Epilogue
Kestrel was striding on the alley of the cemetery, eager to speak with his love. He was carrying a huge bunch of white roses, her favourite ones, and had dressed carefully. He had also kept his beard and cut it neatly, like she had always liked. The sun was baking his back, and the wind was gently blowing. He felt calm and relaxed for the first time in a year. He arrived at a simple tombstone, engraved with a name, a date and a quotation of Aristotle written in French. He read with emotion the golden letters that said: "Alpha. 1985-2014. Le sacrifice de soi est la condition de la vertu." (Self-sacrifice is the condition to virtue)
He inhaled deeply and started to speak:
_ Hi, my love! I'm sorry I'm late, but we've just landed at the airport. I was afraid we couldn't be there until tomorrow, but Sam organized an in-flight refuelling to save time, so here I am, on time. The team is coming too, they want to say hello.
He breathed deeply, crouched and set the roses on the tomb. He lightly touched the tombstone, then rose again.
_ Anyway, I didn't want to miss this visit. It's been a year today since your death.
He fought back the tears welling up in his eyes, and had another deep breath.
_ I won't lie to you, my love. It's been very hard without you. I almost started drinking again, but Grim was there to prevent me. She told me you asked her to watch over me. You've always been so insightful.
He smiled a little, thinking about good memories of her.
_ And of course, being with Fourth Echelon saved me. That last mission in Tadjikistan lasted four months! Four months without coming back to see you! That was pretty hard, I admit. But at least we've stopped the last Engineers. And I wanted to tell you that Meggido has officially disappeared for good. Sturridge shot himself in his office when his own men came to arrest him, Leblanc received a life sentence in France, Coudray and Sarto are life prisoners too but here in the States. Banks and Prewett committed suicide, and Schneider, Brook and the Canadian one, de Villiers, got a thirty years' sentence. But I have good news for you.
He smiled a little and went on:
_ Your evidence has cleared you. The justice considers you are a hero. The President has decided to award you the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She'll give it to Sam, and he has decided to put it in the control room of the Paladin, to remind us all of your courage and sacrifice. I find it a good idea.
His voice started to shake, and at long last he let the tears falling on his cheeks.
_ I'm so proud of you, but I miss you so much!
He sobbed for a few minutes, pain and grief still in his heart. That year had been terrible, but he had had support from the team, not letting him falling into a nervous breakdown. He had had trouble accepting her death, and Sam had forced him to see a psychologist between the missions. Now he felt better, and the pain was fading but still hurt. He wiped away his tears and breathed deeply, calming down.
_ Briggs found me an apartment not far from here, he said, his voice firm. I'll be able to visit you more often, if we have less missions of course. We all need a vacation, especially Grim. It's been hard for her too. But fortunately Sam is always waiting on her hand and foot, it's cute. They live together now, and as far as I know, they still haven't broken the china.
He smiled, picturing Alpha's laugh in his mind, and his heart rejoiced a little. He was slowly healing, and soon he hoped the bittersweet memories would be only sweet ones.
_ Oh! I almost forgot! Charlie is dating a girl! A hacker, of course, but she works in the CIA as an analyst. We haven't met her but Charlie showed us a photo. I think she's nice but too thin for my taste. I preferred your curves.
He smiled again as his thoughts became more intimate. But he blushed and said:
_ Anyway... Briggs is still celibate or rather pretends to be, since to every party we go he finds a new partner. I will never understand him.
He paused for a few seconds, and heard distant footsteps. Turning his head he saw Sam, Grim, Briggs and Charlie fifty meters away. He hastily finished what he had to say in private:
_ I've read your favourite book, and I found it very interesting. I plan to read it again during these holidays. And I love you, Alpha. I'll always love you, and you will always be in my heart.
He sent her a kiss, and turned towards the team.
_ Hi! he said.
The newcomers greeted him and said hello to Alpha's tomb. Grim had tears in her eyes, Sam was staring grimly at the tombstone, Briggs and Charlie looked awkward and sad. But Kestrel looked at ease, and addressed Alpha as if she was among them.
_ You see, the complete Fourth Echelon team, like I promised. Sam did all he could with the flight time to be there today.
_ Yeah, and that in-flight refuelling was no piece of cake, he rumbled, but half a smile on his face. But we had to be there on time, so here we are.
Kestrel smiled too. He was not alone. Alpha had passed away, and her body was beneath the earth at their feet, but he wasn't alone. And he had found the strength to live with the team at his side, especially Sam and Grim, who had taken great care of him. At that moment, Grim's beeper emitted a small alarm. She took it out and heaved a sigh.
_ It's the President. I have to call her.
_ No! Charlie grumbled loudly as she walked away, taking out her cellphone. We just came back!
_ Duty is above everything, Charlie, Sam said seriously. Ask Alpha.
Charlie stopped complaining, and Kestrel shot a glance at Sam. His boss, and now friend, had not forgiven himself for Alpha's death, even if Grim had confessed to them the woman's sacrifice a few months ago. But Sam still had trouble accepting it, just like Kestrel. They both needed time to appease their guilty consciences. Grim came back to them and said apologetically:
_ There's an emergency. Some hostage-taking in Dallas, the thugs are believed to be Sadiq's last men. We take off in an hour.
Kestrel turned to Alpha's tombstone and said calmly:
_ We have a mission, my love. We have to go. But it's been nice speaking to you. Please watch over us from above.
He sent her another kiss, and as the team started to leave in silence, he murmured to her:
_ I love you.
