Thank you, Quicksilver123, for your review! So glad someone is still enjoying this story! :)
If I'd been quicker, I could have posted this 14th chapter on Feb 14th a.k.a. Valentine's Day, but I'm close enough. Happy reading ;)
Toll looked up when Barney came into the lounge part of Tool's hangout. He sat across from him, and Toll had a feeling he knew what it was going to be about.
"Lee is leaving," Barney said. Toll froze. That was not at all what he had thought Barney was going to say.
"What?!"
"He's had enough of this life," Barney went on. "And he said to tell you he wishes you and Kate all the best." It had been implied anyway.
Toll closed his eyes briefly. She had been avoiding Toll ever since they'd left the mountains.
"Where's he going?"
"He didn't say."
"But you have an idea?"
"He's got a favorite bar somewhere. That's all I know."
"I see."
"Look, have you talked to Kate?" Barney asked.
"No."
"Do you know that Lee's crazy about Kate?"
Toll sighed. He didn't want to admit it, but he did know. All the signs had been there.
"Yea, I figured it out."
"Look, the last thing Lee ever wanted was to hurt you."
"I know that. He gave up his life for Kate before you got him out. He told me he'd never do anything with her. I tried to believe he really didn't like her, but that fell flat."
"You and I both know Lee, and we both know that when he falls hard, he gets scared. He's loved that woman for a long time now, way before Lacy came into the picture. He's just too chicken to admit it."
"I see," Toll said.
"I know you feel that Lee gets the cream of the crop all the time..."
"That's not it," Toll cut him off. "It's just...next to him, no one notices me. That Mark guy couldn't even tell it was me that was dating Kate. He just assumed Lee was. Lacy took to Lee after I expressed interest first. I feel like I'm never taken seriously."
"Toll," Barney said sincerely. "I take you very seriously. You're one of my best men, and you do a lot for us and our team. You're smart and funny and a hell of a nice guy. I know you'll find the right girl for you. It's just not Kate."
"I know," Toll nodded, looking down at his hands.
"Go talk to her," Barney instructed.
"I will."
It was going to be a hard conversation, that was for sure.
...
Lee rested his head on the window, watching the clouds move underneath him. He hadn't even said goodbye because he didn't want to make a scene. He knew Barney would tell them for him. He had avoided Kate because he knew that if she begged him to stay, he probably would. He had to let her go. He had to let her and Toll be together. He was no good for her.
"Are you all right?" the elderly woman beside him asked. She was looking at his face and bruises with skeptical eyes.
"Oh, yes," Lee nodded. "Just had a bit of an accident."
"Goodness. Was everyone okay?"
"They were just fine. I took the brunt of it," Lee smiled. At least he hadn't lost a tooth yet. The lady turned her attention back to her book, and he went back to his window.
...
Right after Toll left, Kate appeared. Barney looked up at her as she came in. She had some cuts and scrapes on her, but otherwise she looked fine.
"Where's Lee?" she asked.
"He's gone," Barney answered, ripping the bandaid off. She stared at him.
"What do you mean, gone?"
"He left."
"For a trip?"
"For good."
"He...he left for good?" she repeated. She felt her heart stop. How could he just leave?!
"Yea."
"Did he say why?"
"He thinks that if he's out of the picture, he can let you go, and you can be happy with Toll."
"But...that's not what I want." She had not been successful in not thinking about Lee. She had decided that she was going to talk to him and be honest with him, like Barney had suggested. She was going to tell him again that she loved him.
"Finally."
"You don't have to sound so smug about it," she said, annoyed.
"Of course I do. I was right this whole time. Toll is on his way to talk to you about it."
"Do you know where Lee went?"
"He didn't say."
"Oh my God," Kate said, pressing her hand into her face. Lee was gone, and he hadn't said goodbye. That really hurt.
"I think you should talk to Toll," Barney went on. "Don't drag that out."
"I know, I know. It was my intention when I found him. Thank you," she said, going to the door. Barney was almost like the dad of this group, which was endearing and a bit annoying sometimes. Kate went to find Toll and deliver the bad news. She dreaded crushing him, but she might as well get it over with now.
...
Toll looked at Kate sitting across from him, and he both knew and dreaded what was coming next. She had found him at their diner and said it was time to talk, which he agreed because he was sitting there getting up the nerve to go find her. He sighed, knowing it was wrong to keep making something go forward if it wasn't right.
"It's Lee, isn't it?" Toll asked, making her look at him. The noise around them seemed to dull as he waited for her response.
"You know." She felt terrible.
"I can just tell. Lee never was good at hiding how he feels," Toll chuckled. Then he grew serious. "Kate, be honest with me, do you like me?"
"I do, Toll, but I think it's more as a friend than as a boyfriend," she answered. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. I'd rather know now than later," he assured her.
"I think it's too late for me and Lee anyway," she went on. "But I don't want to pretend and say this is what I want when it's not."
"I don't think it's too late," Toll shook his head. "I know Lee. He wears his heart on his sleeve, but he got hurt pretty bad by Lacy, so it's hidden under his sleeve right now. The right woman will bring it out again, and I think it's you, Kate."
"You're such a special guy, you know?" she said, tearing up. "I really hope you find the right girl whose heart is all yours."
Toll bowed his head, feeling emotional.
"I'm sure I will," he said after he collected himself. He squeezed her hand. "You better go get him."
"He's already left, and I have no idea where he's gone."
"All Barney said was he had a favorite bar. That's it. I don't know where that is."
"Oh," Kate said, realizing.
"What?" Toll asked.
"I know where he is," she said, breathless. She jumped to her feet. "Are we okay?"
"Yea, we're okay," Toll nodded. It did hurt, but he knew it was the right thing. "Now, go get him."
He didn't have to tell her twice.
...
Lee sat and watched the crowd live around him. He felt empty and lost. He hated that he felt this way. He hated himself for just leaving, but he was too afraid to stay. He knew Kate would have wanted to talk about their relationship, and he knew he would tell her no because even though they had kissed and she had said she loved him (and he loved her too), he couldn't let her be with him. She deserved someone who wasn't afraid inside. It was better this way. He'd find other work. He was beginning to think that the mercenary life had run its course anyway. He'd been in England for a couple of days now, and the peace he had been looking for had so far evaded him.
"Another?" the bartender asked when he noticed Lee's drink was empty.
"No," Lee shook his head. He was going to go back to his motel room anyway. He felt tired. He went to leave when he walked straight into someone.
"I'm so sorry," he said, untangling himself from them. He winced a little from the pain in his ribs from the impact. "I didn't..." He stopped short, his breath caught in his throat.
"It's my bad," Kate apologized. "I should really watch where I'm going."
"Kate," he managed to say. "What are you...how did you...?"
"I heard you went to your favorite bar. If my memory serves me right, you mentioned a fondness for this one before," she said.
"I see."
"I broke up with Toll."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. We knew we weren't right for each other," she said. She reached to touch his hand. "He told me that a good friend of his, who also happens to be my good friend, needs someone like me to bring their heart back onto their sleeve again."
"He told you that?" Lee asked. Toll really was a good friend. No other guy could let someone as incredible as Kate go like that.
"Mmhmm," Kate nodded.
"So you came here," Lee noted.
"You're not a hard man to find," she smiled.
"Barney told you."
"Pretty much." It wasn't a total lie. Barney had told Toll, who had told her.
"Asshole."
"He means well."
"I suppose."
"But...here I am," she said.
"And what if you're too late?" he asked. She cocked her head at him.
"What if I'm not?" she countered. "What if this was the other time and place that I told you about when I first met you?"
Lee felt all his fear and anxiety leave him at this point. He could tell Kate was serious, and he somehow knew that she wouldn't hurt him despite his fear of that. He took her all in, and he noticed that she had even done her hair like the first time he'd seen it, all curls.
"I don't want to constantly remind you of Liam," Lee said.
"You don't. I mean, yes, there are some similarities, but no, you don't remind me of him all the time. In fact, you help me cope," Kate said. "I think about Liam 24/7 sometimes, and I relive that moment over and over, but when I'm with you, it fades into the background. I don't feel the need to smoke as much, and I don't beat myself up over something I had no control over. So don't you dare try to use my brother as an excuse here."
She looked at him fiercely, and Lee knew he couldn't pretend any longer. He loved her, and afraid or not, it was time to stop being an idiot.
"I know somewhere we could go," he said after a moment. Her grip on his hand tightened.
"Take me there," she instructed. She was standing very close to Lee now, their lips almost touching, and she thought he was going to kiss her by the way he was looking at her, but he didn't. He didn't say a word as he moved to pull her behind him out the bar. It wasn't a far walk back to his room, just a block from the bar. Lee felt apprehension building between them, but it was the good kind. He nodded at the motel staff who was standing there, and they waited for the elevator. Once it came and they were inside, Kate felt the blood pumping in her ears. Would he just hurry up and kiss her already? She imagined him taking her into his arms and pushing her against the wall of the elevator. It stopped, and some people came in, making Kate annoyed. When they finally reached the right floor, got out of the elevator, and started walking down the hallway to his room, Kate quickened her steps. At his door, she pressed herself against it while he went to find his room key. She wanted him to kiss her very badly.
"Lee?" she said, making him look at her.
"Yea?" He grew worried she was having second thoughts.
"I can't wait any longer," she said.
"Just two seconds..." he started, finally finding his room key. She grabbed his shoulders, and he stopped, looking at her. Their faces were so close together. There was no holding back anymore, no reason not to do it. He kissed her. Oh, the sparks, how they flew. And this time, it didn't taste like blood, dirt, smoke, or tears. Without looking, he put the room key into the slot and opened the door without stopping the kiss. Once inside, he tossed the room key and slid his hands onto her back and one up behind her neck, pulling her in closer. She removed his coat eventually and hers, and he kiss walked her to the bed, setting her down onto it gently.
"It's been a long time," she said, when they finally did break apart for a moment.
"You didn't with...?"
"No," she shook her head. "Just a few make out sessions."
"Oh."
"I thought you'd be glad."
"I am. I just feel sorry for the bugger and what he missed out on," Lee joked. She swatted him then, and he fell down kissing her once more. It felt like a dream, being tangled up with her. She was careful with his broken ribs. He was living his wildest dreams as he held her close to him.
"You said something to me back in that fire that I didn't get the chance to respond to," he said. She pressed her face against his. She didn't like to think about it due the feelings of embarrassment that followed after, but she knew what he was referring to.
I love you.
"It's okay," she said.
"I know, but it's important to me for you to know that I do love you. I always have," he told her.
She kissed him again, causing him to get lost in her, and what came next was the best experience of his life. Kate herself had never experienced this level of intimacy. Lee finally got rid of the fear and knew that she was what he wanted forever, and he had absolutely no regrets.
...
Lee woke up with Kate in his arms. At first he felt it was a dream, but when she moved her face closer into his neck, he knew it wasn't.
"Hi," she said, waking up.
"Hey."
"Took us long enough, huh?"
"Sure did," he grinned. She kissed him gently.
"We're just a pair of idiots, aren't we?"
"I think we can stop calling ourselves that now," he told her. She smiled back as he touched her face.
"If you ever try to leave me again, I'll just find you once more," she warned.
"I won't leave you."
"Can we go back home now?"
"After we visit your parents," Lee answered. "And maybe that annoying sister of yours." He knew she wasn't on great terms with Emma right now. He remembered her phone call before they went on the mission. He knew she needed to reconcile. Her face broke out into a wide grin.
"Okay."
"But it really doesn't matter where we are because you are my home," he told her seriously. "I'm sorry it took me so long."
"I'm sorry I didn't help you figure it out."
"I'm serious. We can stay here...maybe avoid some bullets and beatings for a while."
"I think that would be nice," she smiled. If they went back, they went back. She wouldn't push. Lee seemed to need some down time, and so did she.
Lee's phone went off, and he saw it was Barney. Kate got up while he read the message.
You do it yet?
None of your damn business, Lee wrote back.
That's my boy.
Lee chuckled to himself. He looked at Kate as she got dressed and ready for the day.
"Are you sure you want to meet my crazy family?" she asked.
"I'd love to. I really want to know everything about you," he answered. She paused, her hands mid air as she was doing her ponytail.
"Fair enough," she nodded after a moment, smiling again. "But I will warn you, things get tense quickly."
"It's all right."
They set out for breakfast before they went to find her family. Kate was nervous and could barely eat suddenly.
"What's wrong?" Lee asked.
"I just...what if you remind them of Liam too? I mean, Emma claims she can see a resemblance. What if they do too?"
"All right. I have to see a picture of this guy now," Lee said. "You're making me feel like I'm his secret twin who was separated at birth or something."
Kate reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a photograph, the one of Liam dressed in his military uniform. She handed it to Lee carefully, who examined it. He had to hold back his shock upon seeing Liam's face. His hand trembled a little.
"What? What is it?" she asked, immediately noticing. Lee cleared his throat once, twice.
"He saved my life," Lee answered.
"Wh-What?"
"In the SAS. He was a part of a different squadron, one that had come to assist us when we had gotten pinned down. I was making a dash for cover, and he saw the sniper and took him out before I got killed. We had drinks together when we got out of there, and then we never saw each other again." Lee remembered it vividly. Liam had a huge grin that seemed to just make everyone feel happier when they were next to him.
"Oh my God," Kate said, feeling something inside of her.
"I remember him telling me about his family," Lee said, thinking hard. "He said they weren't too fond about him being in the SAS, but they were still proud of him, and he loved them like crazy, particularly his Katie girl." Lee trailed off, recalling the memory still. Liam had been laughing and smoking. He'd told Lee that he hated killing people, that when he got out, he was going to do something where he helped people in a better way instead.
"It was hard having him join up, but we understood why he did it. He thought he was going to help people."
"He was a good guy," Lee assured her. "I think we could have been friends if life had happened differently."
"He would have liked you," Kate confirmed.
"So," Lee said, looking at her. "I guess he saved both of us, and now we're here."
Kate didn't know what to think. Her brother had crossed paths with Lee. They had talked.
"Somehow it makes me even more sure that this was supposed to be," she said finally. "You and me. I know that sounds crazy."
"It's not," Lee shook his head. "I had really liked him and had wished he was on my squadron. He had mad skills."
"He was proud of me for making my way into law enforcement," Kate said.
"He'd still be proud of you," Lee assured her. She gave a small smile.
"So," Lee said after letting her process for a bit. "Your parents."
"Yes. Maybe don't mention our jobs to them," she said.
"Emma didn't tell them?"
"Emma is good at keeping secrets. She never told my parents about Alejandro or half the dangerous things I was into with the FBI," Kate answered. "I had to talk to someone, and she was always there for me. I feel like such a jerk now that I know she felt tolerated and left out when we were growing up."
"Hey, you're here now, and you're gonna be fine," Lee told her, taking her hand in his. "And with my charm, she'll be thrilled in no time."
Kate burst out laughing, which released the tension in her chest. They finished eating and headed out to the street.
"Okay," Kate said as they got into the rental car. "Here goes."
"It'll be fine," Lee promised.
"I haven't told you about Grace," Kate said as they drove.
"Grace?"
"She's my other sister. I don't see her much. She does relief work for natural disasters with Red Cross."
"It sounds like your family all reacted to Liam's death differently," Lee noted. Kate gripped the steering wheel tightly.
"We did," she agreed. "Mum and Dad left the States. They couldn't bear to be in the same place where Liam was killed. Grace took off. Emma followed Mum and Dad, and I...I stayed there and fought bad guys."
Lee rode in silence, knowing she had more to say and didn't want to interrupt.
"Liam...he went back to England after high school because he wanted to reconnect with our roots," Kate went on after a moment. "He loved it over here. He was settling down over here after the SAS. He was just visiting us when he...when he died. I think that's another reason Mum and Dad came here after. They wanted to be where he was the happiest."
"It makes sense," Lee nodded when she didn't continue. He reached and put his hand on her leg, hoping to calm her nerves.
"We don't talk much," Kate said. "I hate lying to them about what I do, and I sometimes feel smothered because they fear of losing another child. I distance myself for both of us, you know?"
"So showing up on their doorstep is really going to be a surprise for them," Lee commented.
"Yes."
"Well, I'm not going anywhere."
Kate breathed in and out steadily, but her heart was still pounding. As they rounded the corner to her parents' house, she mentally prepared for what was going to come next.
I bet you're all thinking, "Finally!" I'm thinking it too :)
