Epilogue
DOC STOOD AT the altar with Grits, marking six months of anticipation and longing. Today was not merely a celebration of love—it represented hope, resilience, and the promise of a future with Julie, who had emerged from the shadows of past turmoil. Her career had withstood challenges, including the fallout from a previous partnership that forced her to rebuild her professional life, leading to her promotion to chief of surgery.
During the agonizing wait between ops, Doc gathered the courage to visit Simon’s family. His heart ached as he offered his deepest apologies for not being able to keep Simon safe. The family, weary from grief yet full of understanding, gently reassured him that they didn’t hold him responsible. They recognized the harsh realities of life in a dangerous city like Baltimore, yet Simon’s unwavering spirit had led him to request this visit. He wanted to share his final moments with those he loved before he succumbed to the unforgiving grip of cancer—a devastating truth he hadn’t dared to reveal to them until now.
With her unwavering support, Julie became his beacon of hope, guiding him through the shadows of his past and helping him to heal his wounds. She nurtured his spirit and taught him the power of forgiveness, allowing him to finally embrace the light and move forward in life with a heart full of compassion for himself.
But today, as he looked at his gathered friends and family—Casper and Nettie, Romeo and Daisy Mae, Boss and Sugar, Ballpark and Moira, Cowboy and LizzyBeth, Pup with Casey at his feet, Speedy, Nemo, Stone, and the Hamilton family with their lively children—Doc felt the weight of their support and Simon’s spirit. Each face symbolized their challenges and the bonds they had created through shared experiences in the field, where camaraderie was crucial.
But amid the joy, an unsettling presence lingered. Pup gazed warily at the new female handler on the Alpha team who joined the ranks. Although she had once excelled as a top SWAT dog handler, her arrival sparked unease among the team. In a world where trust was crucial, any newcomer deserved scrutiny.
The Russian twins loomed over the occasion like a cloud, reminding them of the dangers surrounding them. Their appearance signaled that deep-cover operations might follow—an unavoidable reminder that their precarious reality could overshadow every celebration in their lives.
Doc’s commitment to Julie grew increasingly clear in this moment of joy, intertwined with uncertainty. Their love story transcended the ordinary. It was a tapestry woven with threads of sacrifice, loyalty, and shared hope in adversity.
After all the insights, he cleared his throat and looked at Grits, one of the few single agents. “So, who do you think will be next?”
Grits laughed and said, “Definitely not me!”
Doc raised an eyebrow. “Oh, come on. It could be you.”
Grits waved his hand dismissively. “No way. I tried the whole love thing once, and it was a disaster. It’s just not my scene.”
“That doesn't mean there isn’t someone out there for you,” Doc countered.
Grits shook his head. “You know what? I’m betting on Pup. I feel this new handler will give him tough competition.”
Doc shifted his gaze to the crowd and, sure enough, spotted Pup giving the new handler a fierce glare while the handler shot back the same vibe. “Wow, that’s going to be chaos.”
Grits laughed once more. “Do you think it will be hell for them or us?”
Doc replied with a smile, “Probably both.”
As music filled the air, Doc’s heart soared with anticipation. At long last, the moment he had been waiting for finally arrived.
Gracefully dressed in a lavender gown, Stacy glided down the aisle, her radiant smile contagious. With every step, her gaze appeared to seek Grits, as if she were sharing a secret joy meant solely for him.
The melody shifted when Stacy took her place, stirring a whirlwind of emotions in Doc. Yet, as he glimpsed Julie, calmness washed over him like a soothing balm.
Julie glided up the aisle, her broad smile lighting up the room. She wore the exquisite white lace gown she had designed, which seemed to encapsulate the light and essence of their love.
She promised him that she had shopped at Madison and Rylee’s lingerie store for their wedding night. The phrase “wedding night” filled him with longing and desire for the woman he loved. She would be his equal, by his side, for a lifetime.
The clergy cleared his throat. “Are we all set?”
He and Julie nodded. “Yes,” they replied together.
From the tender words of “Dearly Beloved” to the heartfelt declaration, “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Doc found himself lost in daydreams of a beautiful future with Julie. He envisioned the laughter of their children filling their home and imagined a life overflowing with love, joy, and endless possibilities that awaited them together.
In the reception line, Doc greeted everyone while listening to his teammates’ playful banter and their wives’ warm wishes. It seemed they had all made wise choices in life and love.
He wished the same for his teammates, including the new Charlie team he had barely met before they were deployed overseas. After their return, there would be ample time to get to know them.
Cowboy shook his hand and turned to Julie. “So, what do we call you two? Doc and Doc could get confusing.”
Julie smiled a smile that lit up his insides. “You may call me Julie. As for him,” she gestured to her new husband, “you can call him Doc.”
“Deal.” He turned to his wife. “This is LizzyBeth, and this little tyke is Ethan.” He rested his hand on the head of a boy LizzyBeth brought into their marriage. Cowboy treated the child as his own. “And,” he turned to his wife, who nodded, “we have one on the way.”
“Congrats, man,” Doc said as Julie hugged LizzyBeth and congratulated her.
“Are you sure you’re prepared for diaper changes and feedings at two in the morning?” Doc asked.
The agent tilted his cowboy hat back on his head. “I suppose I’ll have to be.”
Doc chuckled at the idea of Cowboy changing diapers. From what he knew, no parent was ever truly ready for that. They learned as they went along.
The groups moved forward, and finally, they were ready to cut the cake, dance, and enjoy whatever else was planned for this gathering. Doc just tagged along, hoping they could slip away unnoticed.
Both families from Kissimmee, Florida, attended and quickly formed a friendship. One of Julie’s military brothers couldn’t get leave, but they planned to send him a video of the wedding and reception.
When it was time for the toast, Doc was pleased to learn that Matt would be making the toast.
“To Doc and Julie,” Matt said, holding a glass of champagne. “Get comfortable being uncomfortable—”
Doc nearly burst into laughter when he heard Matt use a Navy SEAL saying in his toast. Next, he expected Matt to say, “Enjoy the suck” or “The only easy day was yesterday.” But Matt surprised him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you would raise your glasses—tonight, we celebrate a warrior, a brother, and now, a husband. I’ve had the honor of standing beside this man through some of life’s most challenging moments. I’ve witnessed his strength, loyalty, and ability to adapt and overcome—qualities that make him an outstanding SEAL and HIS agent and the kind of man who would move mountains for the woman he loves.
“To Julie—congratulations. You’ve tamed a warrior. If anyone can keep him in check, it’s you. He may have been trained for combat, but we all know he’s now answering to a higher command in this partnership.
“Like the Teams, marriage is about trust, loyalty, and always having each other’s backs. Knowing this man, I have no doubt he’ll be the kind of husband who stands firm in the fight, never gives up, and always finds his way back home—to you.
“Here’s to a lifetime filled with love, laughter, and success on our missions. Hooyah!”
Doc raised his glass. “Hooyah!” was echoed by all the former naval agents on the teams.
Julie lifted her glass to him and smiled. “I love you.”
He leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. “And I love you.”
They linked arms and sipped champagne while the photographer took pictures.
Doc wondered how long he would endure this dog-and-pony show. He had always believed that the wedding was for the bride and groom, while the reception was for the guests.
When Doc saw the new FBI Director, Steven Hicks, with the Russians behind him, speaking with Jesse and Devon, he realized their fun would be short-lived. At least he’d be in Bora Bora with his new wife when whatever was about to happen with the Russians unfolded.
Unfortunately, this meant he would miss the interaction between Pup and the new handler, which he hated. However, he thought their tense relationship would still be active when he returned.
“Now, wife,” he said tenderly, a warm smile lighting up his face as he gazed at Julie.
“Yes, my husband?” she whispered.
“Are we ready to depart?”
“We still have a few photographs to take.”
He drew her closer, feeling their warmth envelop each other, igniting an electric connection. “Are we ready to embark on this journey?”
She leaned into him, their chemistry intensifying, causing him to clench his jaw against the wave of desire. The thought of being caught off-guard by the other agents was enough to make him blush.
“Yes, I believe we are.”
“Then, let’s go.”