Sixteen months and elven days they had waited for this moment, Lisa thinks as her and Sonny sit in the doctor's office awaiting the news that will determine their future. Davis stares out the office window, why was she so nervous? The door opens, "Senior Chief Quinn." Dr. Richards says without looking up. As he walks into the office he notices Lisa "And Lieutenant Davis. How are you two today?"
Sonny lets out a deep breath. "I ain't gonna lie to ya Doc, pretty anxious."
Dr. Richards takes a seat in his office chair. "Well that's understandable Senior Chief. Let's get on with it then." Sonny and Davis both nod in agreement. "In the last sixteen months since your injury you have recovered in leaps and bounds, but as I'm sure you know, you are not recovered enough to operate. It is my professional opinion that you will never heal to the level of tier one operator. Sonny, I'm sorry, your operating career is over."
Sonny feels like a grenade just went off in his chest. "You're tellin me I never get to be Bravo 2 again? I never get to spin up with my team again?" Sonny takes a shaky breath. "I-I never get to be a Navy SEAL again." Sonny states, trying to force himself to believe it.
"Senior Chief, I hardly think you are surprised by this." Dr. Richards states.
Sonny tries to speak, but can't find the words. Lisa reaches her left hand out and rubs Sonny's shoulder. "Dr. Richards, I think what Sonny is trying to say is, it's not really surprising, considering the scope of his injuries and his age, it is just so final. It's the end of the line. Sonny has spent more years as a SEAL than not, that's a big adjustment."
Dr. Richards nods his head in understanding. "For what it is worth Sonny, you have come a lot farther and gotten there much faster than any of us thought you would. You can still live a fulfilling and productive life with your beautiful fiancé."
Sonny looks over at Lisa and chuckles. "I know Doc, it's not like I haven't been preparin for this day, it's just, what Davis said, it's the end. And this ain't how I wanted my operatin days to end."
"That is very understandable Sonny." Dr. Richards says. "Do you have any questions for me?" Lisa and Sonny look between each other and shake their heads no. "Good. I will get all of the paperwork turned in and you should be hearing something in the next week or so."
The three stand, Sonny extends his hand to Dr. Richards. "Thank ya for everything. There was a period of time there that I wasn't sure if I would ever walk again, but thanks to y'all, to the untrained eye I look normal."
"You were the one that put in all the hard work Sonny, we just gave you the tools to do it." Dr. Richards says.
As Sonny and Davis walk through the parking lot Sonny looks at Lisa. "Babe, do ya mind drivin, I uh, I just…" Sonny trails off unsure how to finish his statement.
"You know I don't mind." Lisa replies.
Neither talk for the majority of the drive back to their house, Sonny finally speaks up. "Uh, thank ya for rearrangin your day to come with me. I, uh, I always feel better when you're by my side."
"I wouldn't have missed that for the world Sonny." Lisa looks over at him, noting his million yard stare. "Be honest with me, how are you feeling?"
Sonny exhales. "I mean, I- I figured this would be the outcome, but like ya said, it's just final. It's weird to think I ain't ever gonna kick doors again. Clay and I never get to ride again. I never get to sit through another Lisa Davis briefin."
"So, you never get to spin up again, and yes that is a huge loss, it's not the end of the world. Clay isn't going to magically forget you exist. Like you are his best man for his wedding next month. You guys will ride again, just in a different way."
"Deep down I know you're right, it's just gonna be an adjustment." Sonny shakes his head. "Can ya believe Clay and Emma are gettin married in three weeks."
Lisa smiles. "I know it seems like just yesterday she couldn't even drive and now she's marrying the one thing she swore for so many years she wouldn't."
"God, I still remember that first cookout where he put his arm around her. I was ready to rip it off and beat him with it." Sonny laughs at the memory.
"If I remember correctly that is exactly what I told Emma." Lisa laughs too. "I'm such a good mind reader."
"Yes ya are baby." Sonny says bringing their conjoined hands to his lips and kissing the back of her hand.
"Do you know what you are going to do yet?" Lisa asks.
Sonny shifts. "I'll have ya know I was enjoyin not thinkin about the fact that I can no longer be a SEAL, but if ya most know." He clears his throat. "If I can't operate anymore, I want out. I want this life with ya that we have been puttin on hold for damn near a decade. I want to finally be able to make ya my wife and you be able to talk about me at work and have a weddin, which is gonna be off the chain."
"Oh good, I haven't just been wearing this ring for the last six or so years for nothing." Lisa jokes, glancing in his direction.
"I mean I love seein it on your finger, that should count for somethin." Sonny smirks.
"You just like that I'm claimed, so other dudes will say away." Lisa says with a knowing look.
"Ya know me so well Davis." Sonny laughs. "But to completely answer your question, uh I think I want to take that instructor job with Phoenix Tactical."
"Sonny Quinn working in the private sector, that's a big change babe."
"That is is, but at least I still get to play with crazy guns and blow shit up." Sonny points out.
"Two of your favorite things in this world." Lisa says shaking her head.
"And I get to be home every night. I get to keep makin ya dinner and hangin out with our adorable doggies. Plus Lisa, the money. Baby we can't beat that. Just think of how much we are gonna be able to afford and save for retirement."
"You know I support you doing what ever you choose. But I have really enjoyed you being home and having a dog for the first time in my life. It's a shred of normalcy." Lisa says as she pulls into the driveway.
After they walk inside Sonny turns to Lisa. "I'm gonna go play video games for a little while, if that's okay with ya."
"Of course honey, I need to catch up on a few emails." Lisa says kissing him on the cheek. A couple of hours later Lisa finished what she needed to work on and headed for the kitchen, deciding she should probably make dinner. She decided she should bake some cookies too.
Sonny was sitting in his man cave deep in thought when he smelt dinner being cooked, Sonny smiles to himself and thinks how much she hates cooking. He makes his way to the kitchen where he finds Davis with her back turned to him dancing along to the music she had playing. He silently comes up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Thank ya for makin me dinner babe." He mumbles, his lips pressed against her neck.
"And dessert." Lisa says turning in his arms, cookie in hand.
Sonny bites it out of her hand. "Mmm. Thank ya. That's pretty good Lisa." Sonny finishes chewing. "What's for dinner? It smells amazin by the way."
"Oh just chicken and roasted veggies, nothing special." Davis says, her hands roaming his back.
"Ain't gotta be special, we just gotta eat." Sonny jokes before walking to the fridge to grab a beer.
"I think it's done, what do you think?" Lisa asks, poking the chicken with a fork.
Sonny chuckles to himself as he looks over at the chicken. "Yeah babe, it's good." He reaches into the cabinet and pulls out two plates. "Wanna sit outside, since it's so nice out?"
"That sounds like a great plan Sonny."
They sit down at their patio table and Sonny takes a bite. "Damn Davis. Clearly ya have learned somethin in the last eight years."
"Glad you like it." Lisa says shaking her head. "Asshole." She whispers under her breath as she takes a sip of her wine.
"I heard that." Sonny says trying to keep a straight face. "Ya know Davis, we gonna be alright."
Davis smiles. "Yeah we are Sonny." She looks him up and down. "Don't hate me okay?" Sonny nods his head in agreement. "When are you going to tell Clay? I feel like he deserves to hear it from you and not from command."
Sonny winces, telling Clay, his team leader makes is real. "I uh, I haven't decided. Thought I would see if he could meet tomorrow. I wanna do it off base."
"That sounds like a good plan. Just let me know if you need anything." Lisa says reaching for his hand and giving it a squeeze. "Soooo, should we finally start planning this wedding we have been eluding to for the last six years."
Sonny chuckles. "God, has it really been six years since I proposed to ya? In so many ways it feels like just yesterday and then in other ways it feels like a lifetime ago."
"I know Sonny. Look at it this way, now we get a lifetime moving forward with a lot more certainty and security. We get to be the couple we have wanted to be for years."
"And I am beyond excited for that. Ya know when I was layin there bleedin and not able to feel my legs, that's the one thing I kept thinkin about. I never got to stand up and tell the world how much I love ya. Then, uh, ya know, I uh, wasn't sure I would ever walk again. And um…"
"Shhh. It's okay Sonny." Lisa says sitting his his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. She takes a shaky breath, trying to keep her own emotions under control. "I never told you this, but I had the same thought when they told me I had cancer. I saw this whole life I never got have flash before my eyes. But I made it through and so did you and now we get that moment."
"Ya did, really?" Sonny questions. Lisa nods her head yes. "I love ya Lisa, so much."
"I love you too, Sonny."
A/N: Okay, stay with me on this one! I know it has been forever since I updated this story, I was kind of stuck on where to go next, but finally this idea popped into my head and here we are. I hope you guys liked it! Definitely more to come!