An Old Soilder says his goodbyes

A/N: Sorry if this is a little confusing. It will make sense hopefully in a few chapters.

It had been a few months. Zee was being swamped by newsreporters and other media. He just wanted to see Ro but he hadn't seen her yet. Perhaps she stayed home. He hoped she hadn't. They still had another card game to play.

Ro on the other hand avoided Zee. He hadn't called her or did anything for three months. She had to go to this banquet in Washington D.C. for Zee's official freedom giving but that wasn't the main reason she was going. The banquet was retirement party for Agent Bennet. She needed to talk to the old solider.

She was sitting in the room that was provided for her in the White House. She heard a light tap on the door. She was fixing her dress at the time. "Come in!"

Zee stood there looking at Ro. It had been a sight he had been waiting to see for weeks on end. She kept fixing her dress not bothering to say word to the synthoid. "Hello Ro."

"Hi Zee." She said trying to make it easy to know she wasn't happy seeing him.

"I've missed you Ro."

"I wish I could say the same thing about you but I only see you on the TV every time I see you."

"I'm sorry Ro, I tried avoiding them."

"There every where right? You know they've been following me around too? I have a life to take care of I don't need you getting the media in on it."

"I can take you home with me."

"Oh now you want to take me with you. Well I don't want to come Zee. I've got a boyfriend now okay. He cares for me. He doesn't leave me hanging."

"Ro I…"

"Zee just go. Just leave me alone. You do a pretty good job of that." Zee turned knowing he couldn't fix this at least not right now. She was too angry with him. So angry that it blinded her and she refused to talk to him. He went to the banquet talking to others who were interested in getting to know him.

In the ball room where the banquet was being held Bennet sat at the bar hoping to make himself a little looser with a little whiskey or scotch. It would make the pain go away for a while. Though he couldn't drink too much since he was invited here by the president. He was at least granted his retirement after this stressful mission. That was something to look forward too. Have more time to think over his regrets, his haunted thoughts of his dead family. Well retirement meant that he would soon have to die soon as well. He would be able to join his family in their save heaven.

He scanned the room to the dancing couples. He saw Lee dancing with West. Those two were good for each other he had to admit. Lee tried keeping West in line and West kept from Lee becoming too serious about her job at least before she resigned. He was surprised West could dance without tripping over his feet.

He only wished West would be more careful about jumping into things without looking. At least he got better when he was partnered up with Lee. He used to think everything as a race or competition. He probably learned when he was younger that he didn't need to beat Lee since she didn't care. Not after that one day.

Bennet had been at the beach with a group of close friends he worked with on his team in the army. He had been up on the beach while most of the children played near the crystal water. He watched as his wife tried to get a suntan but he knew that she would complain about getting burn the next day.

His daughter played with the only other girl around her age. A girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, the daughter of his best friend in the army boot camp. She was either Rose Rowen or Rosalie Rowen. Yes, the same one who traveled with Zeta. She was shy lonely child who was a mere shadow of who she was now.

West had Ro on his back having a piggy back ride running across the beach. Scott, Ro's older brother stepped in front of him. He took Ro from him and took her out to the ocean. West didn't protest knowing Scott wasn't on the best terms with him. Scott was never found of the guy. He still wasn't. He had no idea why but they just seemed like rivals from the beginning.

Everyone turned to watch the competition that Orin's and Marica's brothers set up. They were up now. The last race to see who was the best at swimming in the ocean. They glared at each other narrowing their eyes toward the goal of the flag that floated out twenty five feet from the shore. They both were given the signal. They both ran down the beach and running into the water before diving in. They swam swiftly to the flag and made the turn. Orin was ahead and didn't look back as he made the turn. When he got to shore he didn't see Marica anywhere.

Bennet was the first to notice and jumped into the water. He saw her hand as if she was caught by something. I happened her legs got all caught up in some seaweed. He pulled her loose and brought her to shore. Bennet remembered West's face as he was scowled. He saw Lee's parents wrap her in a towel. Both of them should have been scowled actually everyone who raced. But then again West never had any luck.

After that day Bennet never recalled West racing Lee ever again. He was familiar with the guilt that stopped you doing certain things with certain people. Now here those same two kids who used to fight and pick at each other were dancing in a ball held in his and Zeta's honor.

Bennet felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and smiled sadly to see Rosalie Rowen. "What can I do for you Rosalie?"

"May I have a dance with an old friend?"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure it won't kill me." He smiled offering his arm to her. She took it gently. He looked at her. She looked like her mother except for her blue eyes which was the trait from her father. He did an old waltz with her leading her in the dance.

"Rosalie you look beautiful tonight."

"Thank you. I'm only here to say sorry for causing you so much trouble all those years ago."

"You're apologizing? I should be the one apologizing. I suppose the army never taught me anything about being open minded."

"You were just following your programming."

"Programming?"

"You were born in a military family, raised in military, you'll die being a military man. It's your programming. You were programmed to follow orders."

"Hmm I suppose you were right. You were born in military, but weren't raised by military were you?"

"Nope the streets raised me."

"Well I don't think it should have been that way but I suppose taking the hard road has its rewards and it's hardships."

"Yeah, it sure does."

"Do you know who Zeta reminds me of?"

"Who?"

"Luthor Mullins but he died a long time ago along with Jessica."

"Perhaps he came back to protect me."

"Perhaps he did." He danced a while longer with her. "You know Rosalie your father would be proud of you."

"I know you're daughter would be proud of you as well Bennet."

"I only hope so." He parted with her. She walked over back to the table she was sitting at and he went back to his glass of whiskey at the bar. She watched as Zee received an award and Bennet receive his peace at last. He had to stay with the government ten years after the Honolulu Bombing or Massacre as Ro liked to think of it. She went to her room ready to go back home. She had no reason to stay. She couldn't. She had things to take care of back home.

She was in her room when she got a knock on the door. "Can I come in Ms. Rowen?"

"Who is it?"

"The President."

"Hold on I'm not dressed yet." She slipped on her night gown over herself. "Okay come in Mr. President."

"Why hello I'm afraid I didn't meet you yet. Zeta told me you were a close friend of his."

"My name's Ro sir."

"Relax Ro I'm not going to hurt you."

"So where's the secret service?"

"They're right outside the door."

"Oh. So what is it you wanted to ask me?"

"I wanted to make sure you were comfortable here and to tell you I admire bravery like yours. Zeta told me in detail about you."

"What when I was traveling with him?"

"Yes and your bravery to stay strong. I'm sure you were worried if he would be alright on his own."

"I thought I was a thorn in his side."

"He said sometimes you were stubborn but I've heard he isn't the easiest to deal with."

"I suppose not. He cares about me though. I used to think no one cared for me."

"Yes you have a record with the NSA and quite a hospital record."

"Yeah I suppose it's expected when you get in trouble when you're not looking for it."

"Your heart stopped four times while in the operation room? You've almost died four times and then you stayed with him."

"Ha if I told you all the times I've dealt with near death I could tell you my whole life story. It started when I was five and then continued till I was sixteen and half. I decided enough was enough."

"Well just to tell you I admire strength from youths like yourself."

"Thank you sir." She went to sleep with a smile on her face. The president admired her. That had to about the highest honor of the United States. Well besides what Zee got. He was the first synthoid to receive the humanitarian award.

*******************

Ro fell asleep with troubling thoughts in her mind. She growled in fustration for she couldn't sleep. She slipped in her jeans and her usual black tank top. She walked around the white house bare footed. She hoped that was allowed.

She walked down the halls. Seeing the beautiful paintings of different people in times of war. She looked outside a window. It was a magnifecent house. It had to be to hold the president of our country she scowled herself.

She gasped as she saw Zeta's synthoid form standing behind her. "Zee what are you doing out here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Where did you get those brusies?" She gasped knowing she forgot to cover them up. It was nothing really. Warren just got mad at her some times for talking to other boys, talking about Zee.

"It's nothing Zee."

"Where did you get them?"

"Zee can you just forget it?"

"Ro tell me where you got those bruises."

"A friend yanked me back when I was walking the other way. He grabbed a little too tightly that's all."

"Why wouldn't you just tell me?"

"Just forget it Zee for once."

"Fine Ro. Well talk about it later."

"I don't think so Zee. Just leave me alone okay. I came out here to think."

"Is the reason you couldn't sleep is about me isn't it?" Ro just growled in fustration before walking down the hall. He ran after her grabbing her arm and pulling her back. She yelped in pain as he held her arm more tightly than Warren ever did.

"Ro come on I'm not sure what I've done but at least tell me what I did."

"Zeta if you are so worried about me why didn't you call once, send an email, come over? Did something? I can't just be waiting for you to come around when ever you please."

"Ro why are you angry at me?"

"For those exact reasons. You never called never sent anything." She walked down the hall away from him. He followed her down the hall silently. She stepped in the center of the ball room that was cleaned up from the party eariler that night.

He walked up beside her. "Ro I'm sorry."

Ro winced at the voice. It sounded so timid, so soft, so afraid of something. He was like a child in so many ways. Reminding of her childhood friends. She turned. Warren wouldn't find out about her warming up to Zee now. He couldn't do anything to hurt her right now. She was willing to risk getting hurt because of him.

"It's alright Zee. I forgive you."

"What is it your afraid of Ro?"

"I'm not afraid of anything Zee."

"Then why is your heart beating so fast."

"Zee it's just old nightmares. I don't want to talk about them."

"Why? Are they that bad?"

"Yes horrible things."

"I'm guessing you think I'm lucky I don't have nightmares."

"You are Zee." He wrapped his arms around her. He wanted to hold her forever. But she had to leave tomorrow.

"Ro I'm gonna miss you."

"Yeah me too Zee. You'll call."

"I can't I having Pennington Robotics make me human."

"You'll be human?"

"Yes it will take three months."

"Well good luck Zee. I hope you're happy with your decesion."

"I thought about it for days. I know what I'm doing is right."

"Alright Zee. I have to go to sleep."

"Ro I have one thing for you." She turned. He slipped his hand into his compartment in his chest. He took out a small red box. "I bought for you from a friend. It's inscribed with your name and mine. It's a reminder of our friendship."

"Thanks Zee. It's beautiful." She looked at the blue amtheyst. It was the same color of his eyes. "You're gonna look the same right?"

"Yes."

"Good night Zee."

"Night Ro." The next morning Zee didn't see her again. He had to go on to this operation by himself. He wasn't sure if he could go on his own.