that the worry lines and deep bags under her eyes have faded.
Leo feels him before he sees him, swallowing the chuckle when he hears him stumble, almost dropping the gift he holds. When Elliot whispers a curse and takes a deep breath, Leo lets out the laugh.
“No, you’re not crazy, Elliot…or dead. I’m just saying my goodbyes.”
“To them or me?” Elliot asks as he finds his bearings then joins Leo against the tree. That small act alone brings a massive amount of deja vu along with it.
“Both, in a way, but you’re the only one who will ever know I was here.”
• • •
“Why me?” Elliot asks on an exhale, so softly the untrained ear would have missed it. It’s the question that has been burning in the back of his mind for a full year now. He told himself if it wasn’t for his rare blood, Leo never would have chosen him…but there was a small voice in the back of his head that told him he was wrong. That Leo cared. The way he sat with Elliot for hours in silence then listened to his burden. Those lost hours were crucial to his son, yet he spent them with a stranger anyway.
Leo tears his gaze away from his family, even though Elliot can tell it costs him greatly to do so. But when his soft brown eyes reach Elliot’s, it brings a calming effect better than any drug.
“Because you needed me. Maybe even more than my son did.”
The eye contact was hard enough, but when Leo places a steady hand on Elliot’s shoulder, he about crumbles. He’s real, he’s here…he cares.
“My time is just about up, Elliot, and I won’t…I can’t come back.”
Leo gives it a beat while Elliot process that information. Even though he thought Leo had been gone all along, maybe even a figment of his imagination, he feels the loss greatly.
“I’m proud of you, not just for what you did for my Leo, for that…well, I’ll never have enough words or gratitude for what you gave him.” Leo pauses, and Elliot watches him as he pulls himself together. “But for what you have made of your life.”
“I’m not a doctor,” Elliot needlessly points out.
“I’ve told you before, doctors aren’t the only ones who save lives. Researchers can be argued to be even more important. It’s their information doctors use to save lives, isn’t it?”
Elliot tries to shrug, but the pride he feels at Leo’s words fills his heart. Saving Leo’s son’s life brought purpose and passion into Elliot’s life again. It also gave him something he’s never had before…family.
As if Leo read his mind again, a wide grin spreads across his face. “Once Elle adopts someone, they’re hers for life. You’ve brought just as much happiness to them as they have to you. Keep one eye on that boss of hers for me, though, will ya? Make sure he treats her well?” It’s a joke, but as it leaves his lips, Elliot can see Leo still feels a pain in his heart at the idea of her ending up with someone else.
“She doesn’t know it yet, but letting you into their lives was only her first step to healing. Letting Lyle into her life and heart romantically will finish the process.” The pain written across Leo’s brow is evident, so Elliot offers him the only reassurance he can.
“I’ll watch over them for you. They’re all I have,” Elliot vows, and Leo nods.
“Thank you for not taking that final leap,” Leo croaks out finally. “I'm going to be gone soon. I’ve felt the pull for the last few hours, but it’s increasing now. I just wanted you to know how grateful I am before I left.”
“Thanks for taking yours…on me, I mean. I know what leap of faith you had to take, to trust your family to someone so broken.”
“That’s the funny thing about brokenness, Elliot. The pieces can be used to make amazing things. In welding, when you solder two broken pieces together, it is stronger than ever before.”
Elliot turns his gaze back from the birthday party to reply when he is met with only empty space and chills all over his body.
“Goodbye, Leo. I’ll watch over them,” he whispers into the void, drying his eyes on his sweater before he joins his new family and the rest of the festivities.
THE END
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SPY’S HEART
* * *
A Fantasy & Fairytales Story
M. LYNN
ONE
ONE MORE STEP would mean certain death.
The sunlight pouring through the windows of Eirik