Chapter Eleven

The night was long.

"Worst part of the job," Chase teased as they sat at headquarters. He had to speak lightly. He was afraid that if he didn't, if he thought of the way it might have all ended, he'd cease being rational.

He thought about Sky, about meeting as kids...friends. Friends who came together again when they were of age, friends who fell in love then, and...

Maybe there were such things as soulmates. He hadn't lived like a monk, but in the years between he'd just never fallen in love. He'd had relationships, but...

Nothing right.

Then, when it seemed that pretend might turn to reality—or might have been real all along whether that had been admitted or not—he might have lost her.

Forever.

"Hey!"

Sky touched his arm. It was morning; there really hadn't been a night. But despite her worry that they bring Larry back home and give him the assurances he needed, she'd insisted that they get to the hospital.

Miraculously, while several agents had been injured, none had been killed.

And Chris Wiley was going to be fine.

When they arrived at the hospital, Chase told Sky, "We're going to have to see Hank quickly before anyone else. He won't believe that you are okay if he doesn't see you himself. We'll be brief because I know—"

"I'm happy to see Hank and then Chris," she replied.

"And we'll check in on Bobby Sacks, too. Bobby was a hell of a help in this."

"Oh, did they find out anything about the woman—"

"Alina Gomez. She's fine. Wellington is going to help get her asylum status. Esposito's goons killed her father for refusing to distribute his goods at a school. Then, he just swept up Alina as his personal property. She's going to be fine," he reiterated.

She smiled. "Okay, onward to Hank and then Chris!"

Chase's grandfather was awake when they entered the room.

"About time!" he boomed. "Thankfully, I didn't know about most of this until it was over. You two...you know, you did good. You did really good. But don't do it again! You scared the bejesus out of me!"

Chase and Sky both gave him hugs, and Hank told them that he'd be transferring into rehab the next day, and that by the end of the month...

"I'll be drumming my heart out again! And you!" he said, wagging a finger at Chase.

"Gramps, I—"

"I'm not suggesting that you quit anything. You don't have to worry. The news is filled with the whole event, but a lot is focused on you—not as an agent, Chase, but just as the drummer who went after his beloved. The word is out there that supposedly law enforcement brought down a major drug ring and just that you...you're a hot drummer and lover. And you, Miss Ferguson! Like a new age Disney princess, kicking ass!"

"Um, thanks," Sky murmured.

"Your dad...well, you know what I believe? I believe he was looking out for you from the clouds, and that... My God, girl, he would be so proud. No, I believe we'll meet again. He is proud. And your mother—"

Sky let out a squeak. "Oh, my God! I haven't called my mother, and she'll see the news!"

"Maybe you should do that," Hank said.

The look Sky gave Chase was a little panicked. He smiled and told her, "Step out, give her a ring. Make sure she knows that you didn't get so much as a bruise from the whole thing."

Sky nodded and went out into the hall.

Hank watched her leave and turned to Chase.

"Don't let her get away this time," he said.

"Well, I didn't mean to let her get away last time."

"Make it permanent, then," Hank said.

"Gramps, I can't force her into something. These have been the most intense days of my life, but we've just gotten together again—"

"I don't think that either of you were ever really apart. You know, I remember when Jake fell in love with Mandy. There had never been anyone he loved like her before in his life, and he knew that there never would be again."

"I know that Sky is all that to me," Chase told him. "But I can't make her—"

"Marry you?"

He turned. Sky was back in the room, grinning and looking relieved as she walked in.

He ignored the question first, asking her anxiously, "Your mom?"

"Oh, she's mad at me, but she says that she's way more relieved than angry. And she's coming home from Ireland. I told her the events were over...but she's coming home."

"That's great! I look forward to seeing her," Hank said. "Now, as to the other. This big, brave undercover agent is afraid to ask you to marry him."

"Gramps!" Chase protested.

But Skylar turned to him, grinning. "Yes, of course."

"Pardon?"

"Oh, come on. Don't make your grandfather do everything! Yes, I think we should definitely get married. I don't want a crazy wedding. I want our families. And Skyhawk. Oh, wait. Skyhawk is kind of my father's other kid, so that's family, too."

He looked at her. He'd loved her forever. And maybe that was why time had slipped away, and why time, now, was everything.

They weren't going to waste any more of it.

But two could play the game.

"Sure," he said. "I'll marry you."

They both laughed. And it was, in truth, nice that right there, in his grandfather's hospital room, he drew her into his arms for a kiss that was a promise for a lifetime.

"Okay, okay, get a room!" Hank said, shaking his head. "Oh, yeah, you have rooms. Nope, you have houses. So..."

"We still need to see Chris, and I want to check on Bobby Sacks," Chase told him.

"Then, go do it. You can stop by tomorrow afternoon and see me here. Rehab place after that, and I'll be working hard, I promise. I'm not handing over my drum set entirely yet!"

"You better not do that," Chase warned him. "I'm not ready. All this is..."

"It's a lot," Hank agreed. "All this tonight...and I was here. Well, thankfully, they're going to let me see Chris soon. Maybe now! Hey, ring the nurse. See if you can walk me into his room."

"They'll want you in a wheelchair," Chase said.

"They can put me in a rocket ship if they want. I'd just really like to see my old friend."

"I'm on it," Sky said, hurrying out.

In a minute she was back with a wheelchair—and a nurse. The nurse saw to it that her charge was safely seated.

"Now, please, this isn't at all regular... You shouldn't even be visiting at this hour, but keep the noise level down. It's just five a.m., and the patients need their rest!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Chris promised.

"Well, good to see you all. Mr. Wiley needs to sleep, but he's too worried about events and Miss Ferguson and...please. Go in."

They entered, and Sky hurried to Chris's side, taking his hand.

As she did so, Chase noticed that Brandon was asleep in a chair by the window.

And Mark Reynolds was there, too, standing now, though he'd been seated in a chair by the bed. Chase realized that Joe Garcia was also in Chris's room and he smiled, surprised that the hospital had turned a blind eye to so many visitors.

Especially at this hour, as the nurse had pointed out. But they were there.

Skyhawk was there. The old group, friends before they'd been a band. All—thankfully—innocent of the machinations and terror going on around them.

Chris looked up at Sky, smiled and squeezed her hand.

"I was so worried!" Sky told him.

"We all were," Mark Reynolds said quietly. "Worried about you, too—crazy worried about you."

"I'm fine, I'm fine. It was Chris who was shot!" Sky said.

"Chris, what did they tell you? I mean, you were in surgery—" Chase began.

"Funny thing is, the guy played so many people—but he was a lousy shot," Chris said. "Caught me below the bone, didn't even shatter anything. They got the bullet out, they sewed me up, and I'm just about as good as can be."

"Hey, Chris is tough!" Joe said.

Brandon had woken up, and he blinked and stood, coming over to the bed. "Dad! You are not good as new. You're going to behave. You were warned that the big fear is going to be infection, and you'll have to be careful—"

"I will!" Chris argued. "You're the wild child."

"Not so much anymore, trust me," Brandon said, looking around at all of them. His eyes fell on Sky. "And you!" he said softly, turning to Chase. "She walked out with Malcolm, you know, because he threatened to kill me."

"But it all worked out!" Sky said.

"How the hell?" Brandon asked.

"Teamwork!" Chase said. "Sky kicked ass, Larry distracted the one guy, and..."

"You brought 'em down," Brandon finished. "It's been all over the news. Right now, a lot of confusion. Apparently, reporters know that Esposito was running a major drug-distribution ring through several venues. Working with people like Malcolm—threatening families, little children—to get what they wanted done. Right now, they're just saying that members of Skyhawk were injured, but that—hmm, how did they put it, Dad?"

"They said that members of Skyhawk held their own and helped bring down a crew of major criminals. People knew you were kidnapped, Sky, and they knew that Chase came after you—I think they even knew a dog was involved, but the reporters have been shockingly careful about what they're reporting. Still..."

"Still, there's going to be enough publicity to make us all crazy...and rise to the top of the charts!" Mark said. He shook his head. "But that's not what matters. I'm just grateful, so incredibly grateful, that we're all here. That Chris is going to be okay, that Hank is on the mend. That Sky and Chase—"

"And Larry!"

"And Larry? Okay, the thing is, we made it. And we know the truth behind what happened to Jake, all those years ago, Jake meant to get it all torn down. And... Chase, Sky, you knew. The rest of us were devastated but never saw it as anything other than an accident. We always knew that Jake was best, and thanks to him, we all know how to be our best, and thanks to you, Sky, and you, Chase, we've all survived—and lots of people will live. All is good. Hey, I could pass out some Jell-O and we could all toast one another?" Mark finished.

They all laughed softly.

"Think I'll pass on the hospital Jell-O," Chase told them. "And I want to go and check on Bobby quickly. If they'll let me, of course."

"I think they'll let you do just about anything tonight—or this morning," Hank asserted.

Chase nodded. He glanced at Sky and smiled and slipped out into the quiet hall. He spoke briefly to the police officer on duty, who assured him that he was welcome to look in on Bobby Sacks, though the patient might be sleeping.

But when Chase stepped silently into the room, Bobby's eyes were open.

"I'd hoped you'd stop by to see me!" Bobby said. "I...oh, man, I've got to admit, after I talked to you, I was pretty terrified. Because there were layers to what was going on, people who did know who the players were, people who didn't...and everyone worried about their loved ones if they didn't follow through. But...is the news real? They say the FBI brought down the kingpin, but they say that they followed you, that you were involved."

"I think it's safe, Bobby. And I just wanted to say I know that you were scared to say anything. You did. You talked, even terrified. So you were a help, just as much as anyone."

Bobby smiled. "That's great news. I have other great news."

"That's great. Really great!"

Bobby's smile deepened. "I'm going to live! No permanent damage to my major organs. Somehow... Well, you really saved my life. I owe it to you."

"No. You owe a good life to yourself," Chase told him. He patted Bobby's shoulder. "Just stick with it, keep getting better and better. And right now, I'm going to leave you before they throw me out."

Bobby nodded. "Thank you!"

Chase nodded and waved, leaving Bobby's room and heading back to Chris's.

The nurse met him in the hall.

"There are sick people in this hospital, Mr. McCoy. Now, I am aware it was a difficult night for you all, but you've seen your friends and your grandfather, and now it's time for you to leave," she informed him.

He smiled. "Yes, ma'am. We'll be getting right out of here," he promised.

Stepping back into Chris's room, he saw that everyone in the room seemed comfortable and relaxed. His grandfather sat in his wheelchair, Chris was in his bed, Joe was on the chair in the corner with Brandon perched on the edge of it, Mark was still standing by the bed, and Skylar was seated at the foot of it.

They all looked up when he came in.

"Bobby Sacks?" Mark asked.

"Pulling through fine, too," Chase informed them. "But we've just been thrown out. Hank, we need to wheel you back, and the rest of us—"

"Need to go. Right. But we'll see you in the morning," Brandon promised his father.

"It is morning!" Chris reminded him. "Go home, all of you. Adrenaline has run out. You had a great show—and then all hell broke loose. Go!"

"Wait!" Hank said. "Someone has an announcement for us."

Hank stared at him hard.

"Oh! Yes, we do—"

"But we don't have a date, we want to see my mom—" Sky began.

"Oh, my God, took you two long enough!" Brandon exclaimed. "Wow, and yay!"

"Legacy," Mark said, looking around the room. "Chase, Sky, beautiful. We couldn't be happier for you. We'll have to hire a band for the wedding because—"

"Because we hope you'll all be celebrating with us!" Sky said.

"Because the lead singer will be a bit busy," Joe said, laughing. "Seriously, guys, we couldn't be happier. And I know that...somewhere..."

"My dad is happy and proud," Sky finished.

"So before the demon nurse gets back," Chris said jokingly, "we should probably clear out. You have to roll me back to my own room, and then—"

Apparently, the group did still think alike. It was almost as if they'd planned it, rehearsed.

Chris, Mark, Joe, Hank and Brandon all shouted, "Get a room!"

L ARRY . L ARRY WAS the best dog ever, Sky was convinced.

When they reached her house, her first move was to drop down by the dog and embrace him, scratching and petting him, telling him just how much she loved him.

Larry, of course, lapped it up.

Chase hunkered down by her, stroking the dog as well.

She looked at him. "Hmm. Trey Montgomery was a lecturer turned dog rescuer and trainer?"

Chase shrugged. "Trey spent thirtysomething years of his life working with the police canine division. He worked with all manner of disciplines—drug dogs, cadaver dogs, missing-persons dogs—and he had several of his own that could do just about anything." He hesitated. "I told him that—that I needed a dog for a very good and loving person who seldom thought about her own danger. Larry had taken a few bullets, and like any good cop, he was rewarded with retirement. But..."

"In the middle of all that happened, you thought to come back for him," Sky said.

"I was afraid I might have followed you into the bayou or a forest or... I didn't know. But I knew that if it was necessary, Larry could follow your trail. As it happened, we didn't need to find you. But everything was on split-second timing, and Larry bought us what we needed." He hesitated. "I was so afraid that if..."

"That if you hadn't gotten there when you did, Malcolm or Esposito would have shot me?" she asked, smiling. "Well, my plan was to knock him down and get his gun and hope that I could fire it," she informed him. "I mean, I did have a plan. I knew I wasn't just getting on that plane. But..."

"But?"

She smiled. "You did come."

He leaned over, delicately kissing her lips. "How did we let the years go by?" he whispered.

She shook her head. "It was my fault."

"No. There is no fault. Sky, I couldn't put the past to rest, either. And Wellington is an amazing man, brilliant at what he does. He believed in me—which was important. Of course, there were also a number of bad things happening around the state. They'll still be trying to clean it all up, but that's going to be for other agents. Hey, no one does this job alone, trust me."

"And yet you've managed to keep it secret—undercover you!"

He shrugged. "No one expects a guy born with a silver spoon in his mouth to run around really working."

Sky smiled and nodded. "Are we really getting married?"

He adjusted to be on his knees, dodging one of Larry's paws as the dog rolled over, expecting a belly rub.

"Larry, wait your turn!" Chase said. Then he turned to Sky. "Skylar Ferguson, it would be the greatest honor of my life if you would marry me. Um... I'm supposed to have a diamond. I'll take care of that—"

"I don't really care about the jewelry," she assured him. "You gave me a few amazing gifts already."

"Oh?"

"Well, Larry for one."

"Larry is cool. I grant you that."

"And in truth, you gave me my life."

"No, kid. You are your father's daughter. You had everything to do with saving your own life."

"Okay, then...you're giving me something I value as much."

"What's that?"

"You're putting your life in my hands!"

He leaned over the dog, taking Sky into his arms, kissing her long and deeply with all the emotion from the depths of his heart.

Larry let out a little disgruntled moan of protest, and they broke apart, laughing.

"I'll see to Larry's bowls and all," Chase said.

"I'll start the shower."

"Yeah, shower, that will be good."

"All touch of monsters gone!" she told him.

And that was it. They scrambled up, Chase heading for the kitchen, Sky streaking up the stairs. She realized how much had happened, and all in the last sixteen hours or so.

And now...

She wanted a good, hot spray. Lots of heat and tons of mist. She stepped in ahead of Chase, glad to have the heat, to feel renewed from all that had gone on.

She'd been so close to...

Death.

But now life loomed ahead of her. She had been right: she and Chase—with the help of agents, police and friends—had proven the truth of the man her father had been, never careless, always clean, always caring about others.

And even before that...

She had realized what she had thrown away. But Chase had never forgotten. Never really left her. And now they had a chance.

He slipped in behind her. She felt the heat of his body, deeper, more encompassing than any other. She turned into his arms, and with the water sluicing over them they kissed and touched and scrubbed. They managed to laugh as the soap slipped to the tub bottom, as they both reached for it, crashing into one another, nearly falling, catching each other...touching and kissing again.

Then they were out, so they wouldn't fall, drying, laughing...

Making their way back to the bedroom.

Making love.

She had no clue how many hours passed, but at one point, she rolled over, half-asleep, and noticed that there was a gun on the bedside table, not the one he'd had earlier—

He noticed her curiosity.

"A service weapon is always taken when it's been fired under such circumstances," he told her. "They'll return my regular one."

"And that—"

"Is a personal backup. I think... I think it's over. But like it or not, fame follows what we've done and..."

"You went into what you do because you knew that something had happened and happened very wrong," Sky said seriously, looking into his eyes. "I don't know everything you've done through the years, but I know it's been important to you."

"I—I can stop."

She shook her head. "No, Chase. You're the man I love. And you're the man I love because of all your determination, because you do want... Well, none of us can fix the world, but you want to do what you can to stop very bad things. I don't want you to change."

He ran his fingers gently through her hair, shaking his head. "You are amazing. And you—"

"I love what I do. I'm not always sure I'm changing the world, but I love kids. I love working with them, and I always hope that I've given them something that they can love, that they can do, that can keep them from...other things."

He nodded. "I love kids, too. We are having a few, right?"

"Five or six."

"What?"

She laughed. "One at a time, and we'll see how it goes."

"Legacy!" he teased.

"Legacy. So..."

"We don't have to be anywhere at all today. We can just..."

"All right!"

She rolled back into his arms.

A while later, they finally slept. And it was night when they woke up, ran down to take Larry out and dig around in the kitchen.

And then, of course, they realized that they had dozens of missed phone calls, and that while the night of both amazement and horror was over, other things might be just beginning.

But that was okay.

Because now they both knew they had a lifetime together.