The next three weeks were crazy for Gypsy. She avoided calls from Sadie, then Hank, as well as Jerry and the members of Alpha Squad. She couldn’t get her footing back on track. She had felt off kilter all month. She’s stopped herself from reaching out to anyone and she didn’t understand why she was doing that when she knew they’d be there for her no matter what. Squaring her shoulders, she picked up her cell phone and dialed Sadie’s number. When Sadie didn’t pick up, Gypsy sighed in relief, leaving a brief message saying she was okay and just had been really busy. Several minutes later she did the same thing when she called Raso.

Two weeks went by before Gypsy tried Raso again. “Hey, just me. Wanted to let you know that I am okay. Just busy on set still. We will be in San Diego starting next week for at least three weeks for filming. Would love to see you guys. Ok…I’m hanging up now. Bye.”

An hour later, Gypsy’s phone rang. Her caller ID showed that it was Sadie. “Hey, Sadie. How are you?”

“Hi yourself. How are you?” Sadie asked cheerfully.

“I’m doing okay I guess. Busy with this film. They have a lot of costume changes needed here and there. How’s baby Emily?” Gypsy asked quietly.

“She’s good. Growing like a weed,” Sadie chuckled.

“That’s good. Glad you guys are doing well.”

“Jerry has been asking about you,” Sadie said quietly.

“Okay. Hey Sadie, I gotta run. They are calling for me to do another makeup touchup and all. Was good hearing your voice.” Gypsy hung up before anything else could be said.

That night when Gypsy had put everything away, she grabbed her bags and headed home. She stopped at the store and picked up stuff to make her chicken stir fry and a bottle of wine. She was going through check out when she got a text from Raso letting her know they got her message and would call her later to make arrangements for them to get together while she was in San Diego.

Walking up to her apartment, she noticed a figure standing outside her door. She’d have to talk to the front desk to find out how they got past security, if she lived. Reaching into her purse, she grabbed the knife she always carried with her. As she got closer to the door, her breath left her lungs in shock. Standing at her front door, leaning up against the wall stood Jerry.

“What do you need? How did you get past the front desk security?” Gypsy asked quickly as she tried to open her front door.

“Well hello to you, too, Bert. How are you?” Jerry smiled down to Gypsy.

“What are you doing here, Jerry? How did you find out where I lived? Never mind, I’ll have to talk to Sadie about that,” Gypsy mumbled.

“Stuff it, Gypsy. You’ve been avoiding everyone for the last month. What the hell is the problem? Oh wait, that’s right, you assumed I had a fling with Laura back in Montana. Well here’s the four-one-one for you - I asked her for help in how to surprise you or if she thought I even stood a chance with you. I was afraid to ask you for more because your life was here and mine was in Montana. I was afraid if I asked you’d laugh and shoot me down. Laura told me I was a dumbass for thinking that because you travel all over for your job.”

Jerry walked up to Gypsy, framed her face in his hands, “Gypsy, I love you. I never thought I’d feel that way about someone after my accident. Hell, I never thought someone would want to be with me intimately again. You’re it for me, Gyps. I don’t want anyone else. I want to be able to hear your laughter, see your smile, see you wearing my shirt. Fall asleep with you in my arms, wake up to you in my arms. I want it all with you, Gypsy.”

Gypsy looked up into Jerry’s eyes with tears streaming down her face. “I want it all with you, too. I love you so much. This past month has killed me. I was such an idiot…”

“No, don’t go there. It’s the past, we have nothing but the future for us now.”

Jerry kissed Gypsy lightly on the lips. The kiss turned hot, clothes coming off, panting, moaning, and pleading for that release. Neither person saw the light of day for two days as they got reacquainted with each other. Nestled in each other’s arms, they spoke of what they wanted and how they could work things out; they took the leap and planned a future. While running from her past, Gypsy found her freedom in the form of a Navy SEAL named Jerry.