Chapter Six: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

As he passed through the atrium towards his boss's office, Sergeant Ed Lane shook his head at Winnie when she reached for the phone. Most of the time, he was fine with her letting Greg know he was on his way in. Well, maybe not fine, but certainly resigned to that fact. His boss wasn't a Sergeant anymore; he was the SRU's second-in-command and his responsibilities reflected that.

None of that applied now. He wasn't going to Greg as his boss, but as his best friend. Greg had done his best to hide who he'd approached to act as a neutral mediator between himself and Marina, but it hadn't been too hard to puzzle out when Team Four's team leader took off after their shift in a hurry, nervous and wearing clothing that screamed business casual. It definitely hadn't been too hard when Leon Young cornered him only a few hours later and told him that Greg needed him.

As he started to turn towards the hallway that led to the offices, Ed heard the atrium door open behind him. Instinct hissed and he spun on his heel, tensing automatically. Then he took in Marina Levin's tear-stained face and puffy, red eyes and he knew. One hand lifted towards Winnie to keep the dispatcher quiet and the Sergeant crossed the atrium to meet the blonde halfway.

"Marina."

Fresh tears budded at his cool greeting, but Marina held her composure. "Is he here, Ed?"

"He's here," Ed confirmed. "I was just going in." Even as he spoke, the Sergeant adjusted his position, blocking Marina from getting past him.

Red-streaked gray eyes tightened at his defensive posture, but Marina sniffed hard and nodded acceptance. Instead of trying to argue, she moved to the dispatcher desk and set her purse on the counter. Ed joined her as she pulled out three jewelry boxes and an envelope. The bald sniper blinked when the blonde pushed all four objects to him, but accepted them.

"Could you…" When Marina trailed off, Lane cocked his head at her, the movement reminiscent of his hawk form. One brow hiked in inquiry. Swallowing hard, the blonde asked, "Could you tell him I'm sorry? For everything."

"I will," Ed promised. Despite her actions, he knew she loved Greg. She'd just had a very funny way of showing it.

A sorrowful smile curved across her face for a moment before Marina crumpled, struggling to contain her sobs. Ed nearly panicked before Winnie whisked around her desk and ushered Marina to the nearby briefing room. The sniper picked up Marina's purse and the four items she'd given him before following the pair.

Inside the briefing room, he awkwardly hovered by the door as Winnie settled Marina in a chair and sat next to her. The dispatcher didn't look up at the Sergeant as she focused on Greg's heartbroken ex-fiancé and handed her a cloth. For several minutes, neither officer spoke as Marina wept into the small hand towel, almost shaking with the force of her cries. They did trade solemn glances, both well aware that this was an outcome their superior hadn't wanted, but what choice had he had?

Ed couldn't even imagine the magnitude of the decision his friend had been forced to make. To choose between the woman he loved and the children he loved just as dearly… As angry as he was with Marina, the sniper ached for her. She matched with Greg so very well and in another world, she would've been perfect for him. Able to support each other through their brokenness and heal together, the couple would've built a strong bond and a great marriage. But instead of trusting Greg and bringing her concerns about Lance and Alanna to him, she'd gone behind his back and done her best to drive his kids out of his life. It was unacceptable, no matter how much it hurt.

Softly, almost too soft to hear, she whispered, "I just wanted to protect him…"

The sniper moved to her other side and crouched down, gazing up at her from his position. "Greg knows that," he replied. "If it were just him, he'd forgive you, Marina. In a heartbeat. You know what you did wrong and you regret that."

The blonde choked back another spasm of sobbing. "Then why, Eddie? Why can't he give me another chance? He gave his nephew another chance, why not me?"

It was a fair question, particularly since Marina could legitimately argue that she'd been tricked by the Malfoys. Ed's shoulders slumped down and he sighed before pushing himself upright and snagging a briefing room chair. Facing her head on, he said, "Leon told me what happened. What Greg told you and what you told him. Do you have any idea what would've happened if you'd given the Malfoys access to Greg's apartment?"

Marina hid her face in the hand towel, sobbing anew, but Ed knew she didn't understand. Not really; she just didn't think that way – and that was good – but she needed to understand what she'd nearly done.

"Marina, in the magical world, there's a spell that kills every time it hits," Ed explained quietly. "Even if it just brushes you, it still kills." He ignored her choked off gasp and continued, "If you'd given the Malfoys access to Greg's apartment, I promise you, that would've been the last thing you ever did. They're Death Eaters – they would've murdered you without batting an eye. Then they would've gone after Greg and the kids. The kids probably would've won that fight, but the damage…" He trailed off deliberately, shaking his head. "The Malfoys knew Greg couldn't tell you about magic until after the wedding. They used that against both of you, Marina, but you didn't have to listen to them. So why did you?"

The sobs grew louder, but Ed was a sniper. He could wait as long as he needed to. The Sergeant signaled for Winnie to go back to her desk, trading a quick nod with the dispatcher as she rose and left. It took several more minutes, but, at last, Marina peeked at the tall, lean officer, tears still streaming. With a shaking voice, she replied, "I wanted it to be true."

"You wanted them to be cons who were just out to hurt Greg?" Ed demanded, incredulous. "Seriously? You wanted Greg to be hurt?"

"No!"

"Well, he would've been," Ed growled. "If the Malfoys had been right, that's one heck of a cruel trick to play, don't you think?"

"He would've had me," Marina burst out. "It…it would've been hard, but we would've gotten through it, Eddie." She sniffled, wiping her eyes. "I know I was wrong, Eddie, but I won't hurt them again, I swear."

Silence hung around them for several long moments, Ed's light blue boring into Marina even as he wondered how he'd missed her streak of possessiveness. "You wanted him to just have you? Or was it just the kids who knew him first? Dean, he's not so much of a threat, is he? He only came in after you did and he's still getting to know Greg again."

"Eddie…" Marina protested.

"No," Ed hissed, bristling and forcing his hawk instincts back into line. "Greg's right, isn't he? You are jealous of them! You're still jealous of them!"

"I'm not," she objected, but the words were faint and couldn't convince either of them.

The sniper shook his head. "You want to know why Greg can't give you another chance? That's why, Marina. You know you're wrong, but you're still jealous of them. You still resent them for being there first. You believed a story that's got more holes in it than the Titanic because you wanted it to be true."

"He didn't want me to meet them!" Marina covered her mouth, but she couldn't take back the words or the emotions behind them.

Ed stared at her for several seconds. "I know Greg told you about Morgana's nasty trick, Marina. You can't use that excuse anymore."

"You knew about them!"

"For a week, I didn't," Ed countered. "He was trying not to talk about them 'cause he knew I didn't remember, but he slipped up more than he thinks. Every time he slipped, I was stunned all over again, Marina, 'cause her spell made me forget. Even if he'd introduced them on the spot to you, once you walked away, you wouldn't have remembered." The sniper leaned forward. "I said some really stupid stuff that week, Marina, but once it was over, it was over." Sorrow shone. "It never ended for you, did it?"

Marina rocked back and forth, burying her face in the towel again.

Ed was tempted to leave her alone, but Greg would kill him if he ever found out. So he stayed put, sorting through what he could say. He couldn't make it better, none of them could. When the sobs ebbed, he sighed heavily, pulling her attention to him. "Marina, I wish – we all wish – that things had worked out between you two. Even when Greg got the kids back after that ritual thing, he was still hoping he could find a way to mend your relationship. You would've had to wait until the kids weren't scared of their own shadows, but he wasn't going to shut you out forever." Steady blue fixed on her. "But you just couldn't wait, could you? You couldn't give him space to fix his family and time to be with them. I think you need to figure out why you couldn't give him the space and time he asked for."

"And then he'll give me another chance?"

"No," Ed replied. "Greg can't give you another chance, Marina. He can't risk it, not after you put his kids in danger. Not after you planted love potions in his refrigerator." Sorrowful, but unyielding, the sniper said what his friend couldn't. "Marina, you forced him to make a choice. He could have his kids or he could have you. Not both."

"He chose them."

"That's right," Ed confirmed. He stood, waiting for Marina to stand as well, then offered her purse. "I'm sorry, Marina, but this is the end. I hope you find someone who's going to make your world light up, but it can't be Greg. Not anymore."

"Please," she begged. "One more chance. Just one, that's all I want."

"That's all he wants, too, but he can't. Not if he wants to keep his kids." Ed stepped back, gesturing to the briefing room door. "Come on, I'll walk you out."

She didn't want to leave, but Ed had left her no other options, so she sniffled, accepted her purse and allowed the Sergeant to escort her all the way to her car. When she unlocked it, Ed opened the door and held it until she got in. Gazing down at her, the sniper gave his best friend's ex-fiancé a sorrowful look.

"Goodbye, Marina. I hope you find what you're looking for."

Then he shut the door and stepped back, waiting until she started her car and left before heading back inside the barn. It was over and yet it wasn't. No, now he needed to talk to his best friend and get them both through the aftermath.

Greg was in his office, plowing through paperwork as if the world would end if he didn't finish it all immediately. Ed didn't even bother to knock as he pushed the door open and stalked inside. Weary hazel rose briefly. "Eddie, I'm busy."

The sniper closed the door behind him and moved to the guest chairs, plopping down in one. "Busy working yourself to death," he drawled. "I hate to break it to you, buddy, but nobody ever died from doing paperwork."

"What do you want?" The words were hostile, but the tone behind them was not. It was dull and listless, as if all the life had gone out of Greg's world once he'd finally surrendered to the inevitable and severed his engagement. Ed hated that tone, but he understood. If he'd had to give up Sophie, he would've sounded a whole lot worse.

Rather than immediately respond, the sniper produced what he'd brought with him. Two bottles of cold lemonade, their go-to drink in the wake of Greg's undercover assignment. Not a single can of Coke had crossed the SRU's threshold since then and Ed hoped it never would. There were just too many bad memories mixed up with the drink.

His friend blinked, then forced a smile and took the offering. Ed cracked his open at the same time as Greg and the two gently clinked their bottles together. The Sergeant waited until they'd had a few sips before saying, "You love her."

"Yes." Grief rang, mixed with unrelenting anguish.

"She loves you, too, buddy," Ed admitted. "She was here; wouldn't let her in here."

Greg's eyes watered and he wiped at the tears threatening to spill down.

Gentle, Ed brought out the three jewelry boxes and the letter. "I think she gets it, Greg. Brought 'em right back; brought the engagement ring back, too."

Hazel creased, agony growing, but Greg jerked a nod. "I wish it made a difference, Eddie."

Nothing more was necessary – Ed knew his friend's heart. To choose his kids over Marina had been the right call. No question about it; if Greg was ever forced to make that decision again, he'd make the same one without hesitation. But that didn't mean it felt right. No, Greg was grieving just as badly as if Marina had died, for while the woman herself was alive, their dream of a life together had perished. Blame lay on multiple sides and yet that blame didn't matter. What mattered was the utter loss written all over his best friend's face.

Ed wanted to say something, something that would take away that pain and anguish, but he knew nothing would. Time would lessen the grief, but it would never go away, not entirely. Even if Greg found another girlfriend, a part of him would still ache for what might have been. Knowing all of that, Ed opted to keep quiet and offer the best comfort he could. His presence.

For several minutes, tension hummed inside of Greg, his subconscious expecting Eddie to talk, to try and get him to talk through what was bothering him. Yet as the minutes ticked by and the two men drank their lemonade, the stocky man relaxed, bit by bit. Ed might be more direct-to-threat, but he understood Greg in ways even Greg himself didn't understand. It was one of the reasons their friendship had been so solid and steady, even before the 'team sense'. They just clicked, each of them supplying a critical need in their friendship, yet each also able to stand on their own.

The silence unfurled around them, as comforting and warm as the banter they normally exchanged. Gazing down at his drink, Parker considered. He knew he'd never forget Marina or how his own actions had contributed to their disastrous breakup. He didn't want to forget, for fear of forgetting the crucial lessons he'd learned. He'd taken his kids for granted and ignored the warning signs; he'd been so desperate for the people he loved to get along that he'd refused to take an honest look at the situation or listen to his nipotes' concerns. He couldn't do that ever again – if he'd stood up to Marina and insisted that she treat the kids with the respect they deserved, maybe he could've headed off the Malfoys' plot. He'd never know and that hurt just as much as Marina's loss.

And yet, at the same time, it hadn't just been the Malfoys. No, the traitor had been up to his neck in the debacle, along with an as-yet-unidentified female subject. They would need to investigate and see what clues their new antagonist might've left in her wake. As for the traitor… Greg was tempted to lay everything out for Eddie, to get his Sergeant's ideas for how they might handle the traitor, but an odd check in his gut stayed him.

A secret was best kept by a single man. Although Lance knew the secret as well, he wouldn't tell. The traitor had done his work well and he'd hopefully never suspect that Greg knew who he was. So long as the traitor didn't realize he'd been exposed, he had no reason to move against the SRU. Greg would have to keep a keen watch for any other plots, but he didn't believe the traitor's aim was to bring the whole of the SRU down. If it had been, he could've already done it. No, the traitor wanted the SRU in the game, just not the Wild Mages.

The lieutenant knew he'd have to deal with the traitor sooner or later, but he didn't need to do it all at once. There were still several other, more pressing, issues at hand. Besides, with all the chaos, the traitor was probably on high alert. Best to let it lie and give the man time to relax. Then Greg could strike.

So Parker kept quiet and allowed himself to relax enough to enjoy his time with his best friend. Life would pile on again soon enough. He could at least have one oasis in the midst of the emotional desert around him.

That evening, Greg kept up a brave face in front of his family. Rather than hang onto Alanna's necklace until her birthday, he gave it to her at the same time as he returned Lance's bracelet. She examined it in confusion until her uncle opened up the pendent, then she saw the engraving on the inside and understood. Hugging him fiercely, she pulled his head down and whispered, "Thank you, Uncle Greg."

"You're welcome, sweetheart."

To his surprise, she slid the pendent back in its box and returned it to him. At his puzzled expression, she remarked, "It's for my birthday, isn't it?"

"It was, but…"

"No," she countered, pushing the box back towards him. "It's for my birthday, Uncle Greg."

His breath caught at his niece's ready forgiveness and he jerked a nod. "Copy that, mia nipote."

He didn't have anything to give Dean, but his son crowded close anyway. "Come on, Dad, we made dinner."

" 'We'?" Alanna inquired, tone arch.

"Sure we did," Lance countered. "We tasted the food and set the table."

Greg laughed before his indignant niece could attack her brother. "A very critical role," he teased, hazel sparkling. The sparkle grew brighter when he spied Lance latching his bracelet in place around his arm. The teen ran a gentle finger over the links, sapphire glimmering. Then Dean grabbed him and hauled him towards the table; laughing again, Greg let himself be pulled and set aside his grief for another time.

That night, Greg Parker sat down heavily on his bed, the final jewelry box in hand. He opened the box, gazing down at the ring he'd purchased for Marina. He'd been planning on commissioning a ring, but this one had been in the case and it had been perfect. Tears slipped down; so many plans, hopes, and dreams… They were ash now, broken in twain like his heart.

He knew he couldn't have made any other decision, not if he'd wanted to be true to himself, but it still hurt. He'd given Marina his heart and taking it back was impossible. Curling around the ring in its box, he allowed the tears to flow, keening for what might have been. She'd been the One and he'd never find another like her. If only she'd been willing to accept his whole family, instead of just himself and Dean.

Then arms slipped around him and Greg registered that he wasn't alone. Alanna perched on one side while Lance and Dean were behind each shoulder. None of his kids spoke, but they hugged him as hard as they could, so tightly that he couldn't hug back. Instead, he clutched the ring to his chest and leaned into their support, unashamed as he grieved.

He might've lost Marina, but he still had his family. In spite of all his faults, they still wanted him, they still loved him. He would never take that love for granted again. For now, life burned like acid, but he couldn't regret his decision. Not truly; his kids were worth the pain, they always had been and they always would be. And for an instant, he fancied that he felt two more hands touch his shoulders, the spirits behind those hands nodding approval for his choice.

~ Fin

Author Note: *fade to black and cue Flashpoint closing music*

I hope everyone enjoyed this detour off the main storyline. Since this Side-Story was so closely intertwined with the prior It's a Magical Flashpoint arc, I wanted to cap that arc with a resolution for many of our hanging loose ends. As always, I treasure your feedback, so please read and review.

Now, although we do have a few more threads lingering, it's time to move forward. "For the Love of Camelot" will kick off on Friday, September 30th 2022, right here in the main Flashpoint archive.

See You on the Battlefield!