Epilogue

Greg waited until dinnertime to shoo his kids towards the kitchen. Sensing that their guardian wanted time to talk to Lancelot – Gale – privately, Lance and Alanna towed Dean away, chattering about what their newest family member might like for dinner.

Gale watched them go, a faint smile appearing.

"Been awhile?" Parker asked.

"Something like that," Gale conceded. He turned back towards his superior. "My family in this life doesn't approve of my job."

Ah. "It's a good career as long as someone else does it," the lieutenant filled in, earning a nod. "Sorry to hear that, Gale."

Gale shook his head. "I would rather be alienated from them than lose them as I did in Camelot," he admitted. "They…they are not the parents I lost back then, but…"

"As long as they're alive, you've got that chance that you can reconcile," Greg finished. "Spike had the same thing with his father."

Hazel studied him. "And you with yours?"

"It's been years since I've even looked them up," Parker confessed. "I wouldn't want them near my son or mio nipotes." Hazel darkened. "My father can be a mean drunk."

Gale winced and changed the subject. "You didn't shoo them off so we could discuss our parents, sir."

"No, I didn't," Greg confirmed. "Silvergrip didn't want to talk and I think I know why."

Hazel like his own studied him. "You know who claimed to be my proxy?"

"Not for sure, but I've got a pretty good idea," Parker replied. "And if I'm right, then he's been setting up this trail of dominoes for a long time."

The raven recoiled. "He wanted them to be in danger?"

Solemn, Greg nodded once. "His problem isn't with the SRU, Gale, it's with Wild Mages and even with you, mio nipotes are the powerhouses. They've been learning how to wield their power all their lives; you're still figuring out the basics."

"We are the wild cards," Gale murmured. "We can't be controlled, not like other factors in play."

"Don't get cocky," Parker cautioned. "If he uses the right approach, we can be controlled." A rueful grimace crossed his face. "That's why I didn't have any idea something was wrong until Alanna came looking for me."

Gale eyed him, then shook his head. "Sir, don't pull that with me. You knew something was wrong, you just didn't know what."

Surprised, Greg blinked at his constable, then set the question aside for another discussion. "For now, our guy's been stalemated, but he'll try again. I'm sure of that much."

"Then we must stop him," Gale replied, determination lighting his hazel eyes. "You can trust me, sir; I won't let him get away with hurting my kin."

Both hands spread in a calming gesture. "I'll tell you, Gale, but you can't tell your team. Or mine."

"Whyever not?" Gale questioned, hurt. "Do you think they'd betray us?"

"No, I don't," Greg insisted. "Not for a second; I'd trust our teams to have our backs through hell and high water." He swallowed hard. "I'm just not sure if they'd be able to keep the secret."

Gale frowned for a few seconds longer, then the light dawned and he sighed heavily, nodding acceptance. "Legilimency." Rueful, he eyed the other man. "Is the traitor really so powerful?"

"Yes," Parker confirmed. Glancing around, he scanned for any listening ears, then leaned forward and murmured their subject's name in Gale's ear.

The raven froze in place, jaw dropping open in horror. "No! Not possible!"

Parker crossed his arms and raised one eyebrow. "Are you calling my nephew a liar?"

Stammering, Gale backed away, clenching his fists. For close to a minute, he panted, eyes squeezed shut as if the traitor's identity was physically painful to him. At last, though, Gale's head came up, hazel opening once more. "No, sir, I'm not," he whispered. His expression contorted and his voice dropped even lower. "It makes sense."

Greg's defensive posture dropped away and he cocked his head to the side. "It does?"

"Yes," Gale confirmed, aching sorrow ringing. "There…" He stopped, searching for the right words. "It is subtle, sir, but there have been times when he seems to have two faces. Most of the time, he is a good friend, but if certain topics come up, he…changes."

"He gets his back up?" Parker ventured.

Gale nodded. "When it comes to certain individuals, he can't change his mind, sir. They are enemies, no matter what other factors might be involved." Considering, the constable added, "Sir, I can't be sure, but maybe…"

"Maybe?" Greg prompted when the other trailed off.

Troubled hazel met his gaze. "He might be beholden to the Old Ways. That would explain why he cannot bend his beliefs."

Parker frowned thoughtfully. "You mean, he literally can't change his mind?"

"Yes," Gale replied. "The Old Ways would be hostile to Wild Mages, sir. We are a threat to the status quo and we do not believe in trading a Life for a Life." He snorted, turning away. "Not that the Old Ways keep to that either."

"Oh?" Greg prodded, interested. "That seems to be a big thing."

"Only for the side of Good, sir," Gale spat bitterly. Swiveling back, he explained, "If a Life for a Life truly mattered to the Old Ways, then I would not have died and neither would many, many innocent civilians." Shaking his head, he explained, "If the Old Ways abided by their own Law, then only one person need have died once Morgana tore the Veil between Life and Death. That person's death would have satisfied the demand for a Life to seal the Veil."

"Instead, the Veil was left open and the Dorocha roamed freely," Parker murmured, earning a nod. He snorted himself. "Double standards."

"If they didn't have double standards, they wouldn't have any at all," Gale snarled, fists clenching. Lowering his head, he added, "We must be careful, sir. If we don't plan our approach carefully, it will be worse than this time was."

"Yeah, it will," Greg agreed. "If you're right, then he's being forced into this."

"It doesn't change what he's done," Gale pointed out, though a faint trace of hope lurked in his gaze.

"It does and it doesn't." Parker shook his head. "I know what it's like to turn against your own beliefs and values, Gale. It's terrible and it's awful and I hated myself every second I had to do it." A rough swallow broke through his guard. "I couldn't forgive myself until they did."

The hope brightened, but it was tempered by caution. "He may not want us to save him," Gale cautioned.

"We'll do it anyway," Greg countered firmly. "If he chooses to throw that away, that's on him, but everyone has the right to choose for themselves. That's fundamental and I'll fight as long and as hard as I can for his right to make his own decisions."

A half-smile quirked. "Even though he hurt your own?"

Parker winced at the reminder, but held firm. "I think Lance wanted to give Silvergrip a chance because he thought that was what I wanted him to do."

Understanding dawned. "So you will give him a chance because Lance believes you would."

Sheepish, Greg nodded. "He thinks I'm a better man than I really am."

"You are." At the surprised blink, Gale's smile widened. "A better man chooses to live up to that expectation in spite of himself rather than risk disappointing his children."

"Dad, can we order pizza?"

Both men turned and Greg shook his head. "Dean, we've had pizza the last two weekends running. Let's have something else tonight."

"Do you have any leftover chicken, mixed vegetables, broth, and uncooked crescent rolls?" Gale inquired.

Puzzled, Greg considered, trading a glance with his son. "I think we've got most of that. Why?"

The knight-constable grinned. "If you have a two quart baking dish, then I have a recipe for chicken pot pie that I learned from my mother."

Greg's mouth watered at the thought and Dean bounced in glee. "Well, then, Gale, where do we get started?" the stocky officer asked.

Chuckling, Gale strode past Dean towards the apartment's kitchen. "With the chicken, of course."

~ Fin

Author note: Mmmm... Chicken pot pie... I need some of that in my life...

Anyway! I hope everyone enjoyed our latest Side-Story, wrapping up a few more loose ends from our last major story arc. As ever, I cherish every single review my readers give me, so please do read and review.

In the meantime, we'll be snaking our way back to the main It's a Magical Flashpoint storyline. Knight Riders will kick off on Friday, December 23rd 2022, over in the Flashpoint/Knight Rider crossover archive.

See You on the Battlefield!