(A/N: This is a story arc that I would like to continue, with Jesseh's permission, as I have loads of drabble ideas for it, or even role-playing ideas.)
“I won’t let you do this, Frankie. If I have to sit on you, I will. You can’t go.” Yates looked relaxed enough, as he stretched out on their couch, holding his daughter on his chest, his fingers softly stroking her head. “This isn’t your fight, and you have a family here. I won’t let you go.”
For all his seeming relaxed state, Frankie knew better. He had the look on his face that said he wanted a cigarette and hard liquor, and her to sit with him. It was his nervous, terrified, expression. A very soft sigh slipped from her lips, as she settled to the couch, leaning over to kiss Felicity’s soft head. Her daughter was beautiful, and Frankie was going to miss her. But she didn’t have a choice.
“Lucas…” she sighed again, turning her body so that her back was snug against his hip. “I don’t have a choice. We agreed on this two years ago- I would join the National Guard, to help make ends meet. I have to go.”
He looked like he either wanted to cry, or throw something, but Frankie knew that while he was holding their daughter, he wouldn’t do either one. Instead, she felt his hand take hers gently, lacing their fingers together. He didn’t know how long she would be gone, how long he would be left alone with Luke and Felicity. More importantly, he didn’t know when, or if, Frankie would return. He took a very deep, shuddering breath, lifting his left hand to rub over his face.
“Francesca, please. Don’t do this…it’s dangerous, a-and I need you.”
She didn’t think that she’d ever heard him speak like that to her before. Their relationship was a lot of things, but it had never been this. Frankie turned, gently lifting her daughter from Yates, and carrying her into the little nursery; normally, Frankie was a gymnastics coach, who taught a little breakdancing on the side. Yates worked with troubled teens- those who had bad home lives. He didn’t counsel them, he offered a listening ear, and helped them find safe places to stay. Neither one of them made a ton of money, and after they had taken their son, Luke, back in two years ago Frankie realised that they were going to need more money. That was when she had joined the National Guard.
Eighteen months ago, a small war had broken out between Israel and its Arabic neighbors. It was a fierce war, and the other countries were stepping in as Peace Keepers, and Frankie’s National Guard had been called up. Once she had settled Felicity for sleep, she returned to the living room. Yates was still on the couch, now sitting up with his elbows on his knees, fingers laced and his forehead lowered to touch them. He wasn’t crying, Frankie knew, but she did fear that he was upset enough to do so. Slowly she lowered herself to sit beside him, lightly rubbing his back. How could she have known all those years ago, in that dark alley, that the strange man would become her husband, the love of her life? She leaned her forehead against his shoulder.
“I will come back, Yates. I promise.”
“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep, Francesca.” He stood, stepping away from her, running his hands through his hair in agitation. “You can’t promise me that, and leave me to wonder, or leave me alone. You can’t.”
She didn’t know what to say to that, and she sighed deeply, standing and heading towards the door. Yates got to her first, pulling her roughly against him, burying her face against her neck.
“I love you, Francesca. I can’t live without you…” She felt them then, the hot tears that poured over his cheeks, and down her neck. She held him for a long time, letting him cry on her, and not commenting about how he wasn’t acting like a strong man. She loved this side of him just as much as she loved the side of him that had pushed her against a wall and had his way with her. They were two sides of an extraordinary man.
“Lucas believe me, there is nothing that will keep me from coming back to you and the kids.” She kissed the top of his head, relieved as the tears slowed and stopped. As a gentle kiss was pressed to her neck, she closed her eyes.
“And I will come home.”
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