So...I'm pregnant.

For those of you who haven't heard, The Unit was (sort of gratefully) cancelled by CBS. Since Katie takes a lot of her plotline from canon, this means it's going to be a little more interesting for me to continue writing her.

Myself and the other Unit muns are tossing around ideas for a virtual fifth season, and doing individual episode plots...or I may just write her on the fly like most muses and see where she goes. Either way Katie will definitely be sticking around (along with Brian, Michaela and the rest of the gang).

Stay tuned.

"I told you that I would take you anywhere. So pack up some things and let's get the hell out of here."

It's so tempting to walk away. To retire. To not ever fight another day ever again. To go somewhere safe, and quiet, and never look back. Katie knows if she did, no one would judge her. She knows if she did, Tom would go with her.

But she can't force herself to take that step. All she has ever known or trained for is the Army. They would have to move, and she doesn't want to pack up everything, to get a new house. She's at home here, in this house, with all of her brother's things and Tom's furniture. She doesn't want to leave her friends, the only friends she's ever had. Those things are difficult. Those things will hurt.

Stupid emotions. Stupid emotions she didn't feel until she met David. And then didn't even understand until she met Tom. Stupid things this stupid marriage has made her feel. Before Tom, she'd just walk away and disappear. But now she won't go without Tom, and then Mack would feel let down, and Mack wouldn't go without Michaela and the girls, and...

She can't leave. Not now. Maybe not ever. And it makes her cry, because she wants to so badly, but it's what drives her away that makes her want to stay.

Lt. Col. Katie Cohen Ryan
The Unit
213 Words

OOC: This episode is written presuming that 4.22 is the series finale of The Unit. That said, information here is subject to change if the series does somehow miraculously earn a renewal.

Tactical Operations Center
Fort Griffith
Missouri

"Are we sure?"

Tom glanced over at Katie as the two of them walked down the hall toward the forward TOC. Though the two of them maintained a brisk pace, they may as well have been talking about whose turn it was to do the laundry. "As sure as we're gonna be," he said. "You think it's bad intel?" His eyebrow arched as he reminded himself that she was one of the foremost intelligence experts in the country (at least, if you asked anyone that had actually worked with her, which was a small and generally ignored minority of rank and file INSCOM staffers).

"If we're talking about a major city blowing up, I'd like to double-check my sources," she replied with a shrug of the shoulders.

"Your sources are a guy at SecDef who tried to leave Mack for dead and a guy who keeps appearing and disappearing more than David Copperfield," Tom pointed out. This got him a mildly irritated look from Katie, but she couldn't argue either point. "We'll check it again," he said to appease her as they walked through the door directly into the front of the main room.

"Katie," Brian Falkenborg called the moment he laid eyes on her. "Something's off."

( Cut for spoilers for The Unit 4.22: Unknown Soldier )

Tactical Operations Center
Fort Griffith
Missouri

Last week had been a cakewalk, for the most part. Last week had been sitting in their chairs in the TOC making bad jokes about Where's Waldo? and waiting for their team members to do their jobs. This week - after the firing of an assistant and a lot of swearing - the senior staff of the 303rd were scrambling to, once again, for what seemed like the half-dozenth time this season, secure the safe return of one of their own.

"We did this," Katie muttered, bracing her forehead against her hand as she glared at her monitor screen. "This is our damn fault."

Cautiously, wary of a firecracking temper that had been known to cause property destruction and severe beatings of anyone who got in her way, Brian Falkenborg settled a hand on his back. "No, we didn't," he said. "She took an educated risk."

( Cut for spoilers for The Unit 4.20: Endgame )

I suspected this would happen to me at some point this season, but I felt pretty lucky that I strung it along for 19 episodes. Unfortunately, I can't think of a damn thing to write for 4.20 based on the canon events.

So, this handy summary will have to do.

( Cut for spoilers for The Unit 4.20: Best Laid Plans )

Easter Sunday was little more for Katie Ryan than an excuse to eat candy. She had no real family to spend it with, and she certainly wasn't religious. But she was appreciating the day to eat Snickers and throw plastic easter eggs at her husband.

At least until they got new mission orders that required them to head into the office. So much for a day off. She muttered, changed into uniform, and went with her husband to brief their team. She was leaning against the wall, arms folded across her chest (already having teased Tom about how his choice of frames made him look like her college science teacher), when she saw Bridget come into the room obviously battered.

( Cut for spoilers for The Unit 4.19: Whiplash )

Where do you never want to go again?

California.

Also, Syria.


Ten things you love about your significant other.

01. How he always finds little ways to make me feel loved.

02. His sense of humor.

03. How his ego makes me feel mine is healthy.

04. How underneath that big ego, he really is selfless.

05. How he flirts with me in thirty seconds or less.

06. He doesn't handle me just because I'm his wife.

07. He still misses Matt just as much as I do.

08. He has more faith in me than I will ever have in myself.

09. How he doesn't give up easily.

10. How he never stopped loving me, even when it all fell apart.

Lt. Col. Katie Cohen Ryan
The Unit

"The whole thing has been one massive fiasco."

Katie has been in love with the same man for twenty-six years, and he with her. While they've always loved each other so much, it's never been easy for either of them.

They were together for the better part of four years. Then the unit moved to Missouri, and Katie got accepted to West Point. Tom almost asked her to move with him, but he didn't want to have her give up her dream of attending the prestigious military academy. There was another four years of long distance relationship after that, which didn't get much better when she enlisted.

By the time she was actively serving, he had made Captain and was gone most of the time, leaving her to feel like the occasional bedmate he came back to maybe once or twice a month. He was gone, she was scared, it all began to eat away at their relationship. She felt overworked and not loved enough. She never knew he had the engagement ring in hand, ready to ask her to be his wife. And by the time he had the chance to use it she was gone.

Six years later he walked back into her life and three weeks after that they slept together again. It had been so long and so much had happened that they didn't even recognize each other. When she found out the man she'd fallen in love with was the man she had always loved, she cried. She'd thought him lost, dead maybe. But then she had him back. She resolved never to lose him again. Which was why it broke her heart six years after that to leave him, angry and hurt that he'd lied about the death of her brother.

But Tom was a stubborn bastard and he refused to give up on her. Several months later when he managed to sneak out from under the DOD, he flew to London to find her and tell her the truth. Hand her the file he should have burned. They had a late-night rendezvous in France, away from anyone that could find them. She knew she still loved him then, risking everything to fix his mistakes, to win her back. She promised she would come back to him someday. Thus began a year and a half long hoax, pretending to hate him, pretending to want him dead, just to get back into his arms.

Now that's where she's staying. His wife. His partner. The truth is out now, all the cards are on the table. Maybe they should have gotten married sooner, maybe it would have saved them some heartache. But it also showed them things about themselves they didn't know. And it made her love him more, knowing he would go that far for her.

Lt. Col. Katie Cohen Ryan
The Unit
463 Words

Two hours earlier
Paris, France

"Sir...respectfully, I don't think I can do this."

Tom arched an eyebrow and looked over at Brandon, who was biting his lip nervously. "What are you talking about, Sergeant McAllister?"

"Colonel." The younger man exhaled. "You know my file. You've seen me over these last couple runs. Me and guns don't get along. Shooting to defend is one thing, I'm not sure I can make an expert shot like this."

The CO had to give his subordinate credit for being open and honest about his weaknesses, and putting the success of the mission above his own bravado. But this was the job and combat was a heavy part of that job; Brandon really didn't have a choice but to learn how to handle a firearm, because they needed him on the team. "I understand, son. But we don't exactly have another choice," he said. "We need you to take this shot." A pause, holding the other man's eyes. "We believe you can take this shot."

Brandon nodded a little. "Yes, sir," he said quietly. "I'll do my best."

( Cut for spoilers for The Unit 4.18: Best Laid Plans )

Thirteen things in Katie Ryan's closet.

01. One very expensive little black dress.

02. A particularly short skirt that is much beloved.

03. The old blanket that Matt gave her.

04. Her favorite college wardrobe.

05. Her wedding dress.

06. Several small firearms.

07. A box of her brother's old photographs, still unopened.

08. All her rock climbing equipment.

09. Matt's "emergency stash" of water balloons (uninflated).

10. One giant Gator head hat.

11. Several duty uniforms and one dress uniform.

12. The dress she bought for Washington that Tom won't let her burn.

13. A very large stuffed bear.

Lt. Col. Katie Cohen Ryan
The Unit

What is the greatest joy you have ever felt?

She sat alone in a room at Alconbury Air Force base, bleeding, battered and bruised, and she cried.

It was impossible to determine the true scope of her injuries. The head wound was the most glaring, having required multiple stitches. There were various cuts and bruises that had been cleaned and bandaged. It was still hard to breathe from the hard blows she'd taken to the chest and stomach. But the most painful were the tears that were two years overdue, the sobbing that burned her eyes and made it impossible to see.

Katie hadn't even cried at her brother's funeral. Oh, she'd sobbed when she'd heard he was dead, and on the flight over, but once she had arrived on base to see him buried she'd shut down. She had gone into a state of denial, compounded by her struggle to understand what had happened to him. Too much anger had gotten in the way. But now, knowing she had gone face to face with one of the men that had killed him and won, that the other had been shot dead for her, it was time to let it out. To grieve for the loss of the only family she had, and for the years of pain and heartache that followed.

Her brother was avenged. Her demons had been cast aside. Her life, now, was hers to live as she chose, for herself, for something that made her happy. Someone she had found to love, and be loved in return.

Now she was free.

Lt. Col. Katie Cohen Ryan
The Unit
256 Words

Sierra Ridge, California

Katie Ryan had been in the shower for almost half an hour.

The temperature was almost scalding, but she didn't notice as her skin turned pink and red in places. She scrubbed thoroughly, until it began to sting, making sure there was no trace of anything on her body. Stepping out of the shower, she dried herself off methodically. Once her hair was pinned up to dry, she set about filing and cleaning her fingernails, each one to be cleaned and level. She didn't want to leave a single trace behind.

( Cut for spoilers for The Unit 4.17: Flesh and Blood )

"She does have a sense of humor, it just runs in a different direction."

"She does have a sense of humor, it just runs in a different direction," David Hardaway pointed out as he stretched out in a chair in the foyer of his eponymous theater. "It's that sarcastic, deadpan kinda humor."

"I was gonna say," one of his assistants replied with a chuckle. "Cause she mentioned stuff that just went totally over my head."

"Keep in mind Katie's got three college degrees."

"Katie has what?" she asked, stepping into the room and closing the door to the theater behind her.

David looked up at his girlfriend and smiled. "A different sense of humor," he explained. "Tim didn't get it."

Katie chuckled. "That's okay. A lot of people don't get it," she said. "Which sums up actually almost everything about me." She gave a wry smile, and David laughed as he stood and went to kiss his girlfriend.

"But that's why I love you," he said teasingly.

"Yeah, yeah, if only other people shared the same opinion," she replied. She loved David dearly, but she knew that his idealistic opinion of her was definitely also a minority opinion. Not very many people would ever understand her. It was best to hold on to the few that did.

Lt. Col. Katie Cohen Ryan
The Unit
203 Words

What is the worst pain you have ever felt?

Physical pain hurts, but for the most part it heals. Emotional pain can keep hurting like a bitch for a long time. I've seen a lot of painful physical injuries but the worst pain I ever felt was breaking up with Tom. Twice.

The first time we were young and stupid; our relationship was frayed anyway. He was rising in the ranks; he was a Captain when we split, but I had only seen him maybe six times in the past three months. I was under immense pressure at work and I needed his love and support, and I didn't have it. I was thinking of breaking up with him anyway. I'd bought the engagement ring a few months before, and I was wavering. I figured it was commit or quit. But then I got ripped away from him, and I was so scared and confused - all I wanted then was one more hug from the man I loved.

You'd think I would have learned to cope better the second time, having gone through it before. Especially since I was the one who initiated the break-up. But between that and the death of my brother, I was in hell. Actually, I was in a whole new country, in a dead-end job, with my brother dead and my longtime boyfriend dumped. So basically, I had nothing. And I hated it. I actually tried to kill myself. If it weren't for Scott Chastain and his willingness to put up with my bitter pain in the ass self, I'd be dead right now. No matter how much physical pain I've been in, I've never been that on tilt.

I never want to feel that again but I don't think I ever will.

Lt. Col. Katie Cohen Ryan
The Unit
290 Words

Thirteen things you'd do you've done to save the one you love.

01. Lied to several high-ranking military officials.

02. Confronted several high-ranking military officials.

03. Taken on a position I wasn't prepared for.

04. Lied to my friends, my boyfriend and my brother (although none of them bought it).

05. Broken several military personal conduct rules.

06. Risked my life at the hands of Syrian extremists.

07. Risked my sanity.

08. Alienated some of my friends and allies.

09. Bit the hand that feeds me.

10. Taken various punches and gunshot wounds.

11. Murdered someone.

12. Tortured someone.

13. Made a deal with the enemy.

Lt. Col. Katie Cohen Ryan
The Unit

You've been hiding, never letting it show
Always trying to keep it under control
You got it down and you're well
On your way to the top
But there's something that you forgot

It was their second mission together, and they were sitting alone in a hotel room in Toronto. Neither of them had anything important to say but somehow they'd developed a rapport. A penchant for these irrelevant bullshit sessions when there was nothing to be done.

"You were looking for my file," Brennan said.

"You don't have a file," Katie retorted.

"But you were looking for one." He unfolded his long legs from where he'd been sprawled in one of the overstuffed chairs and straightened, hands lacing in his lap. "What is it that you want to know about me?"

She shrugged, as much as one could shrug from a prone position on the bed. "I like to know who I'm working with."

"You know that. As much as you need to know."

"Need, yes. Want? No."

Brennan chuckled. He was used to people asking questions, even poking about a little, but not as curious as Katie was. "Go ahead, ask whatever you want," he said. "I can't say I'll answer, but you're welcome to ask."

"Semantics. Cute." She laughed softly. "Are you like this with everyone?"

"What you mean is am I like this with the people close to me, and the answer is that I don't have anyone close to me, but if I did I suspect I wouldn't change. At least I'd think the people whose opinions would matter would embrace my antisocial tendencies."

"There's something we have in common."

"I'm sure you have loved ones somewhere."

"Not really," she remarked, propping herself up on her elbows. "My brother, but I haven't seen him since I got into this program. He could be anywhere right now. Probably what made me a viable catch."

He studied her face for a moment. "You're lying."

She arched an eyebrow. "No, I'm not."

"There's someone else. Or there was someone else," he replied. "I see something missing in your eyes. Who was it, Katie? And why are you pretending they don't exist?" He'd caught on to something now and was enjoying having turned the tables, now poking around in her mind instead of her in his. She was better off not knowing what was in his head.

Katie hesitated for a moment. Not sure if she wanted to open up to him like that. But he'd already proven he could be trusted, and it wasn't as if he actually cared about her personal life. The information would mean nothing to him, which meant he wouldn't abuse it. She shifted uncomfortably on the bed, looking at her outstretched right hand. The hand where the engagement ring should have sat.

"We met in college," she said softly after a moment. "Together on and off for eleven years. Not that we broke up, just that - he's in the service too and we've always been apart. I was going to ask him to marry me."

"Was?" he replied, arching an eyebrow.

"I saw him maybe six times in the past three months," she explained. "He hardly comes around anymore. And even if he did, he wouldn't be able to find me now." She swallowed and closed her eyes. "It's over."

Lt. Col. Katie Cohen Ryan
The Unit
525 Words

Sierra Ridge, California

Maybe it was just Michaela Adams' lucky day.

She'd found her old BattleBot amongst a bunch of boxes she'd meant on going through, and she'd been looking for that for what seemed like ages. Of course, once she'd found it, she just had to tinker with it. She'd gone out in search of a Radio Shack to find a few things that she needed and had gotten so preoccupied with the technical details that she had almost completely forgotten about the girls. Kicking herself, she'd dropped what she was doing and headed back into Sierra Ridge, knowing she was in trouble.

She just hadn't expected what kind of trouble.

( Cut for spoilers for The Unit 4.16: Hill 60 )