Oh, baby, it's a wild world.

A Month Later

"Good," Lila was saying. "Good. Kate, you're doing great."

Kate took one step carefully, moving her hands down the support bars to hold herself while taking another step.

"Wonderful!" Stacy clapped. "You're doing so good, Kate!"

Kate smiled. It had been a month of hard work every day, and she could now finally take steps. She couldn't do it without hanging onto something, but she was walking at least. Dr. Sanchez had been thrilled at her progress. He had told her she was one of the few who was making such good recovery time. He had confidence she was going to fully recover.

"It sucks that it is so exhausting just to walk 10 steps," she sighed as they got her settled back into her wheelchair.

"It'll keep getting better," Lila promised.

Kate just nodded as they made their way back to her room. She still didn't have a hundred percent strength in her right arm to push herself, so they were pushing her. She was working on it. They gave her exercises like cutting up food to help with her grip and such. She was determined to get better.

"There's Mr. Handsome," Stacy said with a teasing tone. Kate looked to see Lee leaning against her doorway and grinning at her.

"Ladies," he said. "How was physio today?"

"She is gonna soon be able to kick your ass," Lila answered, smirking.

"She thinks so," Lee replied.

"You're on," Kate said, pointing at him. "When this is over, you and me."

"All right," he laughed. He followed them inside, and they got her into her chair. Lee sat beside her once the nurses were gone.

"Hi," Kate said, reaching to touch him. He smiled and took her hand in his, kissing her fingers.

"You're in a good mood," he noted after.

"I walked farther today," she said. "10 steps."

"Look at you," he grinned. "Kicking ass and taking names."

"I'm going to get out of here," she promised.

"I know you are."

"How's Hope?"

"Good. Enjoying school," Lee answered. She had returned to classes not that long ago. Her teachers had been very understanding about what had been going on in Hope's life. They were thrilled to meet him as Hope's father.

"I heard she met a boy," Kate teased. Lee rolled his eyes.

"She thinks she has."

"Lee, don't be like that," she admonished.

"He's a twerp," Lee said. "He's nowhere near good enough for her."

"Look at you being an overprotective father already," Kate laughed.

"Speaking of parents," Lee said after a moment. "How did your visit go?"

"Ugh, don't ask," Kate groaned. Leah and Oliver had come to see her not long after her injury, but she had asked them to leave after they started going on about the dangers of her job and why couldn't she just work somewhere safer? They came again the day before, and it had gone a little better, but Kate refused to tell them about Lee or Hope because she didn't want to be trapped in a wheelchair with no escape when they lit into her about it all.

"You tell them about me? Hope?" he asked on cue.

"No. That's a conversation to have when I can actually walk away from them," Kate answered. Lee understood. From the sounds of things, her parents were a bit overbearing and had control issues.

They talked about other things for the rest of their visit. More often than not, their summer together and the things they had gotten up to came up. Kate very much wanted to get out of there and be with Lee the way she wanted to be with him. She could sense he wanted that too.

"All right," he said at the end. "I should go."

"Say hi to the boys for me," Kate replied.

"Will do. They just flew in from Cambodia."

"Do you miss it?" she asked. He paused, thinking.

"No," he shook his head. "I don't." He had retired much to Barney's dismay. He now worked part time as a mechanic. It was safer, and Lee never wanted to put Hope or Kate in danger like before ever again.

He kissed her goodbye, lingering as long as he could. Then he left before Nurse Ginny could tell him he was being a nuisance. They were getting along a little better now, but she was still crusty towards him. He still wished he could just take Kate home, though.

...

Hope was setting the table as Lee cooked. Figaro was sitting at his feet, waiting hopefully for a scrap or two. The kitten was now a cat, but he was still just as annoying and playful as always. Lee was always pulling him out of something that he'd gotten into around the house.

"Scott wants to take me to the movies this Saturday," Hope started.

"No," Lee said immediately.

"Dad!"

"Not until I meet him," Lee told her, pointing the cooking utensil in his hand at her.

"He's a really nice guy," Hope tried.

"They all are until they're not," Lee said. "I meet him first before you go anywhere with him, got it?"

"I'm almost 16," she muttered.

"I don't care," Lee replied. "That's the rule."

Hope sighed but didn't argue. In a funny, weird way, she enjoyed having a father who cared that much about her well being.

The Next Day

Gunner had found himself at Lee's place for some reason. He didn't really know why. The two of them were sitting out back and having a beer when they heard Hope come home.

"She still doing okay?" Gunner asked as they heard her banging about inside.

"Yea. She started back at work this week. She seems to be okay," Lee answered. He had, of course, gone to torture her at her job and earned a coffee with the wrong fixings as a result. She sure was her mother's daughter. Barney was still laughing about it once Lee had promised to clean the inside of his truck after spewing coffee out everywhere.

"That's good. We're going out again in a few days," Gunner said. "No rest for the wicked. You sure you don't wanna come?"

"I'm good," Lee said. "Thanks."

"Dad?" Hope called. "Can you come here for a sec?"

"Be right back," Lee sighed, getting up and going inside. He stopped in his tracks upon seeing a teenage boy standing there looking at him with a terrified expression on his face.

"This is Scott," Hope declared. "Now that you've met him, we'd like your permission to see a movie tomorrow."

Lee had the urge to laugh and cuff her at the same time. She definitely was Kate's daughter. He heard Gunner come in behind him after hearing she had brought home a boy. Scott looked even more terrified at the sight of Gunner, who towered over him.

"Hey, Gunner," Hope said. "I didn't know you were here."

"Who's the squirt?" Gunner asked.

"S-S-Scott," the boy managed to squeak out.

"You really like this guy?" Lee asked her, ignoring the fact that Scott was standing right there.

"Dad," Hope said, a warning in her tone.

"What movie?" Gunner asked.

"Why does that matter?" Hope countered.

"Because. It sets the mood for the night, if you get my meaning."

"Gunner," Lee said sharply.

"It's some kind of Marvel superhero movie," Hope shrugged. "Come on. You've met him. He's harmless. Say yes."

"Take Greta with you," Lee said, referring to her friend.

"Ugh, come on!"

"That's the deal."

"Fine," she huffed. She tugged on Scott's arm, and they went outside.

"I think he wet himself a little," Gunner snickered.

"That would be because of you," Lee pointed out as they headed back out to finish their beers, both laughing.

Three Days Later

Kate was trying to read when someone came into her room. She dropped her book at the sight of him, and she went to scream when he put his finger to his lips.

"Don't," he urged.

"You're dead, Evan," Kate said. "They told me."

"I did almost die. Those shots were brutal. I've been in here ever since," Evan explained. He went to go closer when she put her hand up.

"Stay away from me," she ordered. "You should be in jail."

"Kate, I was undercover," Evan started.

"Bull shit! You torched a building with me inside!" Kate exclaimed.

"That was Marty, and I left your hand enough room to get free, didn't I? I knew you'd escape," Evan finished. Kate recalled the incident, and she did have some idea as to why her right hand had so much wiggle room after he'd tied her, but she had just thought he was being nice because they used to be married.

"You're lying to me. You were involved in all of this. You killed April and Jimmy and kidnapped Hope," Kate said, outraged.

"All Marty and the boys. Kate, April was bad news. Jimmy was also in on it. He was acting like he was undercover, but he wasn't. I was sent in to catch him and Marty. Duggan's operation bust was just a bonus. Look, we knew about this for a while. Things just got really shitty."

"I don't believe you," Kate insisted.

"Call my boss. He'll tell you everything. Kate, I'm sorry I hit you and tied you up, and I'm sorry for what happened to you here, but I am one of the good guys, okay? Duggan was my case. I wasn't going to go undercover until I realized Jimmy had turned. It didn't take much to convince him that I was dirty too. He brought me into the group, claiming everyone could trust me. It worked. I was supposed to get Hope that night, and I was going to put her in a safe house with the FBI, but she ran away and found your guy. It just got messy from there."

"I will be calling your boss," Kate agreed. "And if any of this is wrong..."

"It won't be. There's another reason I'm here, Kate," Evan said. "We didn't get Duggan."

"What? He was shot and killed," Kate said, confused.

"No. That was his brother. The real Frank Duggan is still out there, and he's boiling mad."

"Does he know you're a liar?" Kate asked.

"Not yet. I'm going back undercover as soon as I'm out of here," Evan said.

"Why have you been in here so long?"

"Coma," Evan answered.

"Oh."

"Duggan has to believe I'm still a bad guy, but I will be reporting to my boss. I'm really going to take him down this time," Evan said fiercely. Kate watched his face carefully, and he seemed to be genuine in his reaction. She felt herself starting to believe him, but she was still skeptical.

"Why didn't you tell me when we were alone before reaching the hangar?" she asked.

"I had to keep my cover. I was to find you and bring you to Duggan. If I had told you and blown it, I'd be dead right now."

"I'm calling your boss," Kate said. "Right now."

"Go for it. I'll see you later. I have used up all my energy for today," Evan said. He left her alone, and she reached for her phone to call his boss, who she still knew to this day. When she was finished talking with him, she hung up and felt strange inside.

Evan was telling the truth.

...

"Hold on," Lee said into the phone after Kate finished talking. Gunner had gone home already, and Hope was studying in her room. "Evan's the good guy?!"

"That's what his boss tells me," Kate confirmed.

"I don't buy it."

"I didn't either, but it makes sense. The more I think about it...he didn't beat up Reggie, Marty did. He ensured I could free my hand and get out of there. He was trying to get Hope to keep her safe."

"I still don't buy it."

"He's going back under. He's going to find the real Frank Duggan. Lee, I called in a favor and got access to classified information. The profile on our supposed dead Duggan says he is Lyle Duggan, Frank's brother. Evan's right."

Lee felt as though his insides were going to burst. This was not what he wanted to hear. He did not want to hear that Frank Duggan was still alive and could potentially come after Kate again. He just couldn't stand it.

"You need protection," he started.

"There is already an agent posted at my door," Kate cut him off. "I highly doubt he'll come after me. Nothing was put out there saying I survived."

Lee still didn't feel good about it, but he didn't argue.

"Let me dig into this," he offered. "See what I can find out."

"Okay."

Lee knew just where to go to get that information.

...

"Where are you going?" Hope asked after seeing Lee put his black leather jacket on and grab his boots.

"Out for a bit."

"That wasn't vague at all," she commented.

"I'm just meeting up with an old friend. I won't be late."

"Oh, God," she said. "You're not going to go terrorize Scott, are you?"

"No," Lee answered, his expression grim. Hope caught on to this.

"You look serious. Is everything okay?"

"Hope, I'm fine," he answered, looking at her, his one boot half done up. "Trust me."

Hope didn't respond as he finished doing up his boots. He grabbed his keys (he had bought a truck in the end) and gave her a small wave before going out the door. Hope went to sit on the couch and turned on the TV. She didn't feel good about this, and she didn't know why.

...

Lee made his way through the crowded bar before he found the person he was looking for sitting near the back and watching everyone. He stopped in front of them, arms crossed.

"Lee Christmas," the woman smiled. "How can I help you on this fine evening?"

"I need to know if Frank Duggan is still alive," Lee answered. "I know he frequently uses your services. I think you know how to answer my question."

"Who said I'm still in the game?" she asked.

"Loretta, don't insult me," Lee replied. They held each other's gaze while she pondered her answer.

"He had someone meet him last night," Loretta said after a moment.

"Thank you," Lee bowed his head. He turned to walk away.

"You're all on his radar," Loretta called after him, and he turned back to face her. She wore a serious expression on her face. "He knows Barney killed his brother. His guys told me all about it."

"Thanks," Lee replied. Barney had just left the day before for another mission, so he couldn't get a hold of him right away to tell him what was going on. He'd keep trying. He made his way back to the exit, and that was when he caught sight of Lacy snuggled up next to some blonde guy who was wearing his fedora askew on his head. Lee felt nothing as Lacy kissed the man and stuck her hand up his shirt. From her casualness about it, he knew she had never stopped stepping out on him, which made him realize he had made the right choice by ending their relationship. He just wished he had done it sooner. He kept walking and left the bar, checking the street to make sure he wasn't being watched. He knew Duggan had a lot of guys, and he didn't want the man knowing he was asking around about him. After seeing nothing, he got into his truck and drove home. It worried him that Duggan could show up at his house or send guys to again, but when someone wanted to find you, they would find you. He couldn't hide in plain sight. He could, however, be ready, which was why he had set up security cameras at his place and slept with a gun under his pillow. If Duggan was going to come after him, he'd be waiting for him.