Chris stared into her eyes. “You have to hold out a little longer. “This baby is too small. I can’t resuscitate him if I have to, and if you bleed out, we have about two minutes until you’re completely empty of all your blood.”
She slowed her breathing. “Got it. Don’t worry about me. You keep my son alive no matter what. He’s the only one who matters.”
Both men gasped.
That was far from the truth.
“Ethan,” she said, refusing to look away from Chris. This time, he was her anchor.
“Baby?”
“If anything happens to me, you take care of these kids. You make sure you love them and find them a momma. Don’t you dare let them grown up without one. I get it. I need you to find someone who will love them.”
Callen’s heart was breaking.
“That’s never going to happen, baby. You’re too mean and vicious to leave us. You fight, Elizabeth. You fight for us. I don’t want anyone else but you. I won’t be able to keep that promise.”
She reached up and touched Callen’s cheek. “I died loving you both. You keep your brother safe. He’s a hot mess without me. Look at the crazies he picks for partners.”
Callen held her tight. He had to believe in Chris and Elizabeth.
He couldn’t lose her like this.
“You are not dying. You will not leave us, Elizabeth. Listen to me. We forbid it! For once, you need to listen to us!”
“Chris…”
He knew they were pushing it. They didn't have much time. Keeping the baby in was just as dangerous if the placenta had torn away.
They could both die. He had to calculate the risk and at least save the child.
“I love you, Lyzee. I have you.”
She certainly hoped so. This was one ride she hoped she lived to regret.
“Okay, Lyzee, let’s do this. Let’s have a baby.” Chris pulled off his shirt. “We’re going to play the hand we’ve been dealt.”
She began pushing.
It wasn’t hard at all.
This baby was half the size of her others. All she could hope was that he was just as strong as his mother and father.
As they rounded a corner, Ethan could see the hospital not far ahead. “Thirty seconds.”
“Come on, angel. You got this,” Callen said, holding her against his body.
He began praying.
She pushed.
The baby slid out. Chris caught him and tore away the membrane threatening to kill him.
He began checking the baby’s pulse.
He wasn’t breathing.
“Chris,” she whispered, staring at the small little life on her lap.
Chris cleaned out his mouth and began breathing for him. He worked hard. For his sister, he fought all the odds and wouldn’t give up.
As Ethan slammed to a stop, he raced inside, badge out. He couldn’t watch the battle for the baby’s life.
Callen touched his little foot.
He was turning blue.
“Breathe,” she whispered.
Then, as if by a miracle, he started wailing.
Elizabeth let go of the breath she was holding. The inside of the van was wavering. Chris wrapped the baby and handed him to Callen.
She knew what was happening.
Her blood was pouring out and onto his khaki pants. He looked like he’d been through a bloody battle.
In a way, he had. He was fighting for her life.
Immediately, he began massaging her stomach, praying to get the uterus to contract.
She was dizzy.
She was slipping into the gray.
“Elizabeth! Don’t you leave us! You fight!” Callen shouted, touching her cheek. She stared up at him, her eyes showing him the truth.
He was losing her.
“Angel. I need you. I’m not ready to walk this journey without you. Granddad can’t have you. Not yet.”
He glanced up at their ME.
“Chris!”
Just then, the door slid open and there was Ethan with some doctors.
Chris kept massaging as they lifted her lifeless body onto the gurney.
He didn't stop.
“She’s bleeding out. We need Oxytocin stat!” Chris ran alongside the gurney as a nurse struggled to get an IV in her arm. “Come on, Lyzee. You can’t leave me. You promised. Bethe and I need you. We all need you.”
Callen got out, holding his child. He barely had a chance to leave a kiss on his son’s head before the doctors took him too.
Ethan raced after his wife, praying for a miracle.
If she died, Callen was gone.
He knew it.
He couldn’t do this alone.
As he got to the doors, an orderly shut them in his face. “We have her, sir. Give us some time.”
Blackhawk turned to see his brother. He was covered in blood.
“Ethan.”
He moved toward him and pulled Callen into his arms. Ethan knew what he was thinking.
It was all over his face.
“She’s not Desdemona. She’s tough. Elizabeth won’t go down easily. You know her.”
Callen dropped to his knees. Ethan followed. Together, they stared at the door.
Waiting.
Truth be told, they needed to see if they were moving forward or being trapped in that moment forever.
“Elizabeth!” Callen suddenly yelled, his voice bellowing through the halls and hospital.
“FIGHT!”
EPILOGUE
Two Days Later
She felt like shit.
That was the only way to explain it. Somehow, she didn't care. She was alive. The last thing Elizabeth remembered was giving birth, Chris saving her child, and then nothing.
No, she remembered the fear in Callen’s eyes.
She clearly recalled that and it had been what saved her. She fought for him, refusing to let go.
Someone had to take care of the men in her life, and it was going to be her.
Now she was in a bed, something was beeping, and she was hooked up to an IV.
Well, that meant she was alive.
At least she had that.
As she slowly opened her eyes, there were aqua and blue ones incredibly close to hers. Chris was in her bed, and Tony was leaning over her.
“I said no threesome,” she muttered. “You two aren’t my type.”
Chris kissed her. “You are out of luck. You just laid there. It was hot. We took pictures.”
She laughed, only to moan.
This reminded her of the time she woke up in the hospital bed after Ray when she’d been shot. These two nuts had been there then too.
“I’m guessing I’m not dead. If this is heaven, God is seriously jacked up. He knows I like sexy Natives, not crazy doctors. Wait, is this hell?”
The men laughed.
Tony brushed some hairs from her face. “No, but you nearly died. You look like shit by the way. Who beat on you? Want me to kick her ass.”
“Great. Now you offer. I already killed her.”
Chris moved off the bed. “You scared me. If you ever do that again…”
“What? You’ll divorce me?” she mumbled. “You’ll take away my gun? You’ll not let me have dessert after supper, Dad?”
Ethan walked in carrying a handful of papers. “No, but I will kick your ass, Elizabeth. That was the worst thing I’ve ever seen. I am NOT reliving it again. Are we clear?”
“Cowboy,” she said, waiting for him to kiss her.
“I’m next!” Tony said, trying to make her laugh.
She snorted.
And then moaned in pain.
“What the hell did they do to me?” she asked. “Childbirth never felt this shitty before.”
Chris told her. “You had a full hysterectomy. They cleaned you out like a cantaloupe for Sunday brunch. You, Lyzee, are done making babies.”
She tried to sit up.
“Shit!”
Immediately, the two doctors helped
her.
“Where is my baby? Is he okay?” she asked, looking around. “Where’s Callen?”
Ethan slipped her wedding bands back on her finger. “He’s with our son. The baby is fine. Chris saved him. He breathed life back into him.”
She grabbed Chris by the tie and pulled him in for a kiss. She planted one right on his mouth.
When he pulled away, he was grinning.
It still didn't reach his eyes.
“Uh, you could use some gum. Seriously.”
She laughed, and then moaned. “Jesus.”
“Is that what you want to name the baby?” Ethan asked, holding the paper in his hand. “Won’t that cause a stir with the media?” he teased.
“You didn't name him?”
“Callen wanted you to approve of the name. It seems after the incident in the van, he had a change of heart. He tossed plan A out the window.”
He handed her the paper.
Elizabeth read it over. “Wait, there are whole lot of names on this poor kid’s birth certificate.”
Ethan laughed. “Well, that’s part of the surprise. We changed all the kids’ names while you were in the land of the narcotics.”
She stared at him. “To what? The disciples?”
Callen walked in carrying the tiny little bundle. “We added Whitefox to the Blackhawks, and vice versa. And, Ethan, show her.”
He showed her the papers. They men had officially changed their names.
She read it and then stared at them. “We all have matching names,” she said, wiping her eyes.
Tony and Chris grinned. They knew how rough the other day had been. Chris had come out to find them barely holding on. When he told them she was stabilized, they kissed him.
On the lips.
There might have been tongue.
He wasn’t sure. His adrenaline was surging. It was weird, and amusing as hell.
“Want to hold our son?” Callen asked, lowering him into her arms.
“Well, hell, aren’t you so damn cute. You’re like a tiny little button, handsome.”
Chris handed Tony money, as did Ethan and Callen.
“What?”
“He said you curse in the first sentence,” Chris said. “I gave you at least four.”
“I had three,” Ethan stated.
“I had two,” Callen admitted.
She smiled. “Callen, get me a pen. I’m okay with that name. In fact, it’s perfect. I think Dad and Granddad would approve, considering.”
Callen signed the paper and waited for her to be ready. In the meantime, he kissed her.
“I missed you. You’re grounded.”
She grinned. “See? He didn't say I needed gum.”
“I know better. Who made that rookie mistake?”
Chris raised his hand.
“Anyway, you nuts,” Elizabeth began, “I’d like to introduce you to our son. This is Christopher Anthony Whitefox-Blackhawk, or Chris for short.”
He stared at her. “What?”
He didn't see that one coming.
“You heard me, Doc. Want to hold him?” she asked. “You two are the uncles/Godfathers. This baby is your responsibility if anything should happen to us. At the rate we’re going, that should be next month.”
Ethan and Callen pointed at her.
She laughed.
Ethan continued, “In our heritage, we name our children after their uncles. The hope is they grow up strong just like them. It’s their job to lead, guide, and teach the child. We don’t know of two more worthy men than you two. It would be our honor if you’d allow us to give our child your names.”
Chris took the baby in his arms, his eyes filled with tears. Some of the pain in them ebbed away.
“Lyzee, thank you.”
Tony kissed her on the forehead. “I’m going to buy him his first girly magazine.”
She punched him.
“Shit! Or not. I guess that wasn’t what you meant by guide him. I get it now,” he teased, as he rubbed his arm.
The men laughed as Chris held the child named for him. “This is pretty awesome.”
Callen sat beside her on the bed. “You’re part of our family. You saved them both, Chris, and you, Tony, you rushed home to stand by the people you love and watched our children while we’re away. That’s worthy of brotherhood in our book.”
They cuddled the baby.
Ethan flanked her and held her hand. “Know what the best part of this is?”
“Lily’s dead?” she asked.
“Yeah, and in our home. You couldn’t drag her outside first? Blood on the carpets is never a good thing!”
She laughed.
“I had to do a hell of a lot of paperwork on this one, so you owe me.”
Elizabeth squeezed both of their hands. “I’m glad you survived the stress of a papercut.”
“Well, I did, and we also got a reward.”
Elizabeth stared up at them. “What?”
“You’re barren. Callen and I don’t have to have vasectomies. We don’t go under the knife.”
All the men laughed as Callen gave Ethan a fist bump.
“Amen.”
She tugged Ethan down and kissed him.
Then, she kissed Callen.
“Well, when can I get sprung from this place?” she asked, struggling to get up.
“As soon as you can walk around.”
“And the baby?”
Callen grinned. “Our son is strong like his momma. He’s perfect. He’s little, but he just needs to be fattened up.”
Chris pulled a candy bar out of his pocket and tossed it to Elizabeth.
She looked down at it and all the memories flooded back.
They’d come full circle.
Life.
Death.
More life.
It was poetic justice for all of them.
“Then let’s get out of here. We’re going home.”
No one argued.
It was time.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
Three Months Later
Damascus
There she stood.
This was supposed to be their home, but ironically, it didn't feel like it.
It was time to move on.
Chris had his funeral for Cyra. He’d had to do battle a few more times with her family, but he was free. They weren’t happy when he said he was leaving, but it was his choice.
This wasn’t home anymore for him.
The last few months had been hard.
There were good days and bad, but he was pulling through. Bethe had turned one, and she was a dream.
Chris had his family, so it was all good. For the last twelve weeks, he’d stayed safely behind the walls with the people he loved.
They’d had his back.
They’d helped him heal.
Now, it was time to say goodbye to the house that they tried to make a home. Ethan was already working in DC, and she and Callen were ready to start.
Qualifications were over, and Callen had passed. Yes, it was by the skin of his teeth, but he’d done what he’d promised. He was keeping his badge and gun.
No one doubted his determination.
Elizabeth was back from maternity leave, healed and also ready to hit the streets. She didn't know what was coming, but she was ready for it.
This phase of her life had mattered, but it was time to write a new story.
It was time to push on, forgetting the past.
The last five years had made them, but it didn't define them.
For Ethan Whitefox-Blackhawk, it had come full circle. He was no longer a workaholic with no life to call his own. He was now a workaholic with a family he loved.
He’d overcome it all.
Elizabeth wasn’t out there to prove anything to anyone. She’d been there and done that. Now, she was free to help people find justice. She’d broken the law once, and that was a lesson learned. From here on out, it was the straight and narrow.
>
Well, sort of.
She couldn’t promise, because after all…she was Elizabeth Whitefox-Blackhawk.
She couldn’t risk her street cred.
Then there was Callen Whitefox-Blackhawk. His past had destroyed him, and he’d learned to overcome. He’d fought for what was his, and it built him back up. Gone was the scared child, and in his place was a man.
A happy one.
A strong one.
A whole one.
Now, it was time to say goodbye.
It was time to bid adieu to the reservation once more. Coming back had been special, and walking away would be too. They weren’t products of their environment, but people with free will. From here on out, this was their story to tell.
Speaking of which…
There was one thing left to do.
As the three of them stood in the house, doing their final walk through, it was time to celebrate someone’s birthday, like promised.
Callen handed his brother a wrapped book. “Open it,” he said, standing in the middle of the empty room. They were saying goodbye to the temporary home.
It had sold.
Hopefully, some family would love it.
They had.
This gift seemed appropriate since they were about to start their new life.
“What’s this?” Ethan asked, pulling off the paper.
“A little birthday gift,” he offered.
Ethan read the title.
‘Death’s Deep Mire.’
Ethan ran his fingers over the title. “It’s your book,” he said, grinning at his brother. “I’m proud of you.”
They both were.
“Keep reading,” Callen said.
‘By Jackson James’
“You used our middle names—nice one,” Ethan said, admiring his leather bound present. Callen’s dreams had come true, but he’d still opted to be a part of their team.
At first, they were surprised. They tried to convince him to follow his dream. Only, Callen told them he was. Later, he could write in his downtime.
He could have it all.
“Read the inscription,” Callen said, grinning at the two people he loved and respected.
Ethan flipped open the cover and moved through the pages. Even Elizabeth was excited. Until that moment, Callen wouldn’t let her see anything.
Choices will Destroy (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 14) Page 53