Disclaimer: Sorry. Don't own the show. Don't own the characters. CBS does and they should all be happy, happy people.
Hello all my wonderful readers! Thank you all for the positive reviews! Well… the story is almost coming to an end (I haven't decided how many more chapters I'm going to write, but I think that it's going to be at least two chapters before the end including this one). Anyway, for now just enjoy Chapter Ten!
He was holding her hand, hearing the beep, beep, beep of the machine next to her as he leaned forward in the chair and closed his eyes. It had been such a long day. What time is it now? The dark-haired man blinked tiredly and let his fingers run over the smooth skin of the young woman's knuckles. She looked so pale and lifeless, but the expression on her face as she slept was one of incredible calm. He took her hand and held it against his cheek, allowing himself to enjoy the coolness of her touch. "I'm so glad you're alright, Terry," he whispered fondly to her, brushing his lips hesitantly against the back of her hand. "You have no idea how relieved I am that I found you alive."
She was on a respirator, which scared Don initially, but the nurse told him that it was only going to be used as a precaution until she woke up. Her broken ribs might have caused her to have some difficulty breathing, but with rest and medicine it wouldn't last long. He wondered how long it would be before Terry could be released from the hospital. Don felt as though he really needed to talk to her. He needed to tell her things, in case one day it becomes too late for him to talk to her, and if that day came the regret would never pass. He remembered the minute it hit him that Terry might die at the hands of his kidnappers. Don was filled with fear that she would never know how much she meant to him.
I've missed you. Don released her hand and leaned back against the chair, letting out a deep breath. I've missed talking to you, laughing with you, seeing you smile… and it's just been two days! What have you done to me, Terry? I can't even survive for two days without seeing your face! It's crazy. After Kim, I told myself that I couldn't ever fall in love again. And I haven't- I just never fell out of love with you. And now I've realized that I was such a fool to let you go.
"Don?" A voice coming from the door startled him from his reverie. David was standing at the door, carrying his jacket on his arm. He looked tired and anxious, his eyes flickering between Terry's sleeping form and Don's weary face. "Did you get yourself checked up? I saw a few bullets hit you this afternoon and you might have gotten some small injuries from that…"
"I'm fine, David. Thank you." Don interrupted quickly before the younger agent had a heart attack. He managed a small smile and motioned to David to sit down on one of the other chairs in the room. "The vest protected me well enough, and I've just got two bruises the size of peas on my chest. It's really nothing to worry about. Are you alright?"
"Yeah…" David rolled the chair next to Terry's side and sat on it heavily. "No injuries. I was backing Units One and Two and I didn't get hit at all." He sighed and bit his lip. "I had to rush back to the office after dropping Charlie off, and it was ages before I got any news about Terry. It worried the hell out of me. Even from far off I heard when Terry screamed during the shoot-out. For a moment I thought we had killed her because… well I've never heard her scream before."
Don paused before answering. "She was just scared. The bullet gave her a scratch and killed the guy next to her. We all get scared sometimes, David. It's alright to be frightened. I'm just glad that the afternoon didn't end as badly as I imagined. Only two agents injured, and not too badly. Not that I want to get to the office tomorrow and face Merrick, though. I'd rather stay here and wait till Terry wakes up."
There was silence for a moment. "Merrick's given you the next few days off, by the way. You might want to call him about that, though- I'm not really sure how long your forced vacation is." David leaned back and relaxed a little after listening to Don's reply. "Anyway, I thought you'd like to know about Chambers and his men. The van that they were driving belonged to Chambers' stepbrother, Jeremy Davis. Jeremy was the man you pulled out of the back of the van. He's dead now, and so are two others; Evan and Gary Porter were both shot in the chest. They're brothers, by the way. Steve Hunter was the man who was seated next to the driver's seat, and he was shot in the arm and chest. Right now, he's in the ICU but the doctor said that he has a decent chance of survival. And… last but not least, Michael Chambers was shot twice- one bullet hit his shoulder and the other is embedded in his spinal cord. He's in the ICU as well, but even if he survives he'll be a quadriplegic. Those two are going to have a real fun time in prison."
Don chuckled but there was no laughing gleam in his eyes. He shifted his glance back to Terry's face and his eyes clouded a little. David could almost see the speed at which Don's mind was racing as he looked over the lump on her head and the bruises on her arms. "Chambers got what he deserved." Don said, picking up Terry's hand and squeezing it gently. "He'll never hurt anyone again…"
Although the sentence was left hanging, David knew exactly what Don had wanted to say. He'll never hurt Terry again. He put a hand on Don's shoulder lightly, seeing the tired circles under his eyes. "Go home, Don. Get some rest. You don't have work tomorrow so you can come here and wait till she wakes up. I'll stay here for a while more."
Don nodded and released Terry's hand slowly. "Yes, I suppose I can't really do much now. Ford called me and said that all Chambers' equipment has been taken to the lab to be analyzed. Apparently they found a lot of information to put those people away for a long time. Anyway, I can't interrogate Chambers until he's well enough to get out of the hospital. I might as well have a bit of a break for the next few days."
He got up and shook David's hand, giving him a friendly smile. "Don't stay too late, David. You look tired too." David managed a grin before turning his attention back to Terry. Don and Terry weren't just his colleagues and mentors, they were also his friends. It mattered to him what happened to them. It also mattered what happened between them…
Don was at the door, but he couldn't take his eyes off his partner's face. David looked at him curiously, wondering whether or not he should say anything. Don looked as though a million thoughts were running through his head at once as he stared, unblinking, at Terry Lake's still form. He really does love her. David thought, choosing not to interrupt his friend's silence. I wonder why he's never made a move. I mean, screw the rules. When you really love someone, nothing should make you back off.
As if he had forgotten that David was ever there, Don took three big strides towards the bed and leaned over, planting a swift kiss on Terry's white cheek. Then he straightened up, took one last long look at her, and practically ran out of the room.
David stared after him in astonishment. He was speechless.
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Charlie and Larry were sitting in the hospital room playing chess. So far, no one seemed to be winning, but each man was planning the next twelve moves in order to checkmate their opponent. The middle-aged nurse who had passed by several times that afternoon wondered at how they could concentrate so hard for so long. The two brains were completely focused on their game. They were so absorbed in fact, that they didn't even notice that Terry had woken up until she managed a very loud cough.
"Terry!" They both exclaimed at the same time. Larry had been very glad to hear that Chambers and his men would not be planning any killing sprees for the rest of their lives in prison, and was relieved to finally be allowed to leave his house. He stepped forward and gave Terry a hug, trying not to squeeze her head too hard. Charlie had lost the dark circles under his eyes, and was looking very glad to see her awake. If only Don was here… he thought, grinning at the idea. Terry looked at him suspiciously over Larry's shoulder, noticing the cheeky expression on his face.
Larry finally released her and stepped aside for Charlie to give her a gentle squeeze. "I'm so glad you're alright, Terry." He said softly, meaning every word. Terry smiled into his hair and patted his arm kindly. "How are you feeling?" Charlie moved back and helped her to sit up more comfortably.
"Tired, but better." She answered truthfully, wincing at the effort of pushing herself up. "My side hurts a little, but it'll get better soon." Charlie flinched slightly at the mention of her sore ribs. He hadn't forgotten how she had gotten injured, and he wasn't going to forget for a very long time. Larry looked down suddenly, feeling slightly ashamed that he hadn't been able to help when they needed it most. He had just been sitting at home, waiting for news, with the two burly FBI agents guarding the doors. When Charlie had told him, shaky and guilt-stricken, about the kidnappers hurting Terry, Larry had never felt so useless. He was so relieved now that Terry was fine, and that their lives would soon be closer to normal.
"Don's at the office, by the way." Charlie said, knowing that Terry was wondering where her partner was. "He's got a two weeks off, but he's just there finishing up some paperwork. I think he'll be here in an hour or so, to have lunch with us. But then…"
The nurse popped in suddenly, interrupting what Charlie was about to say. "You're awake!" She waddled over to Terry cheerfully and checked the stats on the machine sitting next to her. "And about time, too... So many young men have been coming here to see you I was wondering when you might realize you had company."
Terry looked a little skeptical, but Charlie laughed and said, "It's true! All the FBI agents who worked on this case came to visit you and give their best wishes for your health. Don was here most of the time, so it's a bit odd that you chose to wake up the moment he decides to head to the office. My dad had to practically drag him out of that chair, next to your bed." He turned to the nurse and asked in a slightly more serious tone of voice. "When do you think she can head home?"
"Soon enough." The nurse said, fluffing up the pillows behind Terry's head so that she could rest comfortably. Terry couldn't help but notice how much Charlie grinned when he mentioned Don's frequent visits. Maybe I'm not the only one who hasn't forgotten what we had at the Academy… she thought hopefully. "I'd say in about a day or two you'll be fit to be taken home. Bear in mind that the doctor wants you to rest for at least two weeks before you even think of going to the office. Field duty is absolutely out of the question for a month at least. You hit your head pretty hard there, dear, and those ribs shouldn't take strain for a while."
Terry nodded ruefully. She'd miss seeing her colleagues at work, especially Don and David. She couldn't imagine not sitting at her desk for two weeks! The longest Terry had been away because of an injury was one week, and she had been bored out of her mind. She must have borrowed all of Don's DVDs and watched them all twice. He had been very willing to part with them, though, which was fortunate for her. "Oh well… at least I get to go home soon."
"True." Charlie paused and exchanged a look with Larry. "However, I've been given orders by my dad to order you to come to dinner every night. Apparently he thinks you need feeding. I'm not sure about what that actually translates to… but well, you're the psychologist."
Terry was suspicious. She remembered Alan inviting Amita to dinner every night and Don mentioning that it was his father's way of attempting to make her and Charlie pursue and non-professional relationship. He hadn't stopped teasing Charlie about it for weeks. Oh Mr. Eppes… What are you trying to do?
"We'd better go and let you rest." Larry said kindly, packing up the chess pieces. "You're still recovering; even if you feel better now you still need medication and care. I hope it won't be too long before we see you at Charles' house for dinner, Terry."
They said their goodbyes and left the room, their moods lifted at the sight of Terry's smiling face. Before leaving the hospital, Charlie felt as though he needed a drink. The soft drink machine was just next to the reception, so he walked over and inserted a few coins into the slot. He grabbed his drink and was about to turn around and rejoin Larry when he heard a man's voice coming from the counter.
"Excuse me, Miss? Which room is Theresa Lake in?" Charlie wasn't surprised to hear that more people were going to visit Terry. Some of the agents from out of state were returning to their homes later that day and might have decided to check on her for the last time before they left. Charlie opened his drink and took a large gulp, strolling away from the machine.
But the man's next words stopped him in his tracks, making Charlie's eyes widen in surprise.
"Oh, I'm just visiting to see how she is." There was a pause as the receptionist rustled some papers, "Well… I'm not sure if I'm on her emergency contact list but… I'm her husband."
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Don walked to Terry's room feeling in a much better mood than the day before. If not for the grouchy nurses and harassed doctors running through the corridors, he would be whistling. Charlie had called him and told him that Terry had woken up and looking forward to seeing him. For some reason, he sounded a little distracted on the phone. Not that that wasn't uncommon, though. Perhaps he had some equation in his head that he was trying to figure out.
He strolled down the corridor cheerfully; glad to be able to talk to Terry. It was only going to be a matter of time before she could go home- and then he could attempt to have a good long chat with her. Don knew that he needed to face telling her how he felt, even if he feared her rejection. What he was going through before the raid was dangerous and he knew it. He had been frightened, anxious and afraid to lose her. Don knew that he had been willing to jeopardize everything in the operation to get her out alive. And that had not been his job. His job had been to arrest Chambers and his men. Whatever happened to Terry would be considered unfortunate, but would just be one of the hazards of being an FBI agent. Don knew that he needed to tell her- even if it was just a warning for her to watch out for him…
He stopped walking and paused outside the room. There was someone already in her room, which wasn't surprising. Terry was awake, and her face was turned away from the door. Her eyes seemed to be fixed on a point outside the window. There was a man sitting on the chair that Don usually sat on, and he was talking to her. Don frowned. There was something about her body language that made him uncomfortable. Terry was trying very hard not to meet her visitor's eyes and that was not something she normally did.
Unable to stand it any longer, Don knocked on the door and pushed it open. "Hey Terry… am I interrupting anything?" The other man in the room looked at Don curiously but made no move to stand up or greet him. Terry turned to face him and gave him a small smile. To his astonishment, he saw that there were unshed tears welling up in her eyes. Terry brushed them away quickly, looking abashed that he noticed them.
"No, you're not interrupting anything important, Don. Sit down… please?" Terry was looking at him with a strange expression in her eyes. He knew her well enough to decipher was she was silently telling him. She was uncomfortable being alone with this man, and she wanted him to stay. Don turned and faced her visitor, who was a man in his late thirties with neat blond hair and cold bleu eyes. He smiled and offered the man his hand.
"Hi, I'm Don Eppes. I'm Terry's partner." The man took Don's hand and shook it slowly, as though he wasn't sure what to say. Obviously he felt uncomfortable as well. But Don wasn't about to leave Terry with this person she so apparently did not want to talk to.
"Well… I'd better go and leave you to… rest, Terry. I'll see you later." The man picked up his coat and walked to the door hurriedly. At the door he stopped and turned around, trying to meet Terry's eyes. "We'll talk some other time, okay? Maybe tomorrow."
She didn't answer. Terry was staring at her hands, actually her fingers, to be more specific. Her hands were shaking as she used her thumb to feel the bareness of her ring finger. Don suddenly felt worried. The door was shut softly. Terry looked up at him with fresh tears in her eyes. Don just realized that her visitor did not give him his name.
"You've just met my ex-husband." Terry said quietly, as though reading his thoughts. She stopped playing with her finger and tried to push herself up. Don hurried forward to help her, his mind spinning with a million questions. What is he doing here? What does he want? What did he talk to you about? Why are you crying? When was the last time he saw her wear her wedding ring?
"Terry…" Don took her hand and squeezed it, trying to find some words to say.
"He wants me to move back to Washington with him." She said, as she leaned back against her pillow and shut her eyes. A tear rolled down her cheek, unchecked. "He said he left that woman- you know, the one he left me for. He wants us to work things out. He wants…"
Terry stopped suddenly and there was silence. Don's heartbeat suddenly accelerated and he found his breath was stuck in his throat. What terrible timing… He bit his lip, trying to think of something comforting that he could say. Something that would make her feel better… But before he knew it, he had blurted out the first thing that came to his head.
"You can't leave…!" Don halted and released her hand. He started twiddling his thumbs nervously. Terry looked at him strangely, wondering what had triggered this uncharacteristic behavior. He reached for her hand again and held it comfortingly. "I'm sorry. I should hear you out first. What do you want to do?"
"I don't know. He broke my heart…" Terry looked down at Don's hand holding hers tightly and felt her heart flutter. He hadn't been so… so tender for years. She missed it badly. "I know I married him. I'm still married to him. When we got married… we did it for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health… I remember my wedding vows, and I remember his. And I keep thinking that he didn't keep his promises and now it might be too late to fix them..."
Her voice broke and she turned away so that Don wouldn't see her tears. He felt a twinge of hope when he realized that Terry wasn't so keen on having her heart broken twice by this man. But still… he wanted her to be happy. If being with her husband was going to make her happy… then Don knew he couldn't stand in her way. "Do you… do you still love him?"
Don was afraid of the answer. He didn't want to hear it, but he had to know. All he really wanted from this woman was hanging in the answer to this question. Terry glanced at him strangely, wondering if there was a hidden question behind his words. "I did love him once. And he said he loved me. But he did something to me that was unforgivable…" Don was surprised at the bitterness in her voice. "… And I know that I can never love him again."
TBC
Well… that's that for now. In most fanfics that I've read, Terry's husband is written as a really mean kind of guy so I thought I'd be different and make him seem a little nicer. Anyway… what do you think Terry's going to do- stay in LA or go to Washington? Hmm… I guess you'll just have to wait till the next chapter is posted! (Which will be soon, I hope)