Chapter 6
Disclaimer: Apologies to those who've been looking forward to more of this story! And no, Riggs will not be getting powers in this fic.
Unfortunately for Maggie, it wouldn't be until the next day when she'd get a chance to speak with Riggs due to her job and Cisco Ramon from Earth-1 showing up finally. And he'd practically been an excited fanboy over meeting the legendary Martin Riggs himself. Even if the version he was meeting was the TV version instead of the film version on his Earth. Which stunned Riggs some but tried not to think too much about the whole thing, which was easy as he had quite a bit on his mind after that walk in the park with M'yrnn. And once Cisco finally got over his fanboy moment, quickly got to work on locating Riggs' Earth but warned it would take awhile as he had to ensure certain things matched up. "So… We gonna talk or just wander about aimlessly until it gets too uncomfortable?" Asked Riggs of Maggie about ten minutes after both had gotten to the park upon her request.
His voice startled her momentarily and she'd give him a sheepish look in return. "Right, sorry."
"Nah, don't be. You clearly have things on your mind."
Lord knows he did himself as it is! Even wondering how much time might have passed on his Earth and if it was the same amount as here. If Rog and the others were doing all they could to find him despite the fact they wouldn't be able too. He did have to admit however that after his breakdown the previous day, that he felt… Somewhat lighter then he'd done in some time. Riggs had a feeling Cahill would have said something along the lines of his breakdown being a strongly needed thing that was bound to happen sooner or later. And it made him wonder what she'd have to say in regards to how it happened. Maggie nodded in agreement but didn't say anything else as she still wasn't quite sure how to begin. Something Riggs clearly cottoned on too as well for that matter. "So, smart money says that the reason you brought me out here involves a certain short haired Brunette who's said to be damn good with a gun."
"Smart money says you'd be right." Replied Maggie in surprise.
Though she reasoned she shouldn't be considering he too is a Detective like her. He grinned in a smug manner at being right, a look she chose not to comment on. "I know I shouldn't do this considering how much I look like your wife and I'm sorry if its bringing up anything you don't want to think about."
Riggs sighed and stopped walking to stare at her, causing her to stop as well. "I admit that it's kinda uncomfortable and I probably wouldn't be anywhere near here if it wasn't for what happened with M'yrnn yesterday. But you clearly need an outside perspective on things and who better then a guy from another Earth who might not be entirely sane?"
Letting out a breath, Maggie nodded. "Yeah, yeah I do. Because I look at you and wonder if I could turn out like you did after you lost your wife and it scares me. And Alex isn't even dead." She told him shakily and he nodded in understanding.
"She's not, but you two are clearly on the rocks, right?"
"Yeah, she wants kids and I… I don't. Even though I told her I wanted the whole nine yards with her..."
"You just hadn't been thinkin' about the kids part when you said that, right?" Riggs asked in a knowing manner and gained a nod in return.
"Pretty much." Sighed Maggie.
Riggs stared at her for a moment before speaking. "Any particular reason why? Or do ya just not like kids?"
Taking a deep breath and letting it out, Maggie looked at him again. "I'm afraid he or she will get screwed up cause of me, you know? I didn't exactly have it that easy as a kid after I told my parents about the fact I'm not into guys and got kicked out for it. And even now my dad can't stand the idea of me being gay…"
Hearing that dismayed Riggs considerably considering Miranda's family was as loving as can be. Even towards him long after Miranda's death and he now regrets not having allowed them to be in his life after her death. But he knows there's still time to change that and he knows Ronnie would be happy with that as well. God knows the man seemed a few years younger now that he was no longer having to work for the Cartel as a spy for certain Law Enforcement agencies. "Believe it or not, I didn't have it easy as a kid either cause of my old man. It took a friend of mine shootin' him in the face to get him out of my life and I've been happier for it. Even if he is tryin' to screw with me from prison now a days. And the fact your family has treated you like they have shocks the Hell out of me cause Miranda's family is as loving as can be."
He was pretty sure they'd even adopt Maggie and not just because of her appearance to Miranda either. "But the thing of it is, and I'm pretty sure my therapist would agree, we can't let the actions of our parents define us. WE define who we are and do the exact opposite of what they did if they happened to be shitty people or you know, made a few shitty decisions. Do you love Alex?"
"Yes! I do more then anything."
"And does she feel the same?"
"Yeah, she does."
"Then I think the both of you need to sit down and find a way to work this whole thing out in a way that benefits you both. Otherwise… You both are gonna be miserable and separate and that's just gonna suck a bunch of balls for the two of you." Riggs told her bluntly.
Which was something she appreciated a great deal as she thought over his words and hoped they would somehow save the relationship she has with Alex.
Sometime Later At The DEO
The time had finally come for Riggs to return to his Earth now that Cisco had a good idea of things. "So, all I gotta do is step through that?" Asked Riggs in a doubtful manner as he stared at the blue swirly portal the guy calling himself Cisco had managed to create with his bare hand.
"Yep. Perfectly safe, I promise. I'll even go with you if it helps make you feel better."
"Yeah, I think I'll take ya up on that one."
"I too would like to take this journey with the two of you to see you returned to your Earth, Martin."
"I wouldn't mind either if that's alright." Added in Maggie.
Riggs shrugged. "I'm fine with it if Cisco here is."
"Yeah, no worries there."
"Groovy." Replied Riggs before turning his attention back to J'onn, Supergirl, Alex, and the others.
"I wanna thank you for lettin' me hang around until I was able to get back to my Earth. Which is still kind of a weird thing to say for me but whatever. And if you guys ever need anything, I'm willin' to help if I'm able."
"Thank you, Martin. And I hope the days to come for you will be better then the ones before." Kara told him seriously.
Something he hoped for as well and said as much before coming up to Alex with a serious look on his face. "I don't know what the future holds for you and Maggie, but I hope its a good one."
Alex looked at him in surprise before speaking. "Th-Thanks." She said while being unsure of what else to say.
He just smiled at her before turning his attention back to the portal and giving a nod to those going with him. And together, the foursome stepped through it and on to the otherside.
Earth-23 Police Precinct, Several Hours After Riggs Disappeared
Things were tense in the Precinct that Riggs and Murtaugh worked out of as so far, no one had been able to find Riggs after he went through that weird object. Making some fear that he was dead now due to having been unable to find him. "We can't give up hope! He has to be somewhere!" Urged Ronnie in a desperate bid to keep hope alive.
"Ronnie is right, we have to keep searching as Riggs would do the same for any of us." Cahill added and getting a few nods of agreement from those who come to know Riggs in the time he'd been with them.
"LA is a big place but given enough time, I know he'll be found." Trish stated in certainty while trying not to think the worst in regards to her troubled friend.
Roger placed an arm around her as their kids tried to keep Molly's son occupied. An action Molly herself was grateful for as she knew her boy had come to care a lot for Martin in the time they'd been around one another. Cruz would have made a remark about aliens being involved again but thought better of it. As now just wasn't the time for that kind of thing. Plus, he really didn't want to get glared at by everybody present! Santos however, was about to speak up, though it wasn't going to be in a positive manner due to her feelings about Riggs. But she wouldn't get a chance too as one of those blue things suddenly opened up behind her. "Its the aliens!" Yelled out Cruz in alarm and getting an eyeroll from Bailey as everybody else present who had guns pulled them out and aimed them at the blue thing.
But then a man in a strange outfit with long hair and black shades stepped through. "Whoa! We come in peace, I swear!"
"You'll have to forgive us if we aren't too willing to believe that right away." Captain Avery told him.
"Right, good point." Sighed the strange man as several others came out from the blue swirly thing.
Chief among them being Martin Riggs himself. "Whoa now, let's put away the guns before someone does somethin' they shouldn't!"
"R-Riggs!?" Asked Roger in shock.
"The one and only, Rog. The one and only." Replied the man with a smile.
Molly, not caring at all, rushed to Riggs and hugged the life out of him as tears spilled free from her. Her son even joining the hug but Ronnie paid no attention to this as he stared at the woman he thought was Miranda. "M-Miranda!? Has Martin somehow brought you back from Heaven!?"
He came up to the woman who he thought was his lost little girl, who was staring at him in a sad manner. "No, I'm, I'm sorry. But my name is Maggie Sawyer. Riggs and I met when he came to our Earth."
"And furthered his path to healing." Added the African American man who so far had been silent.
"'Our Earth'? What the Hell does that mean?" Wondered Santos while wondering if this was some plot and they were drugged to ensure its completion.
The man with the strange get up and shades answered. "Basically? The multiverse theory is real. Now nobody knows how a portal got opened up and Riggs ended up on Earth-38 but I was able to get him back here. Where apparently only a few hours has passed here where on Earth-38, a few days passed." Explained the man and getting wowed looks in the process.
"Now that is awesome." Mutered Scorcese in awe.
Ronnie stared at the woman who looked so much like his little girl that it hurt with glistening eyes as she took him to a quieter corner. He'd end up surrpised when the woman hugged him for a moment before pulling away. "Sorry, it… It looked like you really needed a hug."
"Don't be. You may not be my daughter but I appreciate it none the less." He replied while strongly wishing this girl who looked so much like Miranda was his daughter.
Somehow back from the dead. "Tell me, young lady, what is it you do on your Earth?" A concept he found hard to believe but could not refute.
Not when the proof was undeniably staring him in the face. "I'm, well, I'm a Detective for the Science Divison of the National City Police Department."
Ronnie raised his eyebrows at that as something like that wasn't familiar to him! And seeing the look on the older man's face, Maggie explained the concept to him. "Oh my. Aliens on your Earth, that, young lady, is simply amazing and gives me hope that one day we too will know for sure if there is life on other planets here. Your parents must be very proud of you."
"Yeah, well, maybe. But… They pretty much washed their hands of me a long time ago." She admitted with a sad smile and shocking the older man greatly.
"What!? What in God's name for!? I barely know you and I feel proud of you!" Replied Ronnie in shock.
Another sad smile came his way, thinking he'd be against her as well once he found out a certain detail about her. "Because… I've preferred women to men since I was a teenager. And that… That got me kicked out."
She watched as his eyes widened in shock, whether its because of her admitting to being a lesbian or that she was kicked out because of it, Maggie didn't know. The hug she found herself in however, was a completely unexpected surprise! "They, young lady, are absolute fools to push you away because of such a thing. I can promise you one thing, we would never have done such a thing to you or our Miranda!" Informed Ronnie seriously once he pulled back from the hug while keeping his hands on her shoulders.
The absolute sincerity and seriousness to his voice made her want to cry and he must have gotten that impression as well because he hugged her again. And if Maggie was being honest with herself, she didn't want to ever end the hug as it had a fatherly feel to it that she hadn't had in years. While these two continued to talk, everyone else expressed their joy and relief at having Riggs back with them after thinking the worst had happened to him. Though Santos merely nodded in a curt manner and said 'welcome back' before making her leave. "You seem… Different." Noted Cahill as she observed Riggs.
"In a bad way? Cause let me tell ya, after bein' over on that Earth, I'm feelin' better then I have in a long time."
"And there it is. Its a good look for you." She replied with a smile before walking off but making sure to remind him that their sessions were still going to happen.
Not that he wouldn't have it any other way! Riggs' face then turned serious as he looked to Molly. "Molly… If uhh, if its not too late betw-"
"Its not too late."
"Its not?"
"No, now kiss me."
Grinning at her and not being needed to be told twice, he did exactly that. Though her little boy could be heard making gagging noises and remarks about cooties much to the amusement of those nearby. And after a little more chatting between the two groups, it was time for Maggie, Cisco, and M'yrnn to make their leave. "Remember, Maggie, you have a seat at our dinner table should you ever find yourself here." Ronnie told her seriously and making her feel incredibly touched by that as they hugged.
"Thank you. That, that means a lot to me."
He smiled at her as Riggs and M'yrnn spoke. "Thank you, M'yrnn, for everything."
"No thanks are needed, my friend. Were the situation reversed, I believe you would have done the same for me. I will pray that your life will have the happiness it deserves." Replied the Martian Priest as the two shook hands.
"I'm probably gonna need it." Especially if his dad tried to screw with his happiness.
But that was a bridge he'd deal with when the time came. But until then, he was gonna try and be a much happier man. The two nodded at one another and after another hug was had between Maggie and Ronnie, the trio were gone back to Earth-38.
A Little While Later On Earth-38 At Alex's Apartment
A knock at Alex's door had her coming to it rather quickly and when she saw Maggie on the other end, she was surprised by her appearance. Surprised and dreading her appearance there. "H-Hey."
"Hey." Replied Maggie with a smile.
"May I come in?"
"You still technically live here so you don't have to ask."
"R-Right, sorry." Maggie said with a wince and made her way in.
Allowing for a somewhat fearful Alex to close the door once she was in. Turning to look at the woman who helped her finally come out to the world, the two ended up looking at one another for several minutes. "So… Umm… Riggs. His, his being here…" Began the Detective after clearing her throat.
"Yeah, that… That was heartbreaking. But I'm glad M'yrnn seemed to help him out some while he was here."
"Me too. But seeing him made me think about how much I don't want to somehow end up like him if I lost you, Alex." Maggie told her and Alex sucked in a breath as that was a fear of her's as well.
"Well… That makes two of us. Because I don't want to lose you either. But I can't give up my dream of being a mother."
Maggie stepped up to her. "And I don't want you to do that. I couldn't ever expect you or anybody else to do that because of me. My parents really screwed me up, babe. And it made me fearful of what that would do to a kid of my own if I had one."
Alex grabbed her by the shoulders and stared deeply into her eyes before speaking. "You wouldn't screw up any kid, okay? I promise. Because you would do the opposite of what your parents did and be a great mother because of it." She told her seriously.
Gaining a watery smile from the other woman. "That's… What's kinda what Riggs said too. That its up to us to do better then them. I kinda wish I had his father in law as my own father cause Ronnie is a good man."
Though he probably would adopt her into the family in a heartbeat if she came to him about it. He had even already come up with a good cover story that she was a long lost twin that they hadn't been aware of for one reason or another. Alex smiled at her and brushed a lock of Maggie's hair away from her face. "And while… While I'm not ready just yet for any kids… Would you be willing to wait untll I am? Even though I realize I don't have any right to ask that of you."
No, it wasn't entirely fair but Alex was willing so long as it wasn't years from now. "I… I'll agree. But I'll give you one year, okay? But I think its best we wait to get married until then as otherwise, getting married now would be pointless."
Maggie was surprised by that but she wasn't about to argue as it seemed fair to her. Of course others probably wouldn't have that viewpoint but whatever. As that was them and this was them. "I can… I can work with that." Replied the good Detective and she hoped like Hell she truly would be able to come around in a year's time.
A wide and relieved smile spread across Alex's lips and it wasn't long before the two were kissing one another and losing themselves to their passion. Each hoping that a year's time would make for great things between them.
Earth-23, One Day Later
Martin Riggs walked up to where Miranda was buried and dropped down to one knee. "Hey babe, I uhh… I don't know if you had anything to do with it, but I took one Hell of a trip to another Earth recently. But uhh… Bein' there, it… It helped me heal some where you're concerned." He said to her.
Even as he idly considered burying the ring he'd bought at that pawn shop sometime ago with her. But ultimately deciding against it as that just didn't feel right as it wasn't something truly of their own unity. "But uhh… I also wanted you to know that I'm, that I'm findin' happiness again with an old friend. Which, you probably already know if you've been keepin' an eye on me. But I want you to know… I will always love you." Continued Riggs and would even place a hand on the gravestone as he stared at the words carved on to it.
Moments later, he stood up and gave the gravestone a smile and a nod before walking off in the direction of Molly and her son. Eager to see what life was going to bring his way now that his heart wasn't so heavy with loss.
Author's Notes: And that as they say, is that. I imagine some won't like how I handled things in this final chapter where Maggie and Alex are concerned as I tried my best to avoid a break up scene between those two. And as for the graveyard scene… I chose to change things up from when he originally visited her at the beginning of season 2 to this. As it seemed more appropriate. Will there be a sequel? I have no idea but anything could happen.