The waiting room was filled with grim faced men and women covered in soot.  Some still had parts of their uniforms still on.

As soon as Chloe came into the room flanked by Drake and Evie a blonde bearded man stood up and made his way over to her.

“You’re Chloe, aren’t you?”

“Zarek.  What do you know about Zarek?  They wouldn’t tell me anything downstairs.”

She was barely keeping it together.

“They’re doing a CT scan.  He conscious.”

She saw a young woman holding a toddler.

“And the others?  How are they doing?” 

“Juan is in surgery.  His leg got caught under one of the beams, it’s a mess.  They’re putting in hardware.  It was Zarek who carried him out.”

Chloe tried to smile, but just didn’t have it in her.

“Gus said three people were injured?” Drake asked.  “What’s the status of the third person?”

“Kylie Powers pulled out the last worker. The man was out of control with fear, knocked Kylie’s face gear off.  She ended up inhaling a lot of smoke, but she got both of them out of there.  Damn it, almost all of us wanted to kick that guy’s ass.  Here she was trying to save him, and he could have ended up getting them both killed.”

“When are we going to hear about Zarek?” Chloe asked.

“They said it would be about an hour,” Luke said.  “He’ll be fine.  He has a hard head.”

“Come sit down.” Evie guided Chloe to an empty chair.

Chloe did her best to keep calm, but she knew the fact that Zarek had been conscious, and then had passed out was a bad sign.  Every bad outcome she had ever read about in school came rushing back to her. 

“Honey, you’re whimpering,” Drake said as he put his arm around her. 

She looked up at her big brother with tear filled eyes.

“You know it’s bad too.”

“I’m used to this shit happening far from hospitals.  I’m doing a fucking happy dance that he’s at one of the nation’s premier trauma centers, instead of in the middle of some God forsaken desert.”  She searched Drake’s face and realized that he was serious.  For the first time it became abundantly clear just what being a SEAL meant.

Chloe launched herself into his arms.

“Hey, Shortstuff, he’s going to be fine.”

“No, that’s not it,” she said wetly.

Drake patted her back.  “What’s going on Chloe?”

“She’s just realizing how dangerous your job is,” Evie answered.

“Why do I love men who could be killed?”  Chloe couldn’t stop the flood of tears. 

Drake didn’t answer, he just rocked her in his strong arms as she cried.

***

Zarek woke up and his head was killing him.  The light burned bright into his brain.  He groaned.

“Zarek?” It was Chloe’s soft and sweet voice. 

“Light hurts,” he whispered. 

“Keep your eyes closed for a minute longer.  I’ll turn off all the lights.”

He felt her fingers brush his cheek, then she brushed a kiss against his lips.  So soft, so good.  She was gone too quick.  He opened his eyes, and in the dim light he saw liquid brown eyes staring down at him.

“I love you Zarek.”

The words swept him, filling him with more joy than his body could possibly contain.  It was as if he’d lived life in black and white, and now he could see in color.  He laughed.

“I hope that’s a happy laugh,” she whispered close to his lips.

“The happiest laugh imaginable.”  He winced.  It was a happy laugh, but it hurt to laugh.  She must have realized it, because she gently whispered a kiss against his forehead. 

“Rest.”

“No,” he said tiredly.  “I want to sav…savor,” His words were slurred.  He yawned.

“You sleep.  We’ll talk after you wake up again.  The doctors said you wouldn’t wake up for another couple of hours anyway.”

“Wanna stay up,” he said belligerently.  His eyes drifted shut.

***

His eyes snapped open. The room was dark.  Where was Chloe?  She’d said she had loved him.  She hadn’t left, had she?

Then he felt her soft hand on top of his.  He turned his hand so he could grip hers.  He turned his head carefully because it still hurt like a son-of-a-bitch.  He saw Chloe’s head resting on the bed.  She was asleep.

She loved him.  He stared at her beautiful face, relaxed in sleep.  She was so beautiful.  He wanted to remember this moment forever.  This was the day that Chloe Rose made every one of his dreams come true, he’d take this feeling with him to the grave. 

“Chloe?”

Her eyes drifted open.

“You’re awake,” she smiled.

“I’m going to stay awake, too.”

“I love you so much Zarek,” she said.  Her eyes searched his.

Zarek reached up, and curled his hand around her neck, guiding her down to him.  He molded their mouths together.  Kiss number three.  So much feeling went with the velvet softness of Chloe’s lips.  This was a forever kiss.  It went on and on and on.

She stroked the side of his cheek, and pulled away.

“Hey, I didn’t say you could stop.”

“You’re going to have visitors soon.”  She looked away from him.

“They can wait.  I need another kiss.” 

She stood up and turned towards to door, he lunged and grabbed her hand.

“What?”  She asked as she turned back towards him.

“Come back here.  I wasn’t done with you.”

She gave him an over bright smile.  He recognized it.  It was the Avery fake girl smile.  He tugged her closer, forcing her to sit beside him on the bed.  Then he tangled their fingers together so that their palms were pressed together.

“You’re my life,” he said solemnly.

She looked at him in confusion.

“Saying I love you just doesn’t cut it.  Do you hear me Chloe Rose?  I love you.”  He saw her bottom lip tremble.

“You do?”

How could she ever doubt him?

“If you ever left me, half of my soul would be ripped away.  You’re my life.  I’ve loved you since you were a gutsy little girl, I’ve loved you when you were a gangly teenager and I’ve always loved my best friend.  You’re my soulmate.  Never leave me.”

Her mouth opened, then closed.  Her eyes glossed with tears.

“Zarek, you’re putting too much pressure on me.  You’ve seen how much of a mess I can be.  How broken I can get.”  She tried to pull away from him. 

“I’ve seen a woman who has gone through hell and worked hard to get her life back.  You fucking amaze me.  You’re stronger than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“But―”

“Seriously Cupcake if you keep coming up with excuses, I’m going to think you don’t want a future with me.  Is that what this is about?”  He held his breath. 

He watched as her smile turned radiant.  “A future?”

“A future.  I want to build a life with you, Chloe.”

He could see the wheels turning in her head.  Protests forming, then rejected.  Then final blessed acceptance.  Thank the lord.

“I’m going to want kids,” she warned.

His smile got big.  “I like kids.”

“We might end up with twins.”

“Is this a yes?”

“I haven’t heard a question.”  Her shining eyes sparkled down at him.

He cleared his throat.  “Will you marry me?”

“God yes.  Nothing would make me happier.”