you...I can't stay away from you...not when we love you in the ways that we do", he said in a low tone as she continued to stare at him, seemingly touched by his words.

"Look", he continued. "I'm not asking for you to promote me or anything...all I'm asking is that whenever you feel like your job is stressing you out, or there's something you're not sure on, or if you just need someone to blow off steam on, I want to be the person you come to when you need help or advice", he replied in a determined tone.

"I can't let you do that", Rachel replied.

"But Rachel-"

"Patton, please understand", she continued, cutting him off as she did.

"I can't allow anything to cloud my judgement...especially not these feelings I have for you...Besides, if anyone found out you were helping me, and you got hurt, and I lost you-"

"Rachel I don't care if I get hurt", Patton interrupted in a sincere tone. "I want to make you happy...I want to lessen your burden...I want to erase the loneliness in your heart..."

"Really", she asked as her voice slightly cracked.

"I meant every word I said to you Rachel...I'd never lie to you", he said in a low, yet sympathetic and romantic tone.

Upon hearing those words, Rachel felt herself become touched by her friends deep feelings and determination once more, so much so that she embraced him into an unexpected tight hug. At first, the raven haired boy was surprised by this action. But upon realizing that it was a hug out of gratefulness and acceptance towards his idea, the young Drill Sergeant couldn't help but smile as he embraced her right back, continuing the tender moment between them.

"Thank you Patton...thank you", she whispered as tears of joy escaped from her beautiful chocolate brown eyes.

"The pleasure's all mine", he whispered as they broke their embrace, becoming lost in each others eyes immediately afterwards as if the moment had never ended.

"You know I was thinking. Now that we're going to be working together more often, I think it's only fair that we realize we make our relationship official" Patton replied in a devious tone, one that caused Rachel to immediately realize what he meant.

"I'm afraid I can't do that. I'd love to, but with us in the positions we're in, it would be impossible. I mean there's so many rules, so many regulations, and so many risks. As much as I'd love to say those three words to you...I'm not prepared to take the risks."

"Alright", he replied in a devious tone as he gently pressed his forehead up against her soft one, causing her to blush a light shade of pink. "I can wait until you're ready. Besides...knowing how you feel's enough for me for now. After all...you are the one who made the first move."

Upon hearing those words, Rachel did nothing more than smile deviously as he leaned in and delivered a short, but loving kiss to her lips, one she accepted wholeheartedly. Upon breaking their liplock, the young couple put the worst behind them.

A leader is constantly defined by acts of courage or cowardice often overlooked by the general public. However, a leader is defined not by what is required of their job, but more so the decisions they make and enact upon those who follow them. Wether or not people agree with a leaders vision is their decision to choose, but a leader cannot truly be judged by the present generation, they can only be judged by the future generation. And like all other leaders before her, this young girl can only be judged by operatives to come. True, she may be fragile, but her strong personality and passion for justice will surely earn her a rightful place in the hall of Kids Next Door fame. Not just among future generations, but also amongst the present generation of operatives who have come to love her.

The End