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Til The End Ch. 20

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I Disclaim.

Salem University Hospital

Shawn woke slowly and saw his father and John standing over him, feeling foolish for being on the floor he quickly moves to stand and gladly accepts his father's help. Looking around the room, he searches for any sign of Mac, but when he doesn't see her his eyes takes on sadness.

He couldn't explain why he fainted, he had thought he had seen Mac, and the sight had been too good to be true. Being the head of the Red Wolf Society had been a dream since he joined Mac all those years ago, but he realized now that he had settled for that dream, when he lost Belle. Now with the possibility of a future with her so close again, he is know looking for a way to start a future with Belle, and still up hold Mac's dream.

"She went into see Patrick, he's in recovery." John saw the emotion on the young man's face and understood it completely.

Shawn raised an eyebrow at John's statement." Who?" Still not quite believing that he really saw Mac, and needing conformation.

"Mac." Seeing the eyes light up with hope. "Yeah, back form the dead."

" Of course she is, I doubt the grim ripper could handle her." Shawn gives a weak laugh, sits down in a nearby chair, and looks toward the door of the recovery rooms.

Walking in Mac was suddenly paralyzed by the sight of Patrick there hooked up to all those machines. She hadn't ever really been in a hospital except for when she was on a mission and never seen a sick person, even when Gabriella was born Mac had waited in the park outside the hospital. During her time as Machiavelli the goal had always been to kill someone, and she always completed accomplished her goals. The most disturbing thought that kept Mac from being comfortable was the fact that SHE had done this. SHE had put two bullets in Patrick, and hadn't even paused to see the effects. Ignoring the voice in her head, she walks further into the room, and takes the seat by his bed.

"I wonder if I was a normal woman, would be here now." Taking his hand she lines it up against her own and realizes that even though her hands are much smaller, there is no real difference, both hands were rough and callused. " Probably not, huh." Mac stands and moves away looking at the wall, unable to look at the damage she had done. "I'm sorry Patrick, I should have left you in Quantico, where I found you."

"But no, I went against my instinct that and brought into a world you shouldn't have ever see." "I own you an apology, O'Neil."

"Damn right you do." Mac turned and stared in silent shock as Patrick opened his eyes, and glared at her. "You shot me."

Mac eyes' narrow at the accusatory tone in his voice. "Now we're even, you put a hit out on me." Retaking her seat she saw his grimace, and smiled inwardly glad that they were back on they're usual relationship, even after all those years. " I shot to injury, your guy was shooting to kill, if I wasn't as gifted as I am, I'd be dead right now."

"Don't give me that, you shot me, and I think I have the right to milk the guilt."

"You where a crime lord, that tried to kill me, kidnap my goddaughter, and shake me down for protection money." "You don't get jack. Now shut up and go to sleep." Mac stands and walks toward the door, almost through it when she hears him speak again.

"I love you."

"Ditto." She shuts the door and leans against it with a smile on her face as she hears his laughter.

Salem Inn Presidential Suite

As Brady closed the door, he watched Chloe and his daughter. It had been to tough hide her, finding ways to seek into town and seen her, but now it was over. After years of pretending to be her estranged brother-in-law, Brady could finally shot form the rooftops that he had a daughter.

"Are you upset, that I didn't let my parents keep her for the night?" The question brought Brady's head up, as he looked at his wife.

"God no." Dropping Gabriella's bag he walks over to his family, and took Chloe's free hand. "I think that after everything that happened, the best place for her to be is with her parents."

Chloe smiles and brings his hands to her mouth to kiss it. " Yeah, I thought so too." She looked down at the small child in her arms and notices that her blue eyes are fighting to stay up. "But I think she is ready to sleep."

Brady watches as Chloe puts Gabriella down on the bed, and surrounds her with pillows to keep the girl from falling. " Gosh Chloe, got enough pillows or should I call down for more." He chuckles at the indignant expression that Chloe gets.

" I have you know that much like her father, Gabriella doesn't stay in one place when she sleeps."

"I think she got that trait from her mother."

"You would, you like living in the land of make believe."

Brady grabs Chloe and pulls her into a kiss that eaves them both grasping for breath." Keep that up and I won't let you take advantage of me later."

"You're right, she gets it from me." Chloe begins to unbutton Brady's shirt, and starts to kiss his that sensitive spot on his neck.

"What about Gaby?" Brady moves his neck to give her more access, and turns to look at their sleeping daughter.

"Gabriella, will sleep for at least an hour, she had a full day, and I'm not doing anything but helping you get ready for your shower." Chloe throws the shirt toward the bed, and starts to pulls up his wife-beater. " Now, to save time, may us sharing the shower?" Chloe begins to back up moving toward the bathroom door, watching Brady from beneath her lashes.

Brady grins at the seductive glance Chloe sends his way, and takes one more look at his sleeping daughter, before following her mother. "Well, I guess we can, to save time and water."