True to his word, the next morning, O'Fallon released Murdock into Maggie's care. The whole affair of getting Murdock, Face and Ellen to the airport unharmed or being detected by Trigorin or his men was handled with an over abundance of caution. BA rode with Face and Ellen after a dummy car was sent on ahead. Meanwhile, Hannibal rode with Maggie and Murdock in the ambulance that brought the pilot from the navy hospital to the airport.
Once everyone was safely onboard and the plane in the air, Face finally let out a sigh of relief.
Back at the house in Langley, Stockwell felt well enough to be sitting up in bed going over a few reports when Carla walked into the room with a message. "It's from the President, Daddy," she said handing him the sheet of paper.
"From the look on your face," Stockwell stammered before scanning the message. "It must be bad news."
"I'm afraid so," Carla replied uneasily as he read the message before looking up to meet her eyes.
"That's it then," Stockwell whispered closing his eyes. "It's over for me. I've been inactivated."
"It doesn't have to be," Carla said emotionally before taking a seat at his side on the bed. "You could talk to the President! Get him to see, you're getting better!"
Stockwell shook his head no as he lifted a hand and weakly swiped the side of her face. "I'm afraid it won't make any difference, my dear," he said with a gentle smile. "This job isn't for a old men like me."
"Please, Daddy," Carla said as Stockwell handed her the message and the reports.
"I think, I'll rest now," he said dismissing her.
Carla nodded as she gathered up the papers and fled from the room with tears in her eyes. There would be much to discuss with her brother when he returned and she needed to be ready.
Face sat unobtrusively in one of the recliners on the plane and watched the others onboard. Murdock had his head in Ellen's lap as he slept on one of the sofa's. Maggie sat nearby a sedated BA who snored softly in another recliner while Hannibal fixed himself a drink from the bar before heading toward his direction.
"What's up, kid?" he said eyeing Face like a concerned father. "You've hardly said two words since we took off."
"Just thinking, I guess," Face said meeting his eyes. "I think it's time to have a talk with Stockwell...about his and my relationship."
"You're going to accept that he's your father?" Hannibal asked as Face nodded.
"Ellen and I both decided it's for the best," Face said nervously. "We don't know how much longer he has..."
"And, you'd both be fools to miss the opportunity to get to know him," Hannibal finished for him.
Face nodded as the colonel took the seat next to him. "It won't change how I feel about the team or you, Hannibal."
"I know that," Hannibal said meeting his eyes. "Is that what your worried about, Face. That, I'll feel, pushed aside for him?"
"Will you?" Face asked quietly as Hannibal shook his head no.
"He's your father, Face," Hannibal replied patting his shoulder. "No one can replace that. You've got every right to want to get to know the man no matter what I or anyone else thinks of him."
"Thanks, Hannibal," Face said relived. "I didn't want to ever hurt the relationship we have."
"There's no way you could, kid," Hannibal replied with a grin.
Stockwell opened his eyes when he heard a light wrapping on his door. "Come," he said wearily as Gloria walked in carrying Templeton on her hip.
"I thought you'd like to see your grandson today," she said supporting the six month old baby while he sat on Stockwell's bed.
"That's very thoughtful of you, Gloria," Stockwell said with a gentle smiled aimed at his grandson. "How are you feeling by the way?"
"Good now that the morning sickness stage is over," Gloria replied rubbing her ever bulging belly. "Only three more months to go."
Stockwell smiled to himself. Here he was at his age with no family to speak of and then suddenly, he found himself surrounded by three children and one grandchild with another soon on the way. It was a good feeling and no matter what happened in the next couple of days, that feeling would never diminish.
Upon landing, everyone climbed into one car under heavy guard for the ride back to the house. Face intended on taking a quick shower and getting a change of clothes before his meeting with the President. Carla had brought him up to speed on protocol while on the jet. A car would be around to pick them up promptly at six that evening for the ride over to the White House.
Pulling up to the gates at the house, Face suddenly realized how much he was looking forward to seeing Gloria again. The feeling to be near her after being apart almost felt like a physical kick in the gut and for the first time since losing Leslie during his college days, he came to the conclusion, he was once again in love.
"Templeton!" Gloria yelled before rushing into his arms when he walked into the house a few moments later. The curves of her body, the softness of her hair and the scent of her perfume just seemed to melt all his cares and worries away. "I missed you," she whispered before kissing him passionately.
"I hate to break this up," Carla said with a slight grin aimed at her brother. "But, we've got a schedule to keep."