Barney looked up when Lee arrived, and he could see on the man's face how worn out and fed up he was. He gathered that Lee had heard the whole story. He waited until Lee stopped right in front of him, hands in his pockets. Tool was hovering behind the bar watching, eyes flicking back and forth between them.

Barney waited.

"You should have told me," Lee stated. There was some anger in his tone along with resignment over the fact it couldn't be changed. The story was written, and it brought them back full circle.

"I wanted to tell you," Barney replied. "But I had to respect her wishes, just like I'd want someone to respect mine."

"You tried to bring her home," he said next.

"I did that for you," Barney countered. "And for her...for Maya. Believe it or not, Lee, but that kid...you...Emily...you're all very important to me, and I'd do anything to give you the life you've always wanted."

He watched as Lee struggled to keep his stony composure, but the cracks were showing. Barney got up off his stool and moved to pull him into a hug, something he didn't usually do with his male friends.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry, Lee."

Lee was stiff at first but then leaned into it. He was clearing his throat and sniffing a lot.

"Snuggle time is over," Church advised, abruptly ruining the moment. "We gotta get ready." Barney wanted to shoot him. Couldn't he see there was a forgiveness happening here?

"Sod off," Lee said on cue. He looked embarrassed, though, to be caught hugging a guy and looking all emotional about it. Barney wondered why it was acceptable for women to do it and not men, but he'd never fully understand society's so called rules.

"You two sort your shit out? "Church asked, unfazed.

"Trying to," Barney shot back at him.

"Good. We're gonna get moving on this. Fred ain't far away."

"How do you know?"

"A contact just sent me a photo of him at the border of New Orleans an hour ago."

That was a lot less time than Barney had anticipated. He noticed Toll, Gunner, and Doc were hovering in the background at this point. He waved them over to join.

"What's the plan?" Toll asked.

"Right this way," Church answered, gesturing for them to follow him to the armory where everything was all laid out.

...

Maya was trying to be braver than she felt, but when they picked up Louis and headed to some random shack in the woods, she couldn't help but feel anxious.

"What's happening?" she asked her mother when they were alone. She didn't have the heart to follow Louis as he explored the new place. Tia was off to the side whispering with Caesar. "Where is Dad? What job is he finishing? I don't understand!"

Her mother wore an expression that Maya didn't fully understand at the sound of "Dad," but she came out of it quickly. She put her hands on Maya's shoulders gently.

"It's Fred," she said quietly.

"Fred?" The man Maya still nightmared about? The man who had held a gun to her mother's head? The man who had beat up her Aunt Serena and mother on occasion? "I thought he was dead."

"I'm afraid not. It's why I was gone so long. I was trying to find him to arrest him."

"He's coming here?!"

"Unfortunately," her mother answered, going a bit pale.

"Is he going to find us?!"

"No," her mother promised. "He won't. We're safe here." Maya hugged her tightly, feeling afraid now. Something in her mother's tone didn't quite back up her last statement.

"I'm scared," she said, muffled by her mother's midsection.

"Me too," her mother confessed, surprising her. Weren't adults supposed to not be scared?

"What do we do?"

"We wait here for Lee to come get us."

"Dad," Maya corrected. "He's my dad." She needed to make that clear to her mother. She was not going to be choosing between them; she was going to have both of them. Her mother wore that expression again. Maya wondered if it was adoration.

"Tell me some stories," her mother urged now, clearly looking to distract, but Maya was also thinking her mother wanted to genuinely know for herself. "What did you get up to together?"

And so Maya regaled her with memories and funny stories of her and her father. Her mother soaked them all up, smiling and laughing in all the right places. After a while, Maya forgot that they were even in danger.

...

Lee finished strapping his last knife to his leg and looked at his team. Gunner was standing with his arms crossed, ready. Toll was loading his last rifle and slinging it over his shoulder. Barney was adjusting his hat. Church was standing over the plans with a look on his face as though he'd smelt something really bad.

"What?" Barney asked, noticing.

"Huh?" Church snapped his head up to look at him.

"You look unimpressed."

"Resting face," Church scoffed. "You done dilly dallying yet? Powdered your nose and whatnot?"

"Been waiting on you, ma'am," Barney shot back. Church looked like he wanted to laugh but held it in. He pulled out his phone and looked at it.

"I've got coordinates. Let's go meet him there."

As they single filed out, Lee stopped by Barney, who was standing by the doorway and waiting to exit last. They locked eyes.

"I'm still mad at you," Lee confirmed. Barney's words were stuck in his head, though, and he knew his friend meant them.

"I expect that."

"But thank you," he added. "For trying to bring her home."

"If I'd known where she was, I'd have tried sooner."

"I know."

"I really did try to get the kid to tell you," Barney added. "She wouldn't, and I didn't want to make things worse by forcing her to or telling you myself."

"I get it."

"Let's finish this," Barney said now, and Lee nodded. They headed out after the others, and Lee did his best to calm his nerves and settle his racing heart. The thought that kept playing in his head, though, was: After all this, they were right where Emily had been trying to avoid all this time.

Ironic.

...

Toll had mixed feelings as they rode out in the military truck to meet Fred. While he loved Cheryl and didn't regret meeting her and being with her, he looked at Lee and couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of jealousy. He'd gotten Emily back from the dead; wasn't that something to be ecstatic about? If Serena had come back, he wouldn't have been angry at all. With that line of work, you had to understand the things they did and reasons for doing them. Lee being so angry at Emily was frustrating him. He wanted to shake him and yell at him. He got a second chance! Couldn't he see that?! Take it!

"You alright?" Lee asked, noticing him borderline glaring at him.

"You're an ass," Toll retorted. Gunner and Doc pretended to be fascinated with their hands and weapons suddenly. Barney and Church were in the cab driving.

"What's that now?" Lee responded, lifting a brow.

"You heard me."

"Why am I an ass?"

"Because you're mad at Emily!" Toll burst out, unable to keep it in any longer. Lee stared at him.

"Why is that any business of yours?" he asked, his voice calm. Too calm. Toll wasn't the only one to know that a very calm voice meant Lee was barely holding in an explosion.

"It's not, but man, you got a second chance. Don't you see that? You thought you lost her, and you got her back, so don't waste that opportunity to have what you always wanted!"

"Toll, she lied to me and pretended to be dead for almost two years," Lee said. "How am I supposed to not feel angry about that?"

"Because she did it for Maya! She did it for the job! Like we always do!"

"He has a point," Gunner chimed in now.

"Shut it," Lee growled at him, and Gunner closed his mouth and looked away again.

"All I'm saying is you need to get over it because you would have done the same thing in a heartbeat and expected her to forgive you and move on. You have something really great with her, and if you don't forgive her and make up, you're gonna regret it!" Toll finished. Lee's jaw twitched slightly as he kept staring at Toll.

"Don't think I don't know that," he finally said, quietly. The truck hit a bump, then, that made them all jerk and jolt and try to keep their bearings while anything not strapped down went flying.

"Sorry!" Barney's voice yelled back to them.

"Learn to drive!" Gunner hollered in return.

"Well, good," Toll said with a curt nod to Lee, ignoring everything else. "At least you know."

"You not happy with Cheryl?" Doc asked Toll next. He stiffened.

"I am very happy with her," he answered, his tone a warning.

"It just seems like you wish Serena was still alive so you could have a second chance too," Doc went on. Toll clenched his fist. Was he that easy to read? And what did that say about him if he could easily want that instead of want Cheryl?

"It doesn't mean you don't love Cheryl," Lee said, catching on. His voice suddenly carried empathy. "It's normal to feel what you're feeling."

"Then why do I feel so bad about it?" he asked.

"Just means you're human, mate," Lee replied.

"She probably wishes for a second chance with her husband too, but that doesn't mean she regrets being with you either," Gunner added. Toll didn't know how to feel in this moment, but he definitely felt bad. Cheryl was sweet and wonderful; he didn't want to be without her.

But would he go back to Serena if she miraculously showed up?

It was a nagging thought, and he couldn't get rid of it; it made him feel sick. He tried to rationalize—he hadn't known Serena for very long, not like he knew Cheryl.

"Toll, ease up, man," Doc said, patting his shoulder. "You're overthinking a scenario that's not real."

"It could be, though..."

"No," Lee said softly. "It's not."

"But..."

"Toll," Church said now, having overheard. His face was sticking through the hole. His voice was oddly sympathetic. "She's gone."

"You could be lying to me and have faked it too," Toll tried.

"I'm sorry," Church said solemnly. "Fred murdered her, Toll. I wasn't there to help her, and that's something I blame myself for every day."

Toll looked at the floor of the truck now, feeling embarrassed for getting into this conversation. He'd known having two people come back to life was unrealistic.

"When we get Fred, you can have the first crack at him," Gunner promised. Toll barely smiled at this. He'd envisioned killing Fred a million times over in the last while. Then he'd met Cheryl, and the vision slowly faded into the background until it was just a passing thought here and there.

"I call next," Lee said, taking attention off Toll for now. He was grateful for that. He looked away from the others and wrestled with his thoughts a while longer until they reached their destination.

...

Lee jumped out of the back of the truck, rifle raised. They had come in rather hot with bullets already aimed at them from people hiding in the trees.

"Shit!" Gunner shouted, ducking one that almost nicked his face. He ran with Doc while Lee hustled with Toll to cover. Barney and Church were somewhere else.

"How are there this many guys?!" Toll exclaimed as he fired around their shelter. Lee didn't know, but he felt slightly worried that he wasn't going to get out of this. He peeked around his side of the shelter and saw it fired too late.
"RPG!" he bellowed, grabbing Toll by the arm and yanking him out of the way of the blast as best as he could. They still got thrown, landing on the ground and rolling from impact. Bullets hit the ground around them instantly, and Lee scrambled to move out of the way. He and Toll made it to another cover spot, but barely just. He saw Gunner and Doc holding their own. He finally saw Barney firing his two pistols in rapid succession as he and Church tag teamed. Lee's ears were ringing as he spun his head wildly to see where his enemies were at. Hands slightly shaking, he reloaded and calculated a game plan.

Because he really did want to see Emily and Maya again.

...

Emily sat at the table by the window and tried not to worry, but it was proving difficult. She couldn't even drink her coffee, which Tia had poured for her.

"I hope I get to hear this story soon," Tia said now, sitting across from her. Caesar was entertaining Louis and Maya, which Emily appreciated. Her daughter was stressed and worried about Lee, and Emily wished she could just be so easily distracted by a good game of hide and seek tag.

"It's long and complicated," Emily advised.

"I bet," Tia agreed. "Was it worth it?"

"To keep my daughter alive? Yes," Emily answered. "It was."

"You have no idea what Lee went through," Tia said a moment later, setting her mug down. "I watched him break and blame himself and suffer with grief all this time. He had to figure out how to be a parent and how to move on. Hell, he'd finally started dating again a couple weeks ago."

He had? Emily swallowed. Maybe she should have just stayed away, but Maya hadn't been angry when she came back. Maya had understood, but Maya had also known Emily hadn't really died and had faith she was still out there even after the year deadline was up.

"Not that it's any of your business, but I have apologized to Lee and explained my story," she said finally. Tia gave her a smile that was a touch cold.

"It's my business because he's a close friend of mine," she countered. "And it's my business to make sure he doesn't get hurt again."

"I told him, and I'll tell you: I love him. I am done with the CIA. I want my life back, and I want to make a go of it with him...if he'll have me."

"Don't count on it," Tia said. Emily wished Tia wasn't being so protective right now, although she understood why.

"Then I'm just not going to give up," she insisted, and Tia's lips twitched into a small, more genuine, smile at this.

"Good," she said finally. "Cos he'd do the same."

"Mum! Help!" Maya cried, laughing. She came to hide behind her as Caesar came charging in and roaring like a dinosaur. "He's gonna eat me!"

"Maya! Over here!" Louis called to her. "I've got a harpoon!"

"Okay!"

Emily smiled as she watched her daughter race off to find Louis with Caesar chasing after her and making her squeal. She dreaded the day her daughter stopped playing pretend. She was going to be nine this year, and she felt like those days were coming way too soon.

"We got lots of time," Tia said now. "I'm all ears." Emily sighed. Tia obviously really needed the story to stop being so frosty.

"Okay," Emily agreed, "but I'm going to summarize a bit more than I did with Lee."

"That's fine."

So she started her story all over again.

...

Barney finally reconnected with his team. They were bloody and tired, and Fred's men were just seeming to amp up.

"We're f***ed," Doc complained.

"No, we're not," Barney argued.

"Ever consider this might be a smoke screen?" Lee asked, and Barney felt it in his chest. He looked at Lee, and they had a silent agreement.

"We gotta finish this and get out," Toll advised, agreeing also.

"Here," Church said, joining them finally and holding a rocket launcher. "Will this do?"

"What the damn hell?" Doc asked. "Where did you get that?!"

"From that dead guy over there," Church answered, gesturing.

"Well, hurry up then!" Barney ordered, and Church went to get a good shot.

...

Emily was exhausted from retelling her story, but Tia seemed satisfied and was a bit warmer towards her afterwards, which was nice. She stepped outside for some air and heard a car pulling up the drive. Her heart clenched at first until she saw who it was. She felt surprised to see Han, and he looked visibly stressed as he got out of the car and headed towards her. Maya was inside with Louis and Tia. Caesar was standing in the doorway, watching, since he'd heard the car come.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Jesse's coming," he said almost frantically. "You gotta run!"

"Let him come," Caesar growled. He flexed his arms and cracked his knuckles. Han was unfazed, though, as he grabbed Emily's arms.

"Listen to me," he urged. "You're not safe here...none of you are! You have to come with me!"

"Why?"

"Because he'll kill everyone if you stay," Han replied. "He's ruthless, just like Fred. You and Maya gotta come with me now. I have a safe house. I'll get you fake I.D.s; you can start over again."

"Han, I don't want to do that," Emily started.

"You don't have a choice! Would you rather be dead?" he challenged.

"No..."

"Em, you're safe here," Caesar tried.

"But you aren't," Han told him. "You being associated with her and Maya means you're all doomed. Don't you get it? Your only chance of survival is if they leave with me."

"How do I know it's not a trick?" Caesar asked.

"Because if I was going to kill you, you'd all be dead already," Han shot at him. "Why do people keep mistrusting me?! I'm trying to help!"

Emily could hear his sincerity and earnestness. She believed him. She looked at Caesar.

"The last thing I want is more people to get hurt," she told him.

"Emily, no," Caesar interrupted. "Lee trusted me with you..."

"I won't have it!" Emily burst out, startling him. "I won't have you or Tia or Louis killed because of me! I won't! I wanted to avoid all of this! I..." She stopped and pressed a hand to her face.

"Em..."

"We're leaving," Emily cut him off, looking at him again. She went in to call her daughter, who trotted out from where she was playing.

"Yea, Mum?" she asked.

"We're going."

"What? Why?"

"We're not safe here."

"What about Louis, Aunt Tia, and Uncle Caesar?"

"They're safer without us here."

"I don't understand."

"I don't have time to explain. Just come with me," Emily said, taking her hand. Maya began to protest but closed her mouth once she was hauled away. She got into the car with Han and put Maya in the back, telling her to stay low. Han peeled out of there, and Emily prayed that Barney and Lee would end this thing so all of this chaos would stop.

...

All was quiet, and Lee was breathing hard when a man appeared out of nowhere. He looked like he'd gone through the wringer with blood on his face and a black eye. He held his gun at Lee before lowering it, but Lee kept his trained on him.

"You're the guy," he said, recognition in his voice.

"Who the hell are you?" Lee demanded. Barney and Church caught up with him at this point.

"I've seen your photo enough to know you're Lee," the guy advised.

"Did you not hear me?" Lee asked angrily. "Who are you?!"

"Jesse," Church said now, and Lee's entire body grew tighter as he aimed his gun straighter.

"Whoa, Lee," Barney tried.

"He's the mole!" Lee exclaimed, recognizing the name. "Go on, then! Cuff him!"

"He's not the mole," Church said, confused.

"Yes, he is!"

"Who told you that?"

"I ain't no damn mole!" Jesse shouted now, furious. "I barely escaped with my life to find you guys! Emily's in trouble!"

"What?" Lee snapped, lowering the gun now. "She's with Caesar..."

"No, she ain't. She left."

"With who?" Barney asked.

"Wait, wait, wait," Lee interrupted, holding out his hand. "If you're not the mole, then who is?!" He looked at Church, who appeared a bit pale and shaky looking as he understood what Jesse was saying.

"Han," Church said hoarsely. "The mole is Han."

...

Han drove quick but careful, and Emily tried to still her racing mind. She hoped Tia, Caesar, and Louis would be all right now that she'd left. She really didn't want them to get hurt.

"Hey," Han said, resting his hand over hers on her leg. "It's gonna be alright. I promise." He gave her an encouraging smile, and she returned it slightly. She wasn't going to run off with him. Once things were clear, she was going to get her life back. She went back to watching the scenery pass by, wondering if Lee was okay and feeling very scared that she really wasn't going to see him again.

All I ask is to not reveal the name of the mole so as to not ruin the mystery for others. Thank you, and I hope this story is still being enjoyed! :)