Chapter Text
Third floor, the work was almost all finished there. Construction bags were still there, but it was the most logical place to hide. Juliet hoped her son would be there, she needed to see him, to hold him and tell him everything would be okay and that he was safe.
Juliet and Richard had only had three guards to neutralize before reaching this floor and they had knocked out another one once they went up the stairs. Bedrosian must not have foreseen that someone would come to neutralize his plan.
Most of the doors to the future hotel rooms were open, a quick glance inside and she was sure her son wasn't there. Richard did the same to the rooms across the hall.
Until they came across a closed room. Juliet turned the handle, but it was locked. Richard didn't wait to give a big kick, then a second, which caused the door to give way and open with a creaking noise.
Juliet entered the room first and saw him.
He was there, her little boy was right there, sitting on a bed clutching his stuffed animal to his heart, relief flooded her heart and Juliet didn't wait to enter the room. Hearing the noise, the little boy raised his head and began to smile.
- Mom !
Juliet took him in her arms, hugging him as tightly as she could, kissing his cheeks, his hair. She had been scared and nothing could ever express the relief she felt in that moment.
- Are you doing well ? Did he hurt you ?
- No, but I want to go home now.
One last kiss and Juliet lifted Charlie into her arms.
- Of course, we'll go back.
Richard watched the corridor, making sure no one would come. Juliet stopped right behind him.
- The way is clear ?
He nodded.
- Yes, is your son okay ?
- Yes, he's okay, but get us out of there.
A quick nod and Richard put his gun in front of him, to ensure he could fire at the slightest suspicious movement. He knew Juliet had questions about her husband, which she kept to herself, he would deal with them later, for now, he had to keep his promise to keep the little boy safe and Juliet at the same time.
The corridors were deserted, even though they had neutralized men before entering, Richard thought there would be more obstacles, but for now everything was calm.
- Mom ?
- Shh baby, it's dangerous, okay ?
The little boy put his hand over his mouth and nodded before burying his face in his mother's neck. Juliet hugged him even tighter, walking along the corridors, following Richard to the nearest inch. Until they saw the light coming from outside and the door they had entered through.
Once outside, Juliet could see TC's helicopter in the sky, ready to land. The young woman smiled and when his friend landed not far from them, Richard looked around him, still no trace of Bedrosian's men, as he thought, the man had not hired many people, wanting to keep the control and, above all, discretion.
Richard brought Juliet and Charlie to the chopper, he took the child from her mother's arms while she got into the engine and strapped herself in, then he brought the little one up who immediately came to settle down against his mother.
At the same time, Rick arrived, his rifle in hand.
- The place is secure... Where is Magnum ?
Fear seeped into Juliet, she turned to Richard who was the last to speak to her husband.
- Answer me Richard !
- He wants to make sure that Bedrosian will no longer be a problem.
- What ?
She wanted to drop Charlie off and get out of the helicopter, but the little boy clung to his mother. Juliet closed her eyes, she wanted to stay close to her son, but she needed to find her husband. Then she turned to her ex-fiancé, her gaze hard.
- Bring him back to me, Richard, please.
After a moment of hesitation, he nodded and walked back toward the building. Rick wanted to follow him, but the MI6 agent blocked him.
- No, stay with them, in case they need it, I'll get Magnum.
Rick hesitated for a short instant before getting into the helicopter with his friends. Richard was right, if Bedrosian sent men to them, Magnum would prefer him to be with his family.
Before entering the building, Richard watched the chopper rise and move away, conscious of the promise he had made to reunite this family at all costs.
*** **** *** **** *** **** ***
It had been several minutes since Magnum had heard TC's helicopter, a sign that he had gotten far away and he was reassured.
The image of his family, the day before, having breakfast, haunted Magnum's mind, before all this hell began. He would give anything to go back to that moment, surrounded by the people he loved most in the world.
But it wasn't possible, not yet and maybe never.
He had been right to leave Richard with Juliet, so his wife would be protected while she retrieved their son. He would go take care of Bedrosian.
Charlie was safe, with his mother, he was fine and from what Magnum knew, they had both left the building without issue. Thomas took his phone and sent a message to Rick, if he had calculated correctly, Juliet and Charlie should be safe.
« They are fine ? »
It took him less than ten seconds to receive the response.
« In great shape, but Juliet wonders where you are. »
Magnum didn't answer, the only way to stop Bedrosian was to have him arrested, but he had been careful and for Charlie's kidnapping, they only had indirect evidence, nothing concrete. He could still get away with it and for Thomas, it was unacceptable, there was no way this man would remain free, capable of threatening his family whenever he wanted.
He took his cell phone and called Juliet, he had to talk to her.
- Do not do that.
Before he could press the green button, Richard approached him.
- Don't call Juliet to tell her that you're going to do something stupid and risk not coming home.
Putting his weapon back in its holster, Richard stood in front of Magnum.
- I'll take care of Bedrosian.
- Why would you do that ?
Richard sighed before smiling.
- I made Juliet suffer like no one deserves to suffer, I wouldn't make that mistake a second time.
He sighed, despite all this time, he was still in love with her, even knowing it was in vain, he wanted to make sure Juliet remained happy.
- It's my family, you don't have to get involved in this.
Richard smiled.
- Exactly, it's your family and I know that in these cases, we can easily lose control, so let me take care of Bedrosian...
- What are you going to do Richard ?
Magnum was furious, but he refused to let Bedrosian be killed, he had to end up in prison, he had to be tried for his crimes.
- I'll make him talk... He'll confess, I promise you.
Richard took two steps towards the interior of the room, ready to join their enemy.
- You must return to Juliet and your son, they need you.
A short silence.
- She never looked at me that way... Like I was her world... Find them.
It wasn't planned for things to happen like this, even if it hurt, Thomas had planned on not leaving this building, as long as his family was safe, the rest didn't matter. But he was there, ready to go out thanks to Richard who could take his place.
- You don't have to...
Richard smiled.
- I know that... Just like I know that if I don't get through this today, I would have at least done one good thing with my life.
Without Magnum realizing it, Richard had started running, getting away from him. Magnum had no choice, in front of the look of the man behind him, he knew that this was his way out. He gave a slight nod, to thank him for letting him join his family. Magnum turned on his heel, still hoping that Bedrosian would be stopped and that Richard wouldn't overstep his bounds.
*** **** *** **** *** **** ***
Juliet held Charlie against her, her tears had stopped, but she refused to let go of her son until she was certain that there was no longer any danger around him. She had looked at him from every angle, but her son had no scratches.
- Mom, where is Dad ?
Juliet didn't know what to say to Charlie, at the age of three, he was smart enough to understand when something was wrong. Fighting back tears, Juliet pulled her son a little away from her, placed him on the ground while taking his hands.
- I don't know baby... He'll be back soon, okay ?
The little one smiled and put his little arms around his mother who was trying as best she could to contain her tears because she was so worried.
The sun warmed her cold hands, she needed to have news as quickly as possible and when she heard a car in the distance, her first instinct was to bring Charlie closer to her in order to protect him if a threat approached.
The car stopped and she saw her husband get out, without waiting, Juliet rushed towards him, hugging him with all her strength, letting the tears flow as she was so afraid of not seeing him again.
- Richard said...
- I know... I was ready to do it to protect you, but he took my place.
Tightening her hold on the man she loved even tighter.
- You are an idiot...
- I know it, but you love me like that.
The tears continued to flow and Juliet placed a quick kiss on her husband's lips before moving away a little to make room for Charlie who wanted his father's attention. The latter bent down and took his son in his arms, hugging him as tightly as he could.
He was fine.
They were fine.
*** **** *** **** *** **** ***
They were finally home, after thirty-eight hours of anguish, they had finally returned. Olivia hadn't noticed anything, at eight months old, the little girl had spent a very good day surrounded by Kumu, Suzy, Gordon, who, even if he hadn't been able to intervene with his friends because of his position as captain, had wanted to play a role and he had not taken his eyes off the little girl, making sure that she remained safe.
At the moment, the baby was sleeping peacefully in her room, monitored by the baby monitor camera.
For Charlie, it had happened more calmly than the couple would have thought, he had gone straight back, rushing into his room and finding his toys, restarting the construction he had started before his kidnapping, as if nothing had happened.
He had fallen asleep on his carpet, holding his turtle against him. Thomas had lifted him in his arms, before gently laying him on his bed, covering him with his blanket. He placed a kiss on her forehead before getting up. Juliet had done the same, uncomfortable with the idea of leaving him alone, but he was no longer in danger.
After observing their son for several seconds, the couple left the room. Juliet went to her daughter's room, wanting to make sure the baby was asleep and when she was and she had placed the blanket back over her little girl's body, Juliet had come out.
She found her husband in their bedroom and her heart sank when she saw him sitting on their bed, looking at the photo of their two children. It was recent, Charlie and Olivia were on the armchair, in Juliet's office, Charlie was holding his little sister who was laughing out loud to find herself in her mother's armchair.
Juliet came closer, sat on the bed and came to embrace her husband from behind, while passing her arms around his body, she smiled.
- They are fine.
- I know but...
Juliet placed a finger on her husband's lips.
- Don't say anything... It's not your fault... The only one responsible is Bedrosian. Please, Thomas, don't let this story change who you are...Who we are.
Placing the photo back on the nightstand before turning around and hugging Juliet as tightly as he could, toppling her onto their bed. She started laughing, lifted her husband's shirt, they both needed to get together.
*** **** *** **** *** **** ***
Two weeks later
- Mom ! Can I watch cartoons ?
Juliet turned to her son who was holding the remote control in his hand, she looked at the time, they had almost an hour before leaving, she smiled at her son.
- Yes go ahead. But as soon as I tell you it's time, let's go.
- Thanks Mom !
She watched Charlie settle into the couch and turn on the television, he put on his favorite program just as Magnum entered with the newspaper in his hands. He placed it on the table and pointed to the article on the front page.
- I don't know what Richard said to him, but he pleaded guilty.
The article said that Bedrosian had previously refused legal representation and had pleaded guilty to kidnapping, attempted murder, defamation and menacing. He would remain in prison for the rest of his life. Juliet smiles.
- Richard has always been good at cracking our targets. MI6 often sent him when others failed.
Thomas smiled before throwing the newspaper in the trash, this story was part of the past. Charlie was fine and they could never thank Richard enough for what he had done for them. Making sure their son was focused on his favorite show. Juliet put her arms around her husband's chest to pull him closer to her.
- But I know one thing.
Magnum raised his eyebrows slowly, waiting for her to continue.
- This life is far behind me... Everything I want is here. You. Charlie. Olivia...
He smiled, leaned down and kissed her gently, Thomas wanted to emphasize, but they were interrupted by small steps and a soft voice.
- Mama, Dada...
The couple turned and saw Olivia, at eleven months old, holding onto the walls trying to walk. The baby stretches her arms towards her parents, Magnum smiles and takes her daughter in her arms. This whole thing was behind them, Charlie had shown no signs of trauma, Olivia didn't know what had happened. Their family was united and nothing else mattered.