Emily kept watching Toll, knowing that he was waiting for the phone call from Barney. She felt as though she might explode from waiting. Rosemary was playing cards with Eddie, and Eric was hiding and avoiding her. Shadow was with him. The dog had hidden underneath her bed ever since the gunfight on the island until Eric came, and she didn't blame him one bit.
"Are you going to talk to your brother? Or are you going to be mad at him forever too?" Rosemary asked, cutting into her thoughts.
"I haven't decided," Emily answered.
"You know everyone did what they did to keep you safe, right?" Rosemary pointed out. "That was the only reason."
"Whose side are you on?" Emily asked.
"Everyone's," she answered.
"Life is too short," Trench said, having been listening. "Have you not witnessed that enough?"
Emily opened and closed her mouth. He was right. She had.
"Excuse me," she said, getting up and going to find her brother. She found him in the backyard throwing a stick for Shadow, who then proceeded to taunt Eric with it, making him chase the dog around until he got it back.
"You clearly don't know the game Fetch very well," Emily said, making him look at her.
"I know. It's more like Throw and Fight to Get it Back," Eric nodded. Shadow wagged his tail happily, glad that Eric understood the game finally.
"Look," Emily started.
"I should have told you," Eric interrupted. "I beat myself up about it every single day, and every day I kept seeing Barney's face and remembered the threat he made of cutting out my vocal cords. I just...I shouldn't have been so afraid of him."
"You didn't tell me because in your heart you knew you were keeping me safe," Emily said when Eric was finished. "I understand."
"You do?" he asked.
"Yes. I almost lost you, Eric, and life is too damn short to have stupid fights about things that were done out of regard for safety. It's in the past, okay? Let's just move on ahead," Emily said. Eric looked immensely relieved, and he hugged his sister tightly.
"He's coming home," Eric said to her as they hugged. "I know he is."
"I really, really hope you're right," Emily sighed.
Toll came bursting out then, and he was grinning widely.
"What?" Emily asked.
"It's over. They're coming home," Toll answered.
"All of them?"
"All of them," Toll replied, nodding. Emily almost burst into tears again. She and Eric hugged once more out of joy, laughing.
It was finally over.
The Next Day
Lee barely waited for the boat to stop before he was on the dock and hurrying to where Emily was waiting for him. He grabbed her into a bone crushing hug, and she cried with relief while laughing.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you so much," he replied. "It's done. We're free."
"Daddy!" Eddie called. Lee released Emily and bent to catch Eddie as the boy hurled himself at his father.
"I'm back," he said. "I'm never leaving again."
Barney smiled as he watched his friend interact with his family. He had given the rundown to Toll and Trench, who had buried their prisoner earlier. The man had succumbed to his wounds, but neither Trench nor Toll were upset about it. He'd helped to kill Gunner.
"What's for dinner?" Caesar asked.
"Aren't you cooking?" Barney countered.
"I've got it," Trench said. "I'll be back."
Caesar and Trench left together. Yang went off to shower. Toll and Barney looked over at Lee, who was now talking to Rosemary and Eric while holding Eddie in his arms.
"We're gonna lose him," Toll noted.
"I'd rather he live his life than spend forever making himself expendable," Barney replied. "He deserves it after everything he's been through."
"I agree," Toll nodded. It was good to see their friend happy again.
Two Weeks Later
"I'm really going to miss you," Eric said as Emily packed.
"It's only for a little while," she promised. "I've just always wanted to go."
"I know, I know."
"Come with us," Lee suggested.
"I have to fix up the bar and get it running again," Eric replied. "But thanks."
"Leave it, and I'll help you when we come back," Lee offered.
"Toll's gonna help actually," Eric said. "He's handy apparently."
"Eric made a new friend," Emily teased.
"He protected me and knows a lot about different things. Am I not allowed to have a friend?" Eric asked.
"Of course you are. You always were such a loner without Lee around. It's good for you to have a new friend," Emily smiled.
"He's my new wingman to pick up chicks since you're taken," Eric said to Lee.
"Now that I would pay to see," Lee smirked.
"Okay," Emily said. "That's the last bag."
She added it to the pile. Eddie was napping for the moment. Emily would wake him when they were ready to go.
"Okay, pal," Lee said to Shadow as he bent to pet him. "I'm leaving again, but it's just for a little while. I'll be back."
"I think he knows," Eric nodded. The two friends stood there looking at each other while Emily went to wake up Eddie.
"You knew I was still alive," Lee noted. Barney had confessed that to him on the flight home from England.
"I did, but Barney threatened me..."
"I know, he told me," Lee cut him off. "I'm just grateful you kept her safe, Eric."
"She's my sister. I'd do anything for her."
"As would I," Lee nodded.
"Are we going on an airplane?" Eddie asked, excited, as they walked into the room.
"Yes, we are," Emily answered.
"Yay!"
"Have fun in Paris, sis," Eric said, hugging her. "Mum said to visit sometime since you're closer." Rosemary had gone home at this point now that things were settled and Eric was all right.
"I guess," Emily joked. Lee started taking suitcases down to the car. Eric was letting them borrow his.
"I'm glad to see you happy again," Eric said. "I'm sorry it took this long to get here."
"At least we're here now," Emily replied. Eddie rushed to assist Lee when he returned, and she could hear the two of them chattering in the hallway.
"I love you," Eric said.
"I love you too," she said back.
When they were all loaded up, more hugs were given, and Eric stood and watched them drive away towards their new life.
...
Barney answered his phone, knowing who it was going to be.
"Barney?" Caroline said.
"Yea?"
"You said to call if I needed to talk."
"I did. What's up?"
"I just wanted to say that I'm not skipping school anymore. I'm seeing a therapist, and the other girls that came forward are getting help too. It means a lot that you did this for me, for all of us."
"I'm glad things are getting better," Barney said. He was watching Yang and Caesar have some kind of chicken wing cook off. It was amusing. Tool was egging them on, and Toll was somewhere packing to go stay with Eric in New York.
"Will I ever see you again?" Caroline asked.
"Hard to say, kiddo, but I'm always here to talk."
"I guess I'll have to take that for now," Caroline sighed.
"Your sister good? Your mom?"
"They're fine. Mom is her usual self. I can't wait for college."
"She'll come around."
"Her best friend died, so she has been upset about that. The worst part is no one even knows what happened to Joanna. She was found stabbed in some random person's yard."
"That's too bad," Barney said.
"I gotta go. Mom is giving me dagger eyes," Caroline said.
"Take care, Caroline," Barney said. "And call whenever, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks, Barney. Say hi to Caesar for me too."
"Will do."
Barney hung up, a smile on his face now. He was glad the girl was doing all right.
"Who was that?" Tool asked, curious.
"A friend," Barney answered. He considered Caroline a friend.
"Heard from Lee?"
"They boarded their plane. They're heading out soon."
"Good for him."
"I'm gonna miss him, but it's for the greater good."
"You can always bust out Doc if you need a knife specialist," Tool pointed out.
"You're right. I can," Barney nodded. He picked up his drink and sipped it.
"Time! That's time!" Caesar shouted. He and Yang were examining each other's work now.
"To Gunner," Tool said suddenly, raising his glass. Barney raised his glass too.
"To Gunner," Barney echoed. He missed his colleague and friend, but he knew Gunner wouldn't want him to dwell on it too much.
"All right, folks," Toll said, coming out with his bag. "I'm off."
"Have fun," Barney commented.
"Will do. I haven't built anything in a while. I'm stoked," Toll grinned.
"Just make sure it isn't gonna fall and crush the guy when it's done," Barney joked.
"Ye of little faith," Toll snorted.
"Gimme some of those wings," Tool said now, getting up and going over to Yang and Caesar. Barney waved to Toll as he exited, and he sat back to watch his three friends.
Yes indeed, life would carry on.
...
"I can't believe we're here," Emily said when they finally got to the place they'd rented in Paris. Eddie was racing around and looking at everything. Lee finished bringing their bags inside. He joined her on the small balcony outside.
"So this is how it feels to be relaxed and not on edge thinking you're gonna die every second," Lee joked as he put his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Right?" Emily said, laughing a little.
"It's you and me now," Lee said after a bit. She moved to kiss him then.
"I can live with that," she said afterwards.
"Mummy! Daddy! Look! I can see the tower from my room!" Eddie shouted from inside. "Come see!"
Emily and Lee grinned at each other before going to join their son inside. It was a start of a new adventure for all of them, and Lee was grateful he'd taken Gunner's advice.
He wasn't going to waste his second chance.
One chapter left!
