Part 3 - A Change of Heart
AN: This is perhaps a cheat in several quarters. First of all I went over the word allowance. Secondly, this is the answer to the request for a continuation of The Lost Boys. And it won’t make any sense if you haven’t read that story. I’m not sure I’ll ever fill in the blanks that this raises, but it is the way I would see that story end. This is not beta’d.
"And with the thanks of a grateful nation, it gives me great personal pride to award you the Distinguished Intelligence Cross. For voluntary acts of extraordinary heroism involving the acceptance of existing dangers with conspicuous fortitude and exemplary courage."
"Thank you Mr. President."
Sarah Webb, who last week had been know to one and all as Sarah Barre, forced herself to meet his gaze with the pride and love that she truly felt. For over three years she’d pushed him to reclaim his name, secure their safety, and return to Washington in triumph. He nearly died, yet again, but he’d succeeded, spectacularly. .
And now she would have to live with the consequences.
She was grateful that, once Clay sat down behind the podium and the President began his speech, she could drop her gaze. She stared at her clasped hands and didn’t bother to admonish her nine-year old adopted daughter Emily as she squirmed to get a better view. Thankfully, AJ lifted Emily onto his lap. To her right, Robert McCall proudly held his namesake, her three-year old son. Bobby was sound asleep, terribly unimpressed by all the hoopla.
They would want him back, probably in some important position. He’d paid for that right with four years of exile. They would return to Washington in triumph. Porter would have her grandchildren close at hand.
Sarah rubbed her belly. She was forty this year. This would be her final child. Clay would insist that she have the finest doctors at some private hospital. How was she going to tell old Doctor Trent, who had driven through a spring snowstorm to deliver Robert Michael? What about Victor? Maybe Clay would keep the ranch, letting Victor manage it.
Worry and sadness gripped her heart and she was furious with herself. This was Clay’s due! She couldn’t stand in his way. He’d earned this!
The ceremony in the Rose Garden was finally over and AJ, hoisting Emily up, announced, "Come back to the house."
She hugged Robert and didn’t deny Porter’s request that they take her grandson in their car. "I’m sure you and Clay want to be alone for a bit, dear."
And then it was just the two of them. Clay hugged her tight and buried his face in her neck. "Did you really think this day would come?" he finally whispered.
"Never doubted it," she said bravely.
"You okay?" He kissed her gently, not caring that Marine guards and Secret Service agents were close by.
"Fine. Just a little tired. It was a long time coming, Clay." She lifted her chin and pushed the fears further away. "You deserve this."
He cocked his head to the side, trying to read her mood. Wrapping his arm around her waist, running his finger over the side of her swollen belly he led her to the gate and the waiting limo. "AJ’s?"
"Yes."
"Good."
They rode in silence toward McLean. She ran over all the things they would have to do: Find a house — near Langley, a new school for Emily, private this time. Oh God. She fought the tears.
"Hey, what’s wrong?"
She took a deep breath. "How long before we have to leave?" Surely they wouldn’t want him back too soon.
"I’ve got a lot of work to do, Sarah. No more than a week."
She jerked around to stare at him in horror. "A week!" What could she possibly do in a week? They’d have to fly back to Montana tonight. And even then he’d have to return here without her — them. She needed more time than a week to allow Emily to say goodbye to all her friends. She’d need to close up her small law office. What would their friends in Polson think if they didn’t throw some kind of farewell party? "A week?" she repeated unable to keep the tears at bay.
"Yeah." He traced her jaw and she sighed into the palm of his hand. "I figure that will give you time to visit with Harm and his wife, Bud and Harriet, maybe even allow mother to throw some kind of party." He paused, lifting her chin so she had to meet his smiling eyes. "But next week, I have that horse auction in Missoula. And Emily has her play. You can’t expect her to miss her chance to play Tinkerbell?"
"Clay?"
"Yes?" He leaned in and kissed her again, cupping her cheek, holding her to him.
"But, they reinstated you!"
He nodded. "Yes they did. Since I am retiring with twenty years, we will have decent insurance benefits. And all that back pay will allow me to buy the Furguson property for Victor and Gloria.
It’s silly for them to live over the barn."
"That’s a nice apartment! You and he built it."
Clay ran his work-roughened fingers over her lips. Who would have ever thought that Clayton Webb would have callused hands? "We’ll turn it into a guest apartment. Mother will insist on visiting more often now."
She closed her eyes and kissed his fingers. "But don’t you want to go back…to them? It’s what you always wanted? You could still go far."
He shook his head softly. "I proved what I set out to prove. We don’t have to fear Watts or any of his cronies. AJ and Robert made sure of that. I’ve been gone too long, Sarah."
She listened for any sadness in his voice, rested her head against his chest to test the beat of his heart. It was strong and steady. He kissed her hair before continuing. "Besides, I like waking up with you in our bed, watching the geese fly across our window. I even like seeing Bullwinkle standing there, glaring in at us."
"Yeah right."
"No. I do." He chuckled. "Can you imagine the argument Emily would come up with to justify bringing a three-ton moose back to Washington? She’s taking after you, darling."
"Can you imagine Willie Wonka not doing his nightly patrol of the property?" Sarah raised her head trying hard to read his soul. "Are you sure?"
He gazed down at the medal the president had placed around his neck. Fingering the surface, he smiled brightly. "This is nice, our home is nicer. I only insist upon one thing, Sarah."
"What’s that?"
"I want my name back."
She let out the last of her tension and nodded. "I’m very proud of our name." She reached down into her purse. "I already started the paperwork." She handed him the forms that would legally return their name to Webb.
"I couldn’t have made it without you these past four years, Sarah. Are you sure you’ll be happy being the wife of a rancher?"
Her smile was as bright as the tears in her eyes. Leaning forward, she claimed a deep kiss that they didn’t break until AJ opened the door and they heard Emily exclaimed. "They’re always doing that!"