So I have an alternate chapter that will be posted at the end of this story, kind of like a DVD extra. the chapter I did write would have ended the story and as much as I had thought about it, there is a bit of story left too tell. and well...I made myself super sad with the original chapter. Enjoy!

There were voices, screaming, yelling. I would open my eyes and catch blurred glimpses of faces and camouflage. I had a hard time breathing, as if I was breathing for the first time. My body hurt, and it felt like I was floating. I went to reach my hand out to touch something, when I heard her voice. Issuing orders and directives as I was dragged off the helicopter and placed on a stretcher. I rolled my head and saw Lauren, ripping off the helmet and throwing it to the side as she ran after me. Her arm was in makeshift sling, blood had covered her entire sleeve. She pushed away a few nurses that tried to help her. "We need to get her into surgery now, pull whatever blood we have. She has lost a few liters and we need to replace it." she yelled at one of the other doctors to come help her, while she tried shrugging off the fatigue shirt she was wearing. Lauren bent close to me, checking to see if I was still with her, her face was dirty with tear streaks cutting clean tracks down her face, "Bo, you are stuck with me, so don't look for anyway out of this." she smiled weakly, "How many more medals are you going to get before you let someone else save you?"

I opened my mouth to say something witty, I coughed hard and felt more blood in my mouth. I felt woozy and grabbed Laurens hand, "Take care the rest first...I can wait." Lauren looked scared as she said, "They will be taken care of, I promise, Bo." I coughed again and nodded off, feeling my hand drop from hers, Lauren began yelling again. I let my heavy eyelids close and I drifted off, knowing that I had no chance in hell surviving, Lauren whispered something to me that I could not make out as I let sleep overcome me.

I woke up, hazy and numb. Things around me were bright and white. I also felt like I was floating, I heard a few gentle voices and it took me a groggy minute to take it in that I was in a transport helicopter. And I was very much alive. I looked around the interior for Lauren, I found no one but O'Neil. Who smiled at me as she saw I was awake. She moved closer to me, "Lieutenant Commander, it's good to see you awake. We are headed to Germany for further treatment."

I pushed my tired voice, "Lauren?"

O'Neil smiled and nodded, "She is fine."

I looked around the small interior, O'Neil picked up on things, "She is still at the unit, I have nothing beyond that, our main focus was you and getting you out of there before things turned for the worse." O'Neil took a breath and was distracted by the in flight nurse who was asking her to hold a new IV line while she placed it. Within seconds, I knew it was a painkiller sleep cocktail, I drifted off to the gentle hum of the helicopter blades, marveling how much softer they seemed than the last time I was in a helicopter.

I drifted in and out of my haze for days, they were keeping me on painkillers as I was in and out of surgery over the next few days. I slept a lot, and had no dreams. I finally woke up when I heard a familiar voice in the room around me. I opened heavy eyes and looked around the room I was in, it was obvious I was in one of the German hospitals, I had been to this hospital once or twice when I would transport patients. Now I was one. I felt like lead when I tried to sit up, one of the nurses saw me awake and hurried over to help me sit up, "Morning Lieutenant Commander, its good to see you awake." her voice had a gentle German accent to it.

I held onto the young girls arm as she steadied me, I rasped out, "Call me Bo, please." The girl nodded as she gave me some water, I took a few sips and felt a tightness in my chest. I glanced down and saw I was wrapped up like a mummy across my midsection and my left shoulder. I looked back up at he nurse, "The doctor will be by in a few to check over you." I nodded and tried not to squirm too much as I felt extremely itchy. The nurse gave me a couple of extra pillows, "There is a visitor here for you, he just arrived and you were asleep. I can go get him if you would like?"

I nodded, wobbly. The girl smiled and went out into the hallway as I looked around my room. I felt like hell and was slightly confused as how I got a private room in a busy hospital. I wiggled my hands as they felt stiff, then went to go pick at my bandages so I could see what was underneath. "Goddamnit Dennis."

I looked up and smiled at Admiral Williams who stood in the doorway, he let out a breath as he walked over to the chair by my bed, "You know how hard it has been to explain why my consultant went out on a rescue mission and was grievously injured?" he set his dress hat on the edge of the bed, "What the hell were you thinking, Bo? You almost died, if it wasn't for those two boys and Commander Lewis, I would be attending your funeral."

I swallowed hard, "Where is Commander Lewis?"

Admiral Williams picked at his uniform jacket, "She is in the process of leaving the unit, Lewis fought to stay longer but her wounded arm was too much for the desert, the trauma surgeons could only do so much with what they have there. I believe she is leaving today, but I can't tell you from where and how, I am not privy to that information." Admiral Williams looked me in the eye with the same blue eyes Aaron carried, "It's been almost two months since you were injured. When I say you almost died, Bo, I mean it. It has been one hell of a fight to keep you alive on all ends." he leaned forward, supporting his elbows on his knees. "I am not going to lie when I say I would really like to see you leave the Navy, Bo."

"Are you asking me to quit?" I looked at him, knowing I still had the option to sign up for a few more years or leave. I had a intense drive to stay in the Navy for some reason. He laughed, "No I would never ask you to quit, but I am suggesting you leave. You have become the daughter I never had, because of what you have done for my family. So please, find a small countryside practice in England looking at old people's achy bones and go home, marry that stubborn British Naval Officer and start a life. That is something worth quitting for, the love you two share." He reached for my hand, "You know you have saved all of our lives in one way or another."

My eyes turned glassy, as I looked at his hand in mine. He let out a breath, "You will be heading home in a few days, Grace is aware of your arrival and Aaron will be here tomorrow to take the ride with you." The Admiral patted my hand and stood up, "Be prepared, he will give you the same lecture I just did." he tucked his hat under his arm, "Also, you are getting another commendation for your bravery. You saved those boys lives and you save Commander Lewis, I believe even the British Navy is throwing a little something your way." he smiled and winked at me, "Stop being the hero, you are making the rest of us look bad." Admiral Williams bent forward and kissed me gently on the forehead, "Go home, Bo. And stay home."

He threw me a casual salute and walked out of the room. I sat with my hands on my lap and let everything he said sink in. The doctor broke my silence when he rushed into the room, checking on me. In the time he looked at my bandages he told me about my injuries. My shoulder had been fractured and tendons torn, my chest wound was the one that almost killed me. The bullet had clipped my lung and nicked an artery. If it wasn't for the door gunner who acted fast, I would have bled out in the helicopter. Lauren was the one who managed to get my artery nick closed, with one hand and the assistance of one of the other doctors, they repaired my injury and stabilized me. Apparently Lauren had told many a ranking officer to fuck off when they tried to pull her from me. She would not leave me until she knew I had stabilized, she had slept by my side until I was transported, changing my bandages with the help of a nurse. When I was transported to the German hospital, I had to have a few surgeries to clean out the wound, infection had set in and I had gotten pneumonia.

I stared at the doctor as he raised my arm up, checking the minimal range of motion I had in it. I had almost died a couple of times, and didn't because of the stubbornness of one woman. The doctor eventually left me, issuing me milder painkillers after I requested them. I had enough of the blurred haze I had been living in. I had wanted to ask how I could get a hold of Lauren, but I didn't know if anyone in this hospital would be able to or want to bother too.

A few days later Aaron breezed into my room, smiling as he climbed into the bed next to me. He was wearing dress pants and a button down. I looked at him as he wrapped an arm around me gently, "No uniform?"

"Hell no, I am your personal escort home. No need to bring any more attention to you." he leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, "God it's so good to see you, for a minute there..." he shook his head and squeezed my hand, "I am taking you home and locking you into that manor until you are far too old to be in the military anymore." He rolled off the edge of the bed, walking to the bag he had dropped when he walked in. He held it up, "I brought you some real clothes." Aaron opened the bag and pulled out a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. He tossed them on the end of the bed, "Let's get you dressed and out of here, I ran into the doctor out in the hall. He says whenever you are ready to leave, I can take you."

I smiled as I wiggled myself out of the bed, holding my hand out to him, "I think you are going to have to help me get dressed." Aaron raised his eyebrow, "Hmm, I hope some blonde doctor never find out, or I will have a jealous girlfriend at my door." he walked over to me, helping me up, reaching for the clothes as we walked to the bathroom. He set me down on the edge of the bathtub and helped me pull off the gown, I held onto his shoulder as I asked, "Lauren?"

Aaron helped me get my good arm through the sleeve, and pull the rest over my other arm that was still in a sling. He grabbed the jeans, "She is safe, sick, but safe. Dad was only able to tell me that much, she is back on safe soil and getting her arm taken care of." he held out the jeans as I struggled to get in them, "Can you get a hold of her for me?"

Aaron helped me stand up, "I wish I could, but I am nobody in the British Navy, Dad couldn't even get much. Apparently there is still some small tensions revolving around your actions. You broke a few protocols, Bo." he grabbed my hand and steadied me, looking me over, "That's better. You look almost normal." he then wrapped an arm around my waist, "Let's get you home and then worry about the small details later."

I nodded as I felt a tear slide down my cheek, "I love her, Aaron. I just need to tell her that."

Aaron smiled and wiped at my cheek, "She knows and you will, soon you both will be home." he motioned with his head, "But there are a few other people at home that love you and need you just as much."

I leaned against Aaron as he walked me back out into the room, grabbed the rest of my small items and shoved them in the bag. He left me for a moment to grab a wheelchair, sitting me in it and rolling me out of the hospital to the black car I knew was courtesy of my aunt. He helped me in the back and sat next to me, grabbing my hand and never letting go of it until we arrived at the airport.

I took a deep breath of air when I leaned against Aaron once again, the flight home was short and I had slept most of it, my head on his shoulder. He only woke me up when we landed and again when we pulled in front of the manor. He smiled at me as I took in the smells of home again. I looked at the front door as it opened slowly, Grace walked out with Jack, he was clutching onto her hand and seemed shy at first. Grace smile wide as she clutched her handkerchief, she went to come to me and I shook my head. I wanted to come to her. Aaron and I took slow steps until I stood in front of my aunt, "I promised I would come home."

She smiled and let out a soft sob and pulled me into a tight embrace. "Oh Ysabeau, don't you dare do this too me again."

I held onto Grace until I felt a tug at the loose end of my sweatshirt, I looked down to see Jack pulling it to get my attention. I bent down with the help of Grace, I smiled at the little boy who looked even more like his mother than before, "Hello there."

Jack smiled, "Is mummy with you? Miss Grace said you and her were coming home together." I looked down at the ground, trying not to cry in front of the boy, "Your mummy is right behind me, in a few days she will be here, hugging you just like she never left." I looked up at the boy and brushed some the hair out of his face, "How do you like it here?" I wanted to changed the subject.

Jack smiled and grabbed my good hand, "It's a big house, I have my own room! I left Kenzi there, she fell asleep while we colored pictures for you." he was careful when he pulled at my arm, I stood up and let him take me into the house, looking back at Aaron and Grace as they waved me on, grabbing my bags for me. Jack walked me down the other side of the manor that neither Grace and I ever used, the smile was still on my face as I was glad that the house was finally seeing life all the way through. Kinda like I was.

Jack was extremely gentle for a little boy as he stopped once and looked at me, "Bo, do you have a boo boo?" I nodded, "I do, but your mummy fixed it for me." I pulled up the sweatshirt to show him the bandages, he cocked his head and looked at them, then looked up in my eyes, "I am glad she fixed you, you are nice to me and mummy." he turned and continued his walk to the old bedrooms that Grace had turned into a boy's room. Kenzi was passed out on the floor, crayons in her hands. Jack turned to me, his fingers against his mouth, telling me to be quiet as we crept in. he walked over to Kenzi and sat down in front of her, gently patting her on the back, whispering, "Kenzi, wake up. I have to show Bo my room."

Kenzi snorted and jerked awake, dropping the crayon as she rubbed at her face, "What did you say Jackson?"

Jack giggled and pointed at me, "I have to show Bo my room." Kenzi turned to look at me, when she met my eyes she looked at me and flat out said, "You know you are not a fucking cat, Bo. You don't have nine lives."

I gave her a look, "Kenzi...the kid." Kenzi stood up and walked over to me, stopping to stare at me for a second, before she attacked me with a hug, "I mean it Bo, no more of this." she leaned back and looked over my face as she held a hand against it, "It is good to have this face back in my life, don't take it away from me." She turned to Jack, "Right Jackson?"

Jack giggled and nodded as he doodled on a piece of paper, "Right Kenzi."

I sighed as I slowly began to see that my family had adopted Jack as one of their own. Jack held up a piece of paper with stick figures on it, "i made this for you, Bo." He pointed at the figures, "That's you, mummy, me, Grace and Kenzi. I have to put Uncle Aaron on it still." I gently held up the picture, my eyes welling up. "It's perfect Jack."

He blushed and set his crayons down, and proceeded to show me the rest of his temporary room. I stood with Kenzi, who had a death grip on me as I was shown the space ship night light, the sailboat sheets, the new books Miss Grace had gotten Jack. I was exhausted and tired, but I would not leave this moment for anything. When he started to tell me a story about how Grace and Kenzi took him to the big city, Grace walked in.

"Jack, can I steal Bo back from you? I think she needs to get some rest from her long trip." Grace looked at me and saw how tired I was.

Jack nodded and ran over to Kenzi, "Can we have the snack now?"

Kenzi nodded and took the little boy's hand, "We sure can." Kenzi gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before she left the room with Jack.

Grace walked me back to my old room, she had taken the same death grip Kenzi had on me. She was painfully quiet as she helped me get settled into my room. She had a pained look on her face when she helped me change out of the pajamas, but she didn't say anything as she helped me get my arm through a large shirt and settled into bed, she sighed and placed a hand on my knee, "Get some sleep. In the morning I will get you caught up on everything. Jack is a good boy and has been such an added joy to this old house." she smiled tightly, "His mother is expected to be home in a few days. I believe I will owe her many thanks for saving you." Grace closed her eyes, "Ysabeau, please tell me you are done with this war, this Navy."

"I am done with this war, Grace." I covered her hand with mine, "I am sorry for doing this to you, I couldn't help it, they needed me."

Grace squeezed my hand, smiling, "I know, and you saved three men. I cannot argue with you." She leaned over and kissed me on the forehead, "Sleep. Aaron is staying for a few days, Kenzi as well. The house will be full when you wake up." she stood up and smoothed out her skirt, "If you need any of us in the night, call." she pulled out my cellphone and set it on the table next to me. I whispered a thank you and listened to her heels click away down the hallway. I rolled over onto my good arm and fell asleep in two breaths.

I woke up in the middle of the night, after feeling someone rustle the blankets next to me. I pushed my self up, sitting against the headboard, I squinted in the ambient light. I had thought maybe it was Kenzi, or even Aaron sneaking in to check on me and passing out in my bed to make sure I would not leave.

Instead I made out a small shape curled up in the expanse of the other side of the bed. Jack rolled over and snuggled his head into the pillows. I reached and turned the light on, waking the little boy up. He squinted at me and smiled. "Jack, what are you doing? It's way past your bedtime." I kept my voice low and soft.

Jack sat up in the middle of the bed, "I know. But when Miss Grace was putting to bed, she told me you were a little sick. That's why you had to go to bed early." he rubbed at his eyes, "When I am sick, mummy sits in the bed with me, so I am not scared and she can be there if I need her." he picked up his teddy bear and handed it too me, "I came to sit in the bed with you, in case you were scared. You want to hold my bear? I can leave him and go back to my bed."

I held back the tears and patted the space next to me, "I think it'd be okay if you stayed, I could use someone to sit with me." Jack crawled over to me and snuggled up into my side. "Bo, do you love my mummy? Like Audrey?" I placed a gentle hand on the boys head, running my hand over his hair, "I do, Jack but I love her so much more." Jack looked up at me with his bright blue eyes, "You love her more than me?"

I laughed and shook my head, "We love her just the same." Jack giggled and hugged me, "I love you Bo."

My heart dropped when he said it, I kissed the top of his head, "I love you too, Jack." He giggled again, "Tell me a story, Bo."

I took a deep breath, "Ok, there once was this grumpy lady doctor, who was mean to everyone and lived in a castle. She had a broken heart, didn't love anything or anyone, then one day she met this beautiful lady doctor one her first day at a new hospital. It was love at first sight, but the grumpy doctor did not want to admit it." I paused to see if Jack was listening to my horrible fairytale. I was relieved to see he was passed out on my lap. I sighed hard, turning off the light and holding onto his teddy bear with my bad arm, I fell asleep soon after.

That night I dreamt of Lauren and the rescue mission, the painkillers had fallen out of my system completely, letting my mind work clear as it wanted to sort through the trauma I had been through. I jolted awake when I saw the first bullet hit Lauren. I was sweating and breathing hard, Jack was rolled over on his back, sleeping hard, spread out in the giant bed. I slid out of the bed slowly so as not to wake him and walked to my bathroom. It was very early in the morning, a little past six. I took a breath, I had been asleep for almost twelve hours and I was still exhausted. I closed the bathroom door quietly and ran water over my face and tried to check my bandages. I did not have much seepage and would be good for a few more hours. I shut the water off when I heard Jack's soft voice, and him shuffle around in the bed. I went to open the door to let him know I was still there.

Jack smiled when he saw me, and whispered, "Mummy, Bo is right there." Lauren's back was too me and he was holding onto her in a tight little kid hug. Lauren turned slightly and looked over her shoulder, tears running down her face, her voice was raspy and quiet, "Hi, Bo."