Tank paced in Jordan’s hospital room, waiting for them to take him into the operating room for exploratory surgery. Alyssa grabbed his hand and forced him to sit.

“That’s not going to make them move any faster.”

Tank scowled at her.

“That’s not going to help either.”

Jordan crunched on ice and played his handheld video game. He looked up. “She’s right,” he said.

As if on cue, the doctor walked into the room, and she looked grimmer than she’d ever had. Tank’s gut churned. What now?

“Mr. Hunt. You don’t have cancer.”

There was complete silence in the room. Tank’s anxiety deflated like a balloon. “What did you just say?”

“It seems that when you went in for your stomach distress, and had your blood test, there was an unfortunate incident. Your records were mixed up with someone else’s. You don’t need any more tests or any kind of treatment…well, except for an antacid.”

“What?” Jordan said again.

“Antacid. You had heartburn the day you came into the ER. Bad heartburn, but not terminal.”

“It was a mix up. I don’t have cancer?”

“No, you’re very healthy.”

“Thank you. Can I go home now?”

“Yes, you’ll be discharged and there won’t be any charges for today. I’m sorry about all the tests,” she said. “I can’t waive those, but I can waive my fees. Take care, Mr. Hunt, and I apologize once again for the mix-up.”

Tank got up and leaned across the bed and hugged his brother hard.

* * *

It was a typical Southern California day: sunny, mild, perfect for a charity softball game.

“Batter up,” Alyssa shouted. Two teams. Nine players each. Ruckus was one team captain and Wicked was the other. The stands were full of patrons who had paid to see them play. All the proceeds would go to her MWDF charity.

Alyssa was up to bat first with Ruckus pitching. He had a mean fastball, but she’d grown up with all kinds of sports under her belt. She wasn’t intimidated. Dana, his wife, was at first base, Dan on second, with Cowboy holding tight at third. Dragon was right field, Hollywood left field with plenty of ribbing, and Scarecrow center. Tank was catching, and Paige was at shortstop.

Alyssa’s team was up by one run.

Ruckus put one over the plate. Becca made chicken noises and called it foul.

Ruckus shook his head. “Ump, you need glasses.”

“Don’t make me throw you out of the game, mister,” she said, looking cute in her mask.

“You tell him, honey,” Dan called from second.

“Whose side you on?” Ruckus groused.

“I don’t have to go home with you.” Dan grinned.

There had been plenty of trash talking and shenanigans, like Tank lifting people off base so they could be tagged. The second inning was not exactly pro ball. The opposition team was made up of Kid on first, Alyssa pitching, Jordan hugging second, Kia on third. Wicked in right field, Pirate in center and Hemingway, Paige’s little brother, at left. Sara Campbell, Dana’s boss, was at shortstop, and she’d proved to be quite the baseball player. Alyssa hadn’t missed how hard it was for Jordan to keep his eyes on the ball and off the beautiful reporter.

She got another sheer wash of joy knowing that Jordan was not only going to become a vet, but when he graduated, he was going to partner with Alyssa.

The afternoon progressed, and the two teams battled it out. In the final inning, the score tied with two down, Tank hit a clean line drive to right field. Deciding they had to use any tactic at their disposal to stop him, the outfield swept in and brought him down in a gang tackle as he rounded second base, then tried to hold him down so he could be tagged. The outcome was an infield brawl, with Tank finally making it to third with Alyssa on his back.

Hollywood came to bat, pointing with an obvious warning to the backfield fence with his bat. Grinning at Alyssa with an open dare, looking so damn handsome it should be outlawed, he told her she’d better deliver the best she had. She suckered him on the first pitch, but he suckered the whole team on the second. They expected a hit deep in center field. He delivered a perfectly placed bunt that brought in the winning run.

* * *

Back at his…their house, Tank flipped burgers and guys drank beers calling out their orders. A volleyball net had been set up, and a group of people had started a game.

There was squealing, and someone held up Becca’s hand. Dan called out, “Becca and I are engaged.” There were hoots and congratulations in a raucous chorus. He shook his head. “Pretty crazy, right?” Jordan said as he hooked Tank around the neck.

“I never saw that relationship coming. But what the hell…they love each other.” He wasn’t going to let the fact that he’d boffed his brother’s soon to be wife bother him…much.

“I know we’ve had our differences, but you were here for me every step of the way.” Jordan glanced a Dan and Becca holding each other and smiling and talking. “Here for both of us. We’re brothers. That’s all that matters.”

Tank grinned when he saw Sarah looking at Jordan. With his acceptance into the University of San Diego, he was on his way and maybe something was brewing for him with Dana’s pretty boss. “Someone has her eye on you, little man.”

He squeezed Tank’s neck and said, “Who you calling little?”

Tank laughed as Jordan let him go and headed for Sarah. Tank walked over to the two lovebirds. “Congratulations you two,” he said, hugging them both.

Alyssa showed up beside him and grabbed Tank’s hand, her eyes sparkling. “Could you excuse us,” she said to Dan and Becca.” She looked up at him, giving him a soft kiss. “I have something for you.”

He looked at her quizzically but allowed her to draw him down the driveway to the front of the house. Ruckus got out of the car, a huge grin on his face.

He went to the back door and opened it.

Echo, who had been lying down on the back seat, sat up. Tank’s throat closed up when he saw his buddy. A tremor coursed through him, the rush of emotion so intense it was almost unbearable, and he clenched his jaw against it, his eyes growing moist.

There was a collective sound of surprise from everyone who was riveted by Tank’s reaction. He stared at Echo, then turned to Alyssa. God, but he loved her. So much. So very much. Tank drew a deep, painful breath as he grabbed her and hugged her hard. She slid her hand up the back of his neck with infinite tenderness. Pressing his forehead to hers, he whispered. “Thank you.”

“He’s yours. I put in for adoption and I’ll care for him when you’re deployed. He’ll have the home you always wished for him.”

Moved beyond words, he blinked away his tears.

Echo made a half bark, half whine as he jumped down from the vehicle. He recognized Tank, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the group as he started to run/limp across the lawn to get to Tank.

He rushed forward and went to his knees as the joyous dog danced around him. Other than Blue home safe and sound, he had everything he could ever want.

Later that night as they lay together in bed, Echo taking up the end, Tank said, “You’re going to regret letting him sleep with us. He’s a bed hog.”

Her eyes twinkled. “I think the first night it’s not going to hurt.”

Echo might move a little slower, but he still got around pretty damn well, a testament to his determination and to Alyssa’s skill in patching him up. And better yet, he was home to stay.

In the days that followed, they went on with their routine until Tank was summoned officially to Washington where he and Echo received their medals, their family, friends, and teammates proudly watching. Tank told the President that he was just the handler. His partner had saved all those lives, including Tank’s. Echo was the true hero.

As they were drifting off, Tank’s cell phone buzzed. He grabbed it and looked at the display. This was the alert he was waiting for. Alyssa woke, her voice groggy. “Blue?”

“Yes. We’re going after him.”

“Call me when you can. We’ll be here when you get back.”

As he drove to the base, gathered what he needed, got Bronte, and headed for the airfield, Tank had no doubt that they were going to find him and rescue him. Then he would come home, too. To Echo and his growing family. To his beautiful, warm, and giving Alyssa.

* * *