Barney and the others looked at Lee as he entered the waiting room.
"How is she"? asked Barney.
"Awake", replied Lee.
"That's already a good sign".
Lee sat down next to him.
"You are still troubled", said Barney looking at Lee.
"How do I tell her"?
"Tell her what"?
"The truth. What her father did and why. They are so close Barney, I'm not sure what it will do to their relationship".
Barney shrugged. "She'll be mad, that's for sure, simply because he made a decision for her that changed the course of her life and not in a positive way".
Lee nodded. "That's why you told me not to do the same".
"That's partly why. I don't know Kate very much, but I think she's a smart woman and if she fell in love with you, she did it knowing the risks".
Lee rubbed his forehead. "That was back then Barney. What we do today is very different then when I was in the army".
Barney cocked his head to the side. "Is it really? I don't think so. We evaluate the risks and we always put our safety first. When you were sent to war, did you know everything about where you were going and who your enemies were? If you ask me, this is way less risky".
He knew Barney was right. He was more experienced now then he had been at the time and mostly everything they undertook was planned. He knew there was more of a chance of him coming back alive now after a mission then when he was deployed.
"Do you still love her"? asked Barney as all the others waited curiously for Lee's answer.
"Deep down inside, even without knowing the truth of how it came to end, I've always loved her".
"Then do something about it", said Barney firmly and plainly.
The doctor walked into the waiting room.
"She's doing good. Her eye needs to be watched over the next couple of days. You asked to know when she was strong enough for a transfer and well, I don't see the point of keeping her here any longer".
Lee stood and shook his hand.
"That being said, she still needs medical care once she's home and a lot of rest".
"Thank you doctor, you don't need to worry about that. I'll make sure of it".
"I'll sign her release papers and your free to go".
"I'll go help her get ready", said Lee as he started to leave the waiting room.
"We'll get the plane ready and will wait for you there".
Lee nodded and disappeared.
"You think he'll do it"? asked Cesar.
"What"?
"Give it another chance".
Barney shrugged. "I hope so. They both deserve it. And honestly, it would be nice if one of us got into a decent and serious relationship with someone".
"I've got someone", protested Cesar.
"Yeah? When was the last time you took her out on a real date"? joked Gunnar.
"Well, it just so happens that we have a date planned tomorrow night. I'm glad I won't have to cancel".
Gunnar laughed. "You're so full of crap! You just made that up".
They all stood and headed out of the waiting room.
"Didn't buy it huh"? asked Cesar.
"Not one bit. But keep trying", said Gunnar as he nudged him in the shoulder.
Kate smiled upon seeing Lee come in to the room.
"Doctor says we can take you home".
"I like the sound of that. My father must be worried sick".
"We've kept him posted", said Lee as he sat down on the bed beside her.
He looked her straight in the eyes. There was no use trying to be gentle about it, the truth needed to come out and sometimes by pulling the band-aid fast, the pain lasted less.
"Kate, there's something you need to know about your father".
She looked at him with panicked eyes. "What is it"?
And so, Lee started to explain everything, how Victor had lied all these years and how in the end he had felt miserable about doing it. When he had finished, he watched impatiently for Kate's reaction. He could tell that she was trying to find her words and the right emotions to handle what had been an ugly truth.
"Kate? Say something, please".
She shook her head. "I don't know what to say. I never thought my father capable of doing something like that and I have a hard time placing what he did in the "I did it for her own good" category".
She paused for a second.
"He saw day in and day out how your death affected me, why didn't he say anything"?
"I think he was afraid to lose you".
"I'm angry. But after everything that's happened and how important life is, I don't want to be angry".
"And you"? she asked him.
He looked at her curiously.
"What about me"?
"How do you feel about what he did"?
"Honestly, I wanted to kill him, but you were missing and finding you was the only priority. Besides, he apologized numerous times and I could tell he felt guilty. It's already a step in the right direction".
He saw her swallow and he could tell there was something else behind her initial question.
"And, about us"? she dared to ask, her entire body shaking inside like a febrile leaf just barely holding on to a branch in a wind storm.
"I loved you Kate".
She put her head down upon hearing those words in the past. He placed a finger gently underneath her chin and lifted it up slowly so that he could look at her.
"I have never stopped loving you! And maybe I'm a complete fool in hoping, but I think I'd be more of a fool if I didn't hope that we could try to pick things up were they left off".
He moved his face closer to hers. "Because I don't think I could take losing you a second time around".
She smiled at him. "You are no fool Lee Christmas and I don't want to lose you either".
He gently allowed his lips to meet hers and regardless of the years gone by or where they were, he found himself transported back to a place in time where his life had been perfect.
"And so, by the power invested in me, I hereby pronounce you, husband and wife! You may kiss the bride"!
Lee put his arms around Kate, pulled her in against him and kissed her as the guests clapped.
Later that evening, Lee caressed his beautiful wife's naked back as she lay beside him. He felt lucky and he had every right to.
When they had returned to the States 8 months ago, Kate had had a very firm discussion with her father and had set things straight, letting him know that either he accepted her relationship with Lee or their own relationship would change forever.
Lee had taken Kate out on a date, like at the beginning of their relationship and both realized that nothing had changed. He had drove her home that night and had never left after that.
When he had proposed two months ago, and she had said yes, even before he had finished asking her, he was relieved. He wanted no one else but her in his life. She got along with all the guys and had quit her job at the Department of Defense and had become an amazing asset to the team at their headquarters, even when they were out on the field. A few missions had come up and Lee had always left worried that when he would come back, she'd be gone, but every time, she was there on the tarmac waiting for him to step off the plane.
Seeing how happy they were, Cesar had finally taken Chantelle out on a real date and Gunnar had signed up on a dating website. Lee only wished that Barney, in turn, would allow himself the chance of being happy and in love, but he seemed content to live off of other's happiness.
"Are you watching me sleep"?
The voice drew him from his thoughts.
"Yes, I was and thinking about how lucky I am".
She smiled. "I agree. We are extremely lucky".
She sat up and turned towards the night stand. "Speaking of being lucky, I got you a present".
She opened the drawer and pulled out a small wrapped package and handed it to him.
He seemed a bit embarrassed. "You got me a wedding present"?
"You could say that".
"I don't know what to say. I didn't get you one".
She smiled. "Being married to you is the best present you could have given me". She paused for a moment. "Well sort of".
He frowned. "Sort of"?
"Just open your present", she said.
He unwrapped the package and opened it. His eyes grew wide open.
The corner of his lips rose to a smile as he looked at her.
He put the package down and kissed her, all the while placing her back down on the bed and positioning himself over her lovingly.
"Mrs. Christmas, you have just made me, again, the luckiest and happiest man on Earth"!
She smiled. "Just promise me, we won't name him or her Merry"!
He laughed as he kissed her again passionately.
Ever since the day he had stopped his bike to help a young lady in distress on the side of the road, his life had changed. He had lost her, and fate had brought them back together. She loved him, she had become his wife and now he was going to be a father.
Never lose hope, keep the faith, because sometimes, life will take you by the hand and bring you where you should have always been, even when you are a mercenary, who thought he'd never see this day come!