Chris, OFC
Note: Just thought I would try something different. Tell me if you like it or not. I don’t own the song, but I do love listening to Garth Brooks sing it. I don’t own the guys, we all wish we did though. Thanks to my beta and to Mog for the sandbox.
Sometimes late at night
I lie awake and watch her sleeping
She's lost in peaceful dreams
So I turn out the lights and lay there in the dark
And the thought crosses my mind
If I never wake up in the morning
Would she ever doubt the way I feel
About her in my heartThe dark vehicle slowly pulled into the driveway. Chris Larabee switched the ignition off and laid his head against the steering wheel. He was exhausted. This last assignment had taken its toll on the entire team. They had finally managed to take the criminals involved in the bust into custody and he had spent the last hour and a half at the hospital, filling out some paperwork on Buck. The explosives agent had taken a bullet to his right bicep. The ladies man would be fine, sore for a little while, but otherwise right as rain. He, however, wasn’t quite all right though. During the bust, Nathan had yelled just in time for him to duck, otherwise he would have taken a bullet to the head. It shook him up a little, but he passed it off as nothing. It’s just part of the job.
The black clad man gradually made his way into his home. Laying his armful of paperwork on the hall table, he headed into the living room. On entering the area, he slowed his pace, came to a stop and leaned up against the doorway, shaking his head wearily at the sight before him. Curled up on the couch in pajama bottoms and a T-shirt, his teenage 'daughter' lay fast asleep.
Said you were going over to Jessica’s house, he mused to himself as he moved to turn the TV off. Guess you had a change of heart. If you had called me I would have sent someone to bring you to the hospital to see Buck. Larabee pulled the Indian blanket from the back of the couch, and covered the sleeping form with it.
If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way to show her every day
That she's my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And she must face the world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comesI know you had workouts today, he thought as he stood looking down at the young girl. Then you had planned on doing some shopping. Wonder if you got it done? You’re gonna be upset when you find out Buck was shot, but I didn't know you'd come home.
The ATF leader smiled to himself. Until recently, he'd never pictured himself having to handle the obstacles a teenager could throw at him. Oh, at one time he'd figured to be going through this, but that was a long time ago, another lifetime ago. Now he had to juggle with the constant sleepovers, camping trips, parties, and school functions. She’s growing up fast, too fast. She’ll be driving this year, and on top of that, dating, then there’s Miller and his assignments. Gonna be fun keeping up with you, he thought, grinning down at her.
'Cause I've lost loved ones in my life
Who never knew how much I loved them
Now I live with the regret
That my true feelings for them never were revealed
So I made a promise to myself
To say each day how much she means to me
And avoid that circumstance
Where there's no second chance to tell her how I feelChris walked over to the fireplace and looked at the two pictures adorning the shelf. One portrayed his whole team that was taken right after they had begun working together. The other picture he hadn’t really touched in years. It pained him to look at the joyous faces of himself, his wife and young son, as they stood outside their home. He had one arm wrapped around his loving wife, and one hand on his little boy’s shoulder. Sarah also had an arm wrapped around him and her soft hand on her son’s other shoulder. He fought back the stinging feeling he always got when looking at the picture.
I need you here, he thought as he looked at the picture. I've always needed you. I love you and Adam and miss you so much. I know you would tell me not to make a fuss about this, that everything will work out, but I need your help in my life even more now. You always helped me stay patient Sarah and I need you to help me keep that patience now, to get through these next few years. I have a feeling you’re up there right now, smiling, and I get the strange feeling you had a hand in my current situation. He looked heavenward and grinned, You always were a sneak and had a great sense of humor too.
If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way to show her every day
That she's my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And she must face the world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes
The man quietly made his way around the couch and into the kitchen, hoping to find something left over to eat. He noticed a small box lying on the kitchen counter. Walking over and peering at the name on the top, it read; To: Chris Larabee. He slowly tore open the package and saw what looked like a note on the inside. Pulling up the piece of paper he quickly read what it said:
Just a small token of my thanks for always being there for me no matter what. Though we share no blood ties, and I don’t always show it, I know without a doubt, that I have one of the best dads in the world. Happy Father’s Day Love,
Samantha Rachel LarabeeHe laid the piece of paper aside and picked up the gift, thinking; I almost forgot what day it is, so that's maybe why you are at home. He opened up the two connected picture frames and stared at the photos inside. One was taken recently of he and Sam. They were at the Travis’ for a small barbecue and Evie had insisted on taking pictures. The girl was seated at a picnic table and he stood behind her with both hands on her shoulders, the two of them giving big smiles. The opposite picture portrayed himself also, but when he was a few years younger and had a small girl carried in his arms. She was riding on his hip and had one arm around his shoulder, the other hand busy waving at the camera. She had long brown curls draping her shoulders and a smile on her face. He called to memory the day John Dunnison had invited him to his house for dinner. Sam couldn’t have been more than seven at the time.
So tell that someone that you love
Just what you're thinking of“I found that when I went through some of the stuff I had left of my parents a few months back,” a voice stated quietly from the door. “I thought maybe you would like it.”
Larabee quickly looked up and at the teen who rubbed a hand across the back of her neck and yawned. He laid the picture frame down softly and patted it with one hand.
“I do,” he stated quietly as well. “I like both pictures. Thank you."
“Well, I’m gonna head on up to bed,” she stated, moving toward the man.
Chris leaned down and accepted the hug offered by the teen. He held her tightly against him.
“Happy Father’s Day Chris,” she whispered. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he choked out, blinking his eyes as he tightened his arms around his girl.
If tomorrow never comes
THE END
Legacy VII
She's Out of Control
Feedback: Welcome as always.