Gabe leaned against the building with him. “Those guys are solid,” his team leader acknowledged.
“Solid as they come,” Matt agreed. “Not a situation out there I wouldn’t want them watching my six.”
“Agreed.”
A few moments of silence passed before Gabe said, “You did all you could. You get that, right?”
Matt knew what the man was getting at, but he disagreed. “She never should’ve been put in that position to begin with.”
“But she was. And that’s not on you, either.” He stood straight again and faced him. “You did what you had to in order to get her back. Then you kept her alive long enough to get her here. Kat’s a fighter, man. We all saw proof of that. She’ll pull through.”
Matt blinked quickly to fight off the burning tears forming behind his tired lids. “She has to, Gabe. I’ve fucked up so much with her, and all she’s ever done is try to protect me.” He swiped angrily at a tear that had escaped, despite his efforts. “I need the chance to make it right. We need more time.”
“And you’ll get it. You’ve gotta keep the faith.”
“Trust me, I am,” Matt assured his friend. “She never gave up, so I won’t either.”
He’d no more said the words when a woman’s voice caught their attention.
“She’s out of surgery.”
The doctor’s words had Matt’s eyes flying upward to meet hers. Pushing himself off the wall, he rushed over to where the woman was standing. The other men followed.
“And?” Matt asked anxiously. “Is she going to be okay?”
The doctor smiled. “I believe she will.”
Matt wanted to kiss her. “C-can I see her?”
“In a minute. My team’s cleaning her up. “The bullet tore through a portion of her small intestine. We extracted the bullet and removed the damaged tissue. After that, we were able reconnect the intestine and sew her back up. With proper care and rest, I see no reason Katherine won’t make a full recovery.”
He could barely breathe for the relief flowing through him. “Thank you.” He held out his hand. “Thank you so much.”
The woman shook his hand. “I’m happy we were able to help.”
For the first time since she’d collapsed in his arms, Matt felt as though he could breathe.
“What’d I tell ya?” Gabe slapped his back.
Derek followed suit. “That’s great news, man.”
“The best,” Kole piped in.
Letting out a shaky breath, Matt nodded. “You’re right.” He sniffed. “It’s the best.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he squeezed his eyes shut for only a second before wiping a hand down his face. Then he smiled and went to see his girl.
Epilogue
Kat took a sip of her champagne, the cool bubbles tingling in her throat as she swallowed them down.
It had been nearly a month since that horrific day in Iran. Per Agent Ryker’s request, after she’d been treated at the hospital in Baghdad, Kat was transferred back to Dallas.
Once they were back in the States, she was admitted to Homeland’s private hospital until she was well enough to go home. And Matt had stayed by her side through it all.
He’d about lost his shit when he found out Adrian Walker had given her stitches. But it had almost bothered him more when she told him about the moments Walker had been kind and gentle. And how, at times he’d, made Kat believe he hadn’t truly wanted to see her hurt.
Of course, then the bastard left her in that lab with Bukhari, allowing her to be shot and nearly killed. So, there was that.
