FINAL CHAPTER
In the hospital, Ethan and Ilsa refused to be separated. They shared a room with two beds, though Ilsa spent as much time on Ethan's bed as she could. It was a constant pain for the nursing staff, yet they saw the way Ethan and Ilsa looked at each other. There was no splitting up a love like that.
The rest of the team came by to check on them. Benji couldn't resist asking. "How close were we this time?"
"The usual," Ilsa and Ethan said together.
Luther smiled at the pair. "I have to say, Ilsa. That computer of yours really saved the day."
"She saved the day in general," Ethan responded.
"I told him he should've called me sooner and he wouldn't have ended up with…how many broken bones is it?" Ilsa teased.
Ethan smirked, pointedly ignoring the question. "How did you do? Everyone okay?"
"We're just fine," Luther said.
"What did Briggs say? Are we cleared to go back to the IMF, or do they still want to kill us for not handing The Entity over?" Benji asked.
Ethan shook his head. "Briggs won't make that decision. Kitteridge is on his way."
"That might be a bit," Grace said. She looked at Brandt. "Where is that Greek place?"
"Washington. But I know a café down the street," Brandt replied.
That was all Grace needed to hear. "Well, I'm glad you two are all right. I think I could use a bite to eat before I find out if the IMF wants to fire me before I've even started."
"Let us know when we need to be back," Brandt added.
When they left, Benji and Luther knew they needed to go as well. Luther put on his fedora and grabbed Benji by the sleeve. "We'll be at the safehouse."
They were gone next. Ilsa climbed onto the bed beside Ethan and dropped her head to his shoulder. He was too weak to put an arm around her, but he could give her a kiss on the forehead. They fell asleep without any serious worries for the first time in their recent memories.
The following morning, Kitteridge appeared in their hospital room. He cleared his throat to wake them, but they didn't move. They regarded him with tired eyes.
"Hello, sir," Ethan said.
"Hello, Hunt. Where are the rest of your rebels?"
"A call away."
Within ten minutes, the whole team was in the hospital room. Kitteridge sat on a chair in the corner, trying to wrap his mind around it. "So, because Gabriel told The Entity that Ilsa Faust was dead, The Entity wasn't looking for her. Which is how she evaded the cameras on the building when she climbed to the roof to help you kill Gabriel and The Entity. Faust was also the one to build a computer that functioned outside of The Entity, and that allowed you to drive it to the server here. Which is where you killed it using the source codes you stole from a submarine in the Bering Sea."
"Yes, sir," Ethan confirmed.
"We wanted control of The Entity. You went against direct orders," Kitteridge grumbled. Then, he exhaled. "But at least no one else has control of it either. We also had intel that Gabriel wanted to control it for himself, so I guess keeping it away from him is a win too."
Benji raised his hand. "So…we're cleared? Back to work as usual?"
"Yes. You are," Kitteridge unhappily agreed.
"What about Ilsa?" Ethan asked.
Kitteridge shrugged. "What about her?"
"I'd like to come back to the IMF and work as Ethan's partner," Ilsa explained.
"Oh no. No, you tried the IMF. You left after one mission without any notice. You have a nasty history of going rogue too, so I am not taking a chance—even if it was you that saved the day here," Kitteridge said.
Ethan glared. "Then you can accept my resignation. I won't come back to the IMF without Ilsa. We're a package deal."
"Why should I believe she'd commit to us this time, hmm?" Kitteridge challenged.
"I have learned that I am meant to make a difference, and I make the biggest difference when I'm working alongside Ethan," Ilsa replied.
"I won't take you. That's just how it is," Kitteridge said.
Benji stood taller. "Well, if you won't take her, I won't come back either."
"Neither will I," Grace added.
Brandt and Luther exchanged glances. Luther nodded. "It's Ilsa or none of us come back, sir."
"And you know the IMF is nothing without my team," Ethan threatened.
Kitteridge huffed. "How touching. All right, Ilsa Faust. Say it."
"I choose to accept," Ilsa said.
Ethan smiled, yet there was one more thing. "We have a final request, sir."
"Great. What is it this time? You want a parade?" Kitteridge asked.
"No, sir," Ethan replied. "Just a vacation."
Ibiza, Spain –
On a beautiful Spanish beach, Ethan laid on a towel near the water. He looked out at the gorgeous sea. A moment later, Ilsa surfaced in a black bikini. She headed up the beach towards Ethan, smirking at the grin that came to his face.
"What are you smiling at?" she asked.
"What isn't there to smile about?"
"Valid point."
Ilsa settled onto a towel next to his. She took his hand with a contented sigh. He glanced at her profile. "Ilsa."
"Hmm?"
"I'm enjoying being a normal person."
She looked over with a smile. "As am I."
"I could almost get used to it."
"Is that right?" she asked. He nodded several times. She rolled towards him and placed a brisk kiss on his lips. "I'm glad you said you could almost get used to it."
His brow furrowed. "Why's that?"
"We have three rather suspicious looking men down the beach. They're staring at us."
Ethan glanced. The men were wearing black leather, which covered every inch of their bodies. The tallest of the bunch was a man Ethan recognized. He was a hitman Ethan had captured, yet the hitman had vanished from prison a year later.
"I know them," Ethan whispered.
Ilsa grinned. "You did say it was a tall order to avoid bullets on our holiday."
"I'm sorry. I was hoping for a few more days of fun in the sun."
"Ethan, every second of our crazy life together is fun."
He pulled in for one more kiss. "Motorcycles?"
"Motorcycles."
They quickly left their towels to run up the beach. Their rented motorcycles were waiting on the nearby road. The three hitmen followed them, firing bullets as they went. Ilsa and Ethan hopped on their motorcycles and sped off, side by side.
No matter what challenges the future was certain to bring, they knew they could overcome them—together.