Chapter 16:

*"Yeah, well, Dad would be happy if I married someone with a pulse." – Don Eppes

Season 2, Episode 6: Soft Target*

"Agent Edgerton? Sir! Are you ok?"

"Me? I'm fine, what about you though? What's going on? What's happening?" Ian asked desperately as he threw his glance around the chaos of the FBI's main lobby, there were too many people and from what Ian could tell by their troubled expressions, most of them were confused about what was actually going on. "Where is he Ollie?"

"Back there," Oliver Burnett replied hesitantly as he gestured to the detention rooms behind the security desk. "I really think you should wait here though…till they're done with him…"

"I can't," Ian shook his head distressed, "I need to see him for myself…now…excuse me." Ian mumbled apologetically as he pushed his way through the crowd of people evacuating the building to the detention rooms at the back of the main lobby.

"Where do you think you're going?" An angry security guard asked Ian flustered as he got up from his desk to bar Ian's way.

"It's ok…" Ian read the guards name tag, "Earl, I'm on the case."

"Well I'm sorry Agent…"

"Edgerton."

"Edgerton, but no one's allowed in, by order of the Director. Please follow the others and evacuate the building to the parking lot."

"It's ok Earl," Don puffed next to Ian as he finished fighting his way through the crowd with Atwater and Carlos handcuffed beside him. "Ian's with me," Don gave Ian a hard look, probably because only moments after the timer had gone off around Atwater's neck, Ian had received a phone call and rather than tell Don what it had been about, Ian had run off leaving Don with the two prisoners.

"Sure thing Assistant Director Eppes," Earl nodded humbly at Don as he stepped out of Ian's way.

"Can you find these guys a room?" Don asked Earl patiently as Ian raced off once more and Don struggled to catch up.

"What's going on?" Don asked frustrated as Ian opened the door to the first detention room and seeing it empty moved silently onto the next. "Ian! Tell me!"

"Charlie," Ian just about croaked as he opened the forth door and was rewarded with the sight of a bomb squad officer in a giant green spacesuit dethatching a bomb from around Marc's chest whilst Charlie looked on worriedly behind them, upon hearing his name Charlie looked up and as his eyes locked with Ian's he smiled making Ian almost faint with relief.

"Hello," Charlie grinned as Don pushed past Ian into the room, he looked confused about the whole situation, Ian's face, however, was unreadable. "We had a little bit of a situation," Charlie explained for Don's benefit but his eyes never left Ian's. "Don't worry though, I handled it." He added flippantly with false bravado. In reality his hands were still shaking and he still held the wires clenched tightly in his white fist.

"You stupid bastard," Ian whispered angrily as he suddenly rushed to Charlie's side and took his shaking fist in both hands. "Marc told you to run." Ian added harshly as he recalled Marc's frantic phone call as he and Charlie were being transported to the detention room for the dismantling of the rest of the bomb and a thorough debriefing from the Director.

"I know," Charlie whispered back as Ian opened Charlie's fist and took the wires off him and placed them into one of the many empty evidence bags on the table next to them, Ian's touch was surprisingly gentle considering the anger rolling off of him in thick waves. "And then I asked myself what would Ian do and I just pulled..."

"You stopped the bomb?" Don asked confused as the bomb squaddie finished removing the waistcoat of explosives from around Marc's chest before placing it carefully into a container for safe transport back to the lab. "What were you even doing here?"

"I came to see if I could help with anything…I know a lot was riding on the mission last night…I just wanted to make myself useful," Charlie looked down ashamed as Ian dropped his hand and crossed his arms, his eyes boring intently into Charlie's forehead.

"Well you certainly did that!" Marc laughed at the understatement as he got up and pulled a packet of cigarettes from his back pocket. "Anyone got a light?"

"You dumb fuck!" Ian shouted angrily as he grabbed the packet from Marc's grasp and threw them across the room, narrowly missing Don, who had to duck out of the way. "You almost got Charlie and everyone one in this building killed! How could you bring a bomb in here?"

"Kind of had a gun aimed at my head and then a bomb strapped to my chest!" Marc shouted back annoyed as he and Ian got all up in each other's faces. "Want to blame someone blame Earl, I had a plan till that miserable fuck wouldn't let me through the gate. I had a plan! And you know what I blame you too because I was doing just fine on a desk. Two minutes in your charge and I'm sitting on another damn bomb!"

"No one twisted your arm to go into the field!" Ian spat back angrily as Charlie stepped between the two and reaching out with his right arm, cupped Ian's face with his soft hand. Ian could smell the chalk dust on Charlie's sleeve as his thumb gently stroked Ian's cheek and deep scar. Looking away, Ian stood rigidly beneath Charlie's touch, the muscle in his jaw twitching angrily.

"I'm ok," Charlie told Ian firmly as he reached out with his left arm to turn Ian's gaze back to his. "See?" Charlie told him gently as he took Ian's hand and placed the palm flat on his chest above his heart. Ian could feel it beating rapidly beneath his fingers, because despite his outward appearance of calm, Charlie was still pretty shaken up inside over being seconds away from being blown up. His only thoughts as he had pulled the wires from the bomb had been of Ian and how he would never get to say goodbye…so to be standing there, holding him, however rigid, however angry, was a blessing in Charlie's eyes.

"Charlie," Ian whispered sadly, his fingers curling into the soft wool of Charlie's jumper as the other reached up and took hold of the lapel of Charlie's blazer pulling him closer... "I'm sorry…I was just so scared…I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you…"

"But you haven't lost me," Charlie smiled sadly as he let Ian pull him into his arms and kiss him softly before resting their foreheads together.

"Sorry, it's Robin," Don interrupted as he pulled his ringing phone from his pocket and answered it. "Hey Rob," Don smiled into the receiver. "Am I glad to hear your voice! It's over baby. We did it…what? I'm coming. Stay there, I'm on my way!"

"What is it?" Ian asked worried, but this time it was Don's turn to take a call and run away.

Seizing the moment, Marc retrieved his cigarettes and headed for the door. "I'll be outside having a smoke," Marc informed the room before half walking half limping from the room.

"He's been through a lot," Charlie told Ian gently as he took a step back and perched on the edge of the table. "And he did tell me to run…it's not his fault I didn't listen."

"I know," Ian sighed embarrassed as he reluctantly let go of Charlie and took a step back himself. "I'm going after him…come with me? Please…"

"Of course," Charlie smiled as he stood up and together rushed after Marc who hadn't managed to limp far with the heavy stream of people still trying to evacuate the building. Ducking under an arm each, Charlie and Ian helped Marc limp outside despite Earl's protestations not to let either Marc of Charlie leave before being debriefed. One murderous look from Ian soon shut him up though.

*Two Weeks Later*

"Are you sure you want to go in there?" Don asked cautiously as he opened the car door for Robin and held a hand out to help her up. "No one would mind if we turned around and went back home."

"As much as I needed the last two weeks…to get away from everything…we can't hide forever. We need to go on with our lives again," Robin smiled tightly as she took Don's hand and got out of the car. "Besides, the doctor said to avoid stress, seeing our friends isn't stressful," Robin whispered quietly as she kept hold of Don's hand and used it to pull him up the long drive to Charlie's front porch.

"Don, Robin!" Charlie grinned happily as he opened the front door before they even got a chance to ring the bell and gestured for them to get inside. "DAD! Don and Robin are here!" Charlie shouted excitedly over his shoulder as the smell of a BBQ being cooked in the backyard caught the attention of Don and Robin's noses and stomachs.

"Hey Chuck," Don greeted warmly as he and Robin followed Charlie through the long kitchen to the backyard where Ian was waiting with a beer and a glass of wine ready. "This is quite the gathering you've managed to pull off." Don added admiringly as he looked around the large garden at all the friendly faces. Colby and Claudia were deep in discussion on a bench against the back of the house, by the look of the arm Colby draped casually around her shoulders; Don guessed that the pair had grown close in the two weeks he had spent away from the office to look after Robin. Liz, Logan, Nikki, Ollie and Chris were all stood in a line by the BBQ, paper plates in hand ready to receive whatever the delicious smell that Don's father was cooking up was and Larry, Marcus, Nick and Elliott were all laughing and joking by the Koi pond.

"Ian organised it," Charlie grinned as Ian handed over the drinks and then placed his own arm casually over Charlie's shoulders.

"Wait the lone ranger, the hater of organised events…organised this?" Don laughed disbelievingly as Robin pinched his side in a 'shut up' gesture.

"Hard to believe I know," Ian laughed graciously as he took a sip of cold beer and looked down lovingly at Don's little brother. "I blame Charlie personally; your brother is a bad influence Eppes."

"Yes, that he is," Don agreed as he smiled at the look of love and happiness that passed between the two men and toasted them with his beer.

"Don!" Nick shouted across the garden as he gestured for the two of them to join the small group by the koi pond. "Marcus here says he's turning down the job offer, maybe you can come over here and knock some sense into him?"

"It's nothing personal," Marcus laughed as Don came over and mimed taking a punch at his head. "It was Atwater actually, he got me thinking…that first bomber…they took his kid, he had no choice…but Atwater…that could have been avoided. I'm going to join up with Donna Hart and help her in her crusade to get purple hearts for soldiers suffering from PTSD. It's about time someone started looking out for our men once they've returned home."

"Good for you," Don nodded approvingly as he shook Marcus's free hand. "I see they got you your cane back."

"And all in one piece too," Marcus laughed as he looked at his watch and smiled regrettably. "Sorry guys, but I need to leave if I'm going to catch my flight."

"Flight?" Robin asked surprised as Marcus shook the others hands in turn and then Don's again. "I thought Donna's clinic was here in LA?"

"The foundation is," Marcus explained as he took Robin's hand and gave it a little squeeze. "I'm going to go where I'm needed, take the charity to them. Starting with Austin…don't worry, I'll always be reachable by phone if you ever need to talk." Marcus added so only Robin, and Don who was close by, could hear. "Bye."

"Bye," Robin whispered back sadly as the small group watched the ATF Agent make a limping exit.

"Don't worry" Ian told Robin reassuringly as he came over and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I have a feeling he won't be that easy to get rid of." He added quietly next to her ear so that only she could hear this time, before pulling back and turning to face Don. "Have they been filling you in whilst you've been away?"

"I hear that Carlos and Demario took the deal and flipped on Gilbert to avoid being sent back to Columbia," Don nodded as he gave Robin a worried side glance, whilst they had been keeping him in the loop he hadn't exactly been keeping Robin in the loop.

"There wasn't much evidence at the compound so we were lucky to flip the Perez brothers. Atwater wasn't much help, I think he realised that he should have killed Marcus and set the bomb off himself, but there was still work to be done and he knew Gilbert would need him to build another one. Crazy bastard didn't want anyone else swooping in and taking the glory," Nick frowned as he took a long pull from his beer.

"Carlos and Demario did link Gilbert to the other bombings though, so we were right to assume they were dry runs for the courthouse bombing," Elliott smiled bitterly as he cast a concerned look at Robin.

"What I don't get is why they hid the other bomber's body in the first place," Robin replied, ignoring the sudden silence to descend over the little gathering.

"Because they didn't want us making the connection between the bomber and the compound," Ian explained sagely as the others nodded at the simplicity of it all. Had they not been able to identify Jane Doe they never would have made the connection between the funeral home and Demario, Demario and the bar and then the bar and the compound.

"The ring," Chris laughed sourly as he made his way over from the BBQ, plate laden with food. "It would have been the perfect crime if they had only removed the engagement ring. And to think at the time I thought it was soft assignment."

"It was," Elliott admitted as he took a long pull from his beer. "I only sent you off to look for the owner out of respect for Jane Doe's family…Christine Noland's family."

"To Christine Noland," Ian held up his beer in a toast to their mysterious Jane Doe. "Thank you for wanting to be buried with your engagement ring and for having a rare one of a kind piece. Cheers."

"Cheers," They all echoed as they clinked their glasses before disbanding to grab food from the BBQ.

*Later That Same Night*

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Ian asked Robin concerned as he sat down next to her on the front porch swing that Alan had installed whilst Charlie had been in England with Amita…how different all of their lives had been then.

"Honestly…I don't know," Robin replied confused as she looked out on the quiet residential street and sighed.

"Well you look beautiful," Ian smiled charmingly as he placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "One could almost say that you're glowing," Ian whispered conspiratorially next to her ear making Robin smile.

"You know I've always said that you're too observant for your own good."

"Well you do make it easy when you don't touch a sip of wine all afternoon…although it just occurred to me that could have been because of the medication you're on…it's not though is it? You are-"

"Pregnant? Yes."

"And does Don know?"

"Not yet…"

"Robin," Ian scolded gently. "Why haven't you told him?"

"Because we haven't exactly spoken about anything real yet!" Robin cried frustrated as she leapt to her feet and moved over to the porch railing, obscuring her face from Ian's view as she added, "I never exactly got a chance to tell him about the last one and we lost it…"

"Exactly, which is why you need to go in there and tell him about this one!" Ian persisted as he got up and joined Robin by the railing and gave her a gentle nudge. "You never know when you're going to blow up next."

"That's not funny," Robin wailed as she gave Ian's arm a playful slap.

"No you're right, it's not," Ian nodded soberly, his face deadly serious. "But this baby, it's a good thing."

"Are you sure Don will see it that way?"

"Trust me; I was with Don every day in that hospital…he was devastated at the miscarriage. He probably didn't bring it up out of respect for your feelings. He was crushed and then coupled with the thought of losing you…he was a wreck. Charlie told me that the one time he did leave your side he ended up getting plastered in Nick's office and breaking down in the lift…he also almost shot an intern…from tiredness…it was a long couple of days!"

"He never said…"

"Because he knew he had to be strong for you...have you considered that you might not be the only one desperate to talk about something real?" Ian rebuked gently as Robin bit her bottom lip confused. "Maybe he's too scared to ask where he stands…maybe it's up to you to tell him."

"Ok…yes, you're right!" Robin shook her head and smiled. "I'll just go in there and tell him…come with me?" Robin added desperately but knew it was futile before the words even left her lips. Sighing Robin made her way back inside and found Don sitting on the stairs, a beer in hand and lost in thought.

"There you are," Robin smiled as she came over and took a seat next to Don.

"I'm sorry," He smiled back as he leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips, he tasted of beer and something sweeter. "Were you looking for me?"

"I was," She admitted reluctantly as she took his hand in hers and placed it in her lap. "We need to talk...I've been meaning to tell you something…"

"I've been meaning to ask you something too…"

"Say yours first…" Robin hesitated, the gusto she had entered the house with failing her now as she looked into Don's thoughtful and pained expression.

"When you were in hospital," Don explained reluctantly, as he fought to get all of the words out. "One of the nurses gave me your personal items to look after…amongst them was your ring…I didn't want to pressurise you before so I didn't say anything…but I'd really love it if you would put it back on. I love you as much today as I loved you before, if not more. You are strong, beautiful and independent and for as long as either one of us have a life left to live; I want us to go on living it together. I love you Robin Brooks….will you still marry me?"

"Of course I will," Robin smiled broadly as she held out her left hand and let Don slip her engagement ring back on her finger. "But I want to wait," Robin added a second later, changing the look of joy on Don's face to one of confusion.

"If anything hasn't the last few months taught us to be less cautious?" Don frowned as he searched her face intently for a decent reason why they should wait.

"I'm not saying it to be cautious," Robin assured him gently as she reached out and stroked his cheek. "And I'm not saying it to be vain, though I would like to not be wearing these bandages as I marry you."

"Why then?"

"Because we're pregnant," Robin smiled as she watched Don's face struggle to find a fixed expression. Eventually it landed on joy.

"Really? Are you sure? We haven't had sex since—"

"—Since that night in the bathroom when we had sex three times and without protection?"

"Well…yeah…"

"Yes Don…I'm sure. You're going to be a father."

"God I love you," Don grinned as he pulled Robin in close and kissed her gently at first and then deepened it further when he felt her lips part invitingly. How long they sat on the stairs making out Don didn't know but right then he didn't exactly care either. "We should get home," Don told Robin breathlessly when their lips eventually broke for air.

"Good plan," Robin grinned mischievously, her hair ruffled from where his fingers had been teasing their way through and her parted lips bruised. "Perhaps we should tell everyone the good news first though," She whispered happily as she genuinely in that moment forgot the burden of the last couple of months.

"Dad's going to be so happy," Don laughed as he stood and helped pull her up.

"So will Charlie."

"Uncle Chuck…has a good ring to it," Don smiled so hard and wide he thought it was going to split his face.

"What was that?" Charlie asked confused as he made his way down the stairs as Ian came in the front door with a knowing smile on his lips.

"I said you're going to be an uncle," Don grinned proudly, so proudly he thought his heart might burst from his chest. "Both of you," He added as he turned to include Ian. "You're both going to be uncles!"

"That's great news!" Charlie congratulated as he rushed down the stairs so fast he almost tripped and pulled his brother into a bear hug that almost tackled Don to the ground. "Does dad know?"

"Know what?" Alan asked curiously as he made his way into the living room via the kitchen.

"That you're going to be a grandfather," Don answered happily as he put an arm around Robin's waist and pulled her close against his side.

"At last!" Alan exclaimed excitedly, tears bright in his eyes. "At last!"

Epilogue:

"Are you ready?" – Don Eppes

*"Are you kidding? Watching a son get married, I've been waiting for that a long time." – Alan Eppes

Season 6, Episode 16: Cause and Effect*

*Two Years Later*

Pulling awkwardly at the trail of skirts behind her, Assistant US Attorney Robin Brooks turned around took in the full effect of her reflection in the bridal room's full length mirror for the first time since she had tried the dress on two years before. There was no denying that the dress was beautiful, it had a way of letting the light move playfully through the lace and chiffon so that every crystal shined and winked with both grace and elegance…it was the person in the dress that didn't look so beautiful, not any more, not in her opinion anyway.

Last time her skin had appeared ethereal and fragile next to the crisp white of the dress, this time was different though, this time her skin looked earthly and tough in the corseted strapless silk because this time her skin was marred by the red and white of freshly healed scars. Or at least her neck and right shoulder was. The rest was just a pale representation of someone who had been ill and suffering for a prolonged length of time. Any heathy shine she might had had the year before was gone and trussed up in the dress that her sister had lovingly intercepted and put aside for her, Robin felt like an imposter.

"Robin?" Lila called impatiently from the other side of the closed door. "Robin, are you ready? Everyone's waiting…are you coming?"

Ignoring her sister, Robin picked up the white cardigan her mother had gotten for her to wear over the scar and looked at her refection once more. It did go some way to covering the large scar, but there was no denying she looked less than perfect, less than she had imagined when she had stood in the small boutique two years ago and had known that this was the dress she wanted to get married in. Why had she let Ian talk her into sticking with this one and not buying a new one! She thought angrily as she twisted and turned and pulled at the dress that hugged her frame snuggly, a lot tighter than it had before as she hadn't quite managed to lose all of the baby weight.

"Rob?"

"Don?" Robin asked confused as he heard Don's gentle rapping on the door and moved over and pressed her ear against the solid wood to hear him better.

"Rob, please let me in."

"It's bad luck!" Robin replied desperately as she suddenly found it hard to breathe in the tight lace bodice. She couldn't let Don see her like this…she couldn't go out there…she just couldn't. It was all wrong. Nothing was as she had dreamed it all those years ago when Don had first asked her to marry him.

"It's only bad luck if you have any doubts, I have no doubts," Don told her reasonably before adding an incentive that she could never refuse, "Come on, I've got Connor, he wants to see his mama in her pretty dress."

"Ok," Robin frowned as she pulled back the door and gasped in breathless surprise at how handsome Don looked in his tux and how adorable their son looked in his.

"Wow," Don smiled as she took Connor in her arms and stepped back to let Don in the small room. "You look—"

"Awful?" Robin supplied when Don struggled to find the right word.

"Beautiful," Don grinned like an idiot as their son giggled his agreement, or so it seemed as he reached out and pulled on the soft material of the cardigan Robin wasn't convinced even went that well with the dress.

"Don't lie," Robin sighed sadly as she put Connor in the small makeshift play pen the rabbi had set up for her earlier before turning back to the mirror and her reflection. "It's all wrong."

"Well, that cardigan maybe," Don smiled as he came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Where did you even get it?"

"It's Gloria's," Robin sighed as Don laughed. "It's not funny."

"That you would wear anything of your mother's is a little funny," Don smirked as he took hold of the cardigan and pulled it back over her shoulders and down her arms. "There better," Don whispered next to her right ear, his eyes never leaving hers in the tall mirror. "Although…something still isn't quite right…"

"The scar…" Robin whispered angrily as she tried to pull away from his grasp.

"No..." Don frowned as he looked her reflection up and down again before finishing on her face once more. "Ah!" He smiled as he reached up and pulled out the complex ties and combs that her hair stylist had spent the best part of an hour teasing and spraying into place, mindful not to pull out the veil, and watched with satisfaction as a little at a time and then all at once tendrils of hair slipped down and bounced their way over Robin's bare shoulders. "Better," He whispered next to her ear making her shiver and smile as his arms stroked gently up and down the length of her arms. "You are so beautiful," Don told her earnestly as he turned her around to face him before taking her mouth with his and in that moment, as she always did in Don's presence, Robin felt beautiful once more. "Now, what do you say we get out there and get married?"

"Yes," Robin grinned as Don picked up their son once more and moving over to the door held his hand out for hers. Taking his hand in hers, Robin followed Don down the long corridor that led out to the synagogue's large garden. Everything was just as Robin had imagined it, from the large possession of friends and relatives to the central aisle of daisies that led to the chuppah where her mother, father, sister, Charlie, Ian, Alan and the rabbi all waited for them.

Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, Don, Robin and Connor walked slowly up the aisle together as a family and Robin realised that she was wrong. This was better than she had imagined it because right then, in that moment she had it all and she was happy.

*The End*

Hi everyone!

Just a quick thank you to those who took the time to read this Fic and for everyone who gave it a review! This Fic ended up being a lot longer than planned and took a lot longer due to personal reasons somewhere in the middle. So your support and patience has been really appreciated.

Finally, just a quick note to say that I'm going to be taking a break from writing for a little while. I've got a lot going on at the moment and unfortunately something has to give. I have an idea for another Fic but it's not something I'm looking to write for a while, but it will hopefully be something that will be fun and unique when I do eventually get time to write it.

Once again, thanks for reading, reviewing, favouring, and following this Fic and I hope we'll meet again…just don't know where…don't know when ;)

Cheers. X

–Colby'sGirl19.