Epilogue - Part One

Thick drops of rain, uncharacteristic of sunny Los Angeles in the middle of summer, splattered on the sleeves and hood of her jacket as they made a mad dash for the storefront. It was fairly busy (really, when wasn't it?), but it was on the way home and it meant one stop shopping. As they darted through the parking lot his body remained solidly present behind her, shielding her from whatever she might need shielding from.

The seconds and minutes that followed CTU imploding had gone by in a blur. Alex Evans's legs carried her like lightening into his arms, limbs wrapping around him as the full weight of her broken body launched against him. She was soaked to the bone and trembling from the pain and the cold and the exhaustion but she somehow found the strength to cling to him. His arms didn't leave her wanting, securing her firmly and pulling her out of the rain after a few seconds. His breath warmed her throat and she wasn't sure if he was speaking, murmuring her name or moving his lips soundlessly. Truthfully, did it matter?

When he finally had put her on her feet new arms gathered her in. They held her just as fiercely as they assured her that it was over. Karen had come through. The deal was broken, the warrant had been retracted, she was free again.

A third pair of arms, smaller this time, drew her in and her petite sister's form burrowed against her own. This time Alex stroked her hair soothingly, whispering her name and urging her to relax.

Gradually, she began to make sense of her surroundings. Bill and Claire kept her close between them with Karen just to the side. Rick spoke to someone quickly about his brother's condition but he never took his eyes off her. By the time she was settled in back of an ambulance, legs dangling, with a paramedic working on her, he had already staked his claim. His hands had found her sunken cheeks and he'd kissed her fiercely, drawing every ounce of breath she had left in her lungs and making sure everyone, (particularly Chase, though she would never ask Rick to admit it) could see. She hiccuped a sob and he whispered he loved her, lips pressed against hers. The kiss might've been for everyone, but that was for them. Someone in the crowd - probably one of the guys from Field Ops - whistled and others hollered their approval. She had grinned. She couldn't help it.

Now, as they stepped into the air conditioned store with his windbreaker wrapped around her she ached for his warmth again. Her body slid into his and his arm draped around her, wordlessly promising to keep her close.

"We should put your prescription in first," he murmured. She nodded and laced her fingers with the hand by her shoulder. Her thoughts flashed back to what the CTU doctor had told her as he filled out the prescriptions, clearly stating that she wasn't to have sex until several followup appointments had passed. He looked plainly at Rick when he said it and Bill winced to the left of her. That had been a little awkward.

The pharmacist took the prescription and, after a perplexed glance, told them to come back in 15 minutes. She smiled weakly and thanked him softly before letting Rick lead her away again.

"So you're gonna stay at my place huh? Invite yourself, just like that?" he teased affectionately, hoping to get small laugh. He did, feeling her fingers squeeze his hand a little tighter.

"You made it pretty clear you wanted me there."

"I did? When'd I do that?"

"When you kissed me in front of everyone at CTU and asked if I was ready to go home."

"Huh...I did that?"

"Yeah, you did that."

"Must've been the drugs..."

She thwaped him playfully and he grinned, dipping his head for another kiss.

"You need stuff?"

"Yes."

"Food?"

"And soap and a razor and shampoo and conditioner - and not that two-in-one crap you and Tony seem to swear by - and a toothbrush and clothes and..."

"Alright, alright, I get the picture," he led her down the toiletries isle, stopping in front of a shelf of hundreds of different shampoos. Her eyes focused carefully as he grabbed a basket. "Hmmm..."

"Get the coconutty one," he urged with almost a hint of desperation.

She blinked at the sudden change in his voice. "The..."

"The one you always used before...I could always smell it on your pillow. Get that one."

She didn't need to be told twice.

Toiletries in hand they moved to the clothing. Options were limited, but she settled on a few of the softest long-sleeved t-shirt she'd felt in ages, a cheap bra, socks and panties. Hopefully someone would bring clothes over for her in the next few days. Until then she'd just live in Rick's.

He threw a few food essentials haphazardly into the basket and took her hand again when he was done. He set it down between them when they waited at the pharmacy and she kissed his arm and he smiled tenderly.

"Alex Evans?" the pharmacist appeared with several paper bags of medications. He turned to Rick as he placed them on the counter.

"Boyfriend? Husband?"

"Yeah," he nodded, thumbing the side of her hand and failing to specify which. He fished out his credit card as the man launched into an explanation of how often to give her the different drugs, which to take with food and side effects to expect. Rick listened attentively, as though he finally realized what taking care of her entailed. She hoped he was okay with it because there was nowhere else she planned to be.

Emerging from the store the rain had gotten heavier and thunder crackled around them. She shivered and pressed closer.

"Ready?"

He nodded, pulling her closer.

"Ready."

Tony Almeida groaned a little as he closed the front door behind them, locking it carefully and setting the alarm. He wasn't going back out in that and a little extra peace of mind never hurt anyone. Michelle smiled gratefully, rubbing his arms soothingly.

"You hungry?"

"I could eat."

"Kraft Dinner?"

He chuckled easily. "I can still cook something decent. My tastebuds work fine."

"You were shot. You need to rest." She rubbed his sides. "Go take a bath or something, I'll come up and wash your back.

He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "You wanna get in there with me?"

Michelle sighed with amusement, steering him towards the stairs. "Ohhhhkay Romeo, into the tub."

He grinned cheekily, leaning over to peck her lips before trudging upstairs. Even with the dramatics of the last two weeks Michelle had been in a good mood since they got in the car. She didn't even seem that tired, though he knew she was. Maybe it was relief on her part that all was said and done and ended in the best way they could've hoped after finding Alex hanging from those rafters. Alex was happy, Rick was happy, his wife was happy...all-in-all it was a good ending for Tony Almeida.

And he wasn't ever going back to CTU. CTU was nothing but a pile of rubble now. He and Michelle were done and there was nothing in this world that would pull them back into the fray. He was already thinking about a change of scenery.

When she came up to rub his back and wash the dirt and grime off him he was in a haze. She cleaned him up quickly and offered him one of his pills for the pain.

"Get in bed, I'll bring dinner up."

"I'm alright, Michelle," he insisted as she helped him out of the tub. She smiled softly. She was almost glowing. "You won't be in a few minutes, get to bed."

"Fine, I will. Get cleaned up and I will."

She sighed. "You're such a difficult patient."

"And yet somehow you still try and turn me into an easy one," he grinned. Michelle rolled her eyes. Her cheeks were deliciously rosy and she still looked...different. He left her to clean up in piece and disappeared to put the finishing touches on Michelle's Kraft Dinner masterpiece. He was just thankful she hadn't added the cut up hot dogs...

When she came out of the bathroom in her bed clothes her glow was even more noticeable. Tony indicated to a bowl on her bedside table, having already gone back for seconds himself. Okay, so he was hungry. Michelle didn't climb in beside him right away though. Instead she started to grin.

"What is it Michelle?"

"I uh..." she covered her lips with her fingers, grin spreading. "I'm..." she squeezed her eyes shut and he could practically see the excitement bubbling inside her, bursting to get out.

"I'm...I'm pregnant, Tony."

He was on his feet in an instant, crossing the room to her. "You're what?" he cupped her cheeks. She sniffled softly.

"I'm pregnant...it just...I took a test before and I took another one now and it just feels different this time...I'm pregnant."

Tony blinked in disbelief, pressing his lips to hers.

"You're pregnant?" he sniffed too. She nodded eagerly, making a noise that was somewhere between a laugh and a sob as he dropped to his knees and kissed her belly this time.

"I...yeah...I think I am. I'm pregnant."

He nodded blearily, moisture spilling over the rims of his eyes as he stood again. He nodded slowly, running his hands all over her body as a flash of lightening lit up the room.

"K-kay. You're pregnant."

"Yeah, honey."

"That's good."

"Yeah..." she rubbed his arm. "Yeah it is."

"Are you hungry sweetheart?" Bill ran his fingers through Claire's messy hair. She shrugged a little and yawned.

"Not really, but I'll eat something."

"We'll order in. What do you feel like?"

"Whatever," her eyes flitted upward with a hint of anxiety. "Did Aly call you yet?"

He shook his head carefully. "No, but they had to go fill the prescriptions remember?"

"Right...I'll go see her in the morning. Bring her some clothes and stuff," she smiled a little. Bill nodded.

"I'll go with you."

"Kay...I'm gonna change."

"Okay sweetheart," he brushed her hair and kissed her forehead. "You did great today, Claire. All week; we couldn't have done this without you."

Claire Evans's eyes welled up with tears and she nodded tightly. "I...I think I'm...done with..."

"I know, Claire."

She sniffed and smiled weakly.

"Kay."

He sighed a little as he watched his youngest niece retreat upstairs. It was hard not to feel like Alex should be home with them. It was hard to surrender her over to another man. If it were anyone else he never would have doubted Rick's ability to protect someone but when it was concerning his baby...

"Well Mr. Buchanan..." his darling wife rubbed his shoulders soothingly. "Are you going to shower too?"

"Is that a hint?" he turned to face her. She smiled, rubbing his back soothingly.

"I'll let you know if Rick and Alex call."

"You're about seven weeks along, Michelle," the doctor informed her pragmatically. Warmth spread from the pit of her stomach to the tips of her fingers. She was seven weeks along. She was pregnant.

"Now given everything that's happened in the last month I'm going to schedule you for an ultrasound next week so we can make sure everything looks good. Are you still taking the supplements I gave you?"

Michelle nodded slowly, giving Tony's rigid hand a gentle squeeze. Tony Almeida, former federal agent, former marine and the man with a masters in engineering was terrified of the little fetus growing inside her. It amused her a little, or it would have, if she wasn't terrified too.

Tony tapped her arm gently. Her eyes snapped up to him.

"Hmm?"

"I asked if a week Friday was good for you, Michelle" the doctor smiled gently.

Michelle blinked quickly and nodded. "Yes. Yes that's fine. We'll book an appointment on the way out."

"Great," she stood gracefully, gathering her files. "I'll see you - both? - then." Tony nodded quickly. A few seconds later they were alone again.

"So you're...we're...definitely..."

"Uh huh."

A shit-eating grin spread across his face and he scooped her abruptly, clutching her body tightly to his chest.

"Caaaareful. Morning sickness," she murmured easily. He chuckled and kissed her forehead.

"Love you."

"I love you too, Tony."

In a darkened room the air hung thick around her as Alex Evans clung to Rick Almeida's sweaty back. A sheet was draped over their hips and he held his bodyweight off her entirely by resting on his elbows, face buried into her neck pressing featherlight kisses wherever he could reach. Her hand stroked his muscles idly, encouraging to settle against her completely.

They'd just had sex - made loooooove - for the first time in eleven months. And while her orgasm might not have been earth shattering, she felt euphoria of a different kind. Being with him again was bliss. After a minute he lifted his head, fingers brushing her hair.

"Hey," she whispered. He gazed up at her blearily, eyes still wet with moisture.

"Hey baby, you okay?"

She nodded eagerly. She was more than okay. She forgot what it felt like to be with him like that. Not only was it less painful - both physically and emotionally - than she anticipated, but it felt damn good to feel him come apart in her arms. For the first time in since leaving China she felt like they were equals again.

She kissed his arm and sighed contently.

And then the phone rang.

Rick cursed, rolling away and dragging her against him. "Ignore it," he muttered, lips pressed against her temple.

She nodded, eyelids growing heavy already. She tired so easily still.

Finally the phone stopped ringing and she exhaled exhaustively. He kissed her forehead.

"Al?"

"Hmm?"

"You okay?"

"Mmm"

"Kay. Sleep."

She'd just started to doze in his arms, breathing finally leveling and her body going limp, when the phone rang again. It was his cell this time. Alex jolted upright, hair flying everyone and silhouette hunched in the shadows. He rubbed her back soothingly.

"Shh, baby, shh. It's just the phone. Lie down."

"Whoisit?" she growled, relaxing back into him almost immediately.

He shook his head. "Nobody. I'll take care of it. Lie down,"

"Whoisit?" she repeated, letting him ease her back against his pillow.

"No one, honey. Lie down."

She shuddered a little, pressing closer to his warmth and finally dozing again.

When the phone rang a third time, he answered it.

"What?" he barked, rubbing Alex's side reassuringly. His whole body tensed when the voice on the line spoke. Her blood ran cold at the look on his face.

"Who is it?" she whispered hoarsely. He shook his head quickly, squeezing her knee.

"Yeah, Jack, I'm listening."