Author's Note: This is the conclusion of the story. I hope you enjoyed this story. I apologize it took so long to get to the end of it, but I hope it blesses you.
Grace Alone - Chapter 12
Athletic Director George Cooper sat in his office with Agent Hotchner, Detective Morgan, and Kimberly somberly. His program allowed a coach to utilize a drug and prostitution ring to essentially buy players so they could become competitive again. "Kimberly, I'm so sorry that I helped this man do this to you, and to all the other women who have been trafficked."
"Look, I don't blame you," Kimberly empathized. "Sebastian is intelligent. It's not like he gave Coach Carman a blinking light telling everyone of all his illegal activity."
"Still... it's amazing what sin can do unchecked," Cooper sighed. "When this is all over, the football program, and maybe even the athletic department, might feel the wrath of the NCAA. Student athletes will be suspended or banned from competition, coaches will be fired. I might not have a job when this is all said and done."
"Sir, we'll do everything we can to keep that from happening," Agent Hotchner replied, but Cooper scoffed.
"You don't understand, big time athletics ditch any threat to their publicity," he replied. "Honestly, if I have to go to protect the women who were abused by this madman, I'm willing to do it. I'm just amazed by how big of a mess this all is. Players, the players families, coaches, their families... the women and others involved against their will."
"Look, I know it's tempting to feel guilt here," Morgan stepped in. "But what you're doing now is putting a stop to the corruption. It sucks that women like Kimberly got sucked into this. It's awful that you had a corrupt coach on your staff, and that some of your players chose to partake in this. But you are doing the right thing now, and that's going to save a lot of lives, and it's going to help us bring Sebastian to justice."
"Not only that, but you doing this helps restore my soul in ways I never thought possible," Kim added.
"How is that, dear?" Cooper asked.
"For a long time I've lived in fear, as someone else's property," Kim replied. "For the first time in ten years, I don't have to live that way anymore." Her eye glistened, a tear threatening to fall.
It was at that moment that Agent Hotchner's phone rang. "Excuse me," he said, pulling the phone from his pocket and standing to move towards the doorway. "You're on your way back? Good work JJ. See you back at the Athletic Office. We'll coordinate from here next steps." He hung up and moved back towards the others. "Good news, they found Tommy, and he has a pretty good recollection of where the compound is that Schmidt was working out of."
"Is he..."
"Tommy is ok, minus a few bruises and scratches," Hotchner replied. Morgan smiled, seeing the woman who had transformed right in front of him over the past few weeks continue to regain both her confidence and her love for life. He also knew a lot of that came from the man who they had just rescued.
"Any word on Schmidt?" Morgan asked, hopeful that Tommy being rescued would yield the opportunity to go after the ringleader.
"They think they have a lead on where his base of operations is," Hotchner replied. "They are going to come back here, and then we'll coordinate with local law enforcement to go and take them down. We're going to need all the help we can get. When they found Tommy, he was pinned down by a team of trained assassins. Jason and Agent Jareau were able to subdue the attackers, but the fact remains that Sebastian will likely have other help."
"Don't you think we might lose him if we wait?" Morgan asked. "I mean, if his men are dead chasing Tommy, you'd have to think that at some point he'll realize that and split, right?"
"Yes, that is a risk we may have to take," Hotchner replied.
"Not that my opinion counts for much, but I agree with Aaron," Kim added. "As much as I want this whole ordeal to be over with, Sebastian will be well armed and well protected. Even if they were able to subdue four or five attackers, he has many more at his disposal. Going after him without help is a mistake."
"I appreciate your insight," Morgan replied. "We'll go along with your thought then Hotch... you don't mind me calling you that, do you?" Hotchner grinned.
"That's what my teammates call me," he replied.
"Umm... do you think..." Kim spoke tentatively.
"What's wrong?" Morgan asked.
"Nothing... I..." she started to chew on her bottom lip. "Would it be ok if I called Tommy?" The pair of men grinned.
"Yes, let me call Jareau back and have her put him on," Hotchner said. He initiated the call and briefly shared the request with his teammate, and then handed the phone to Kimberly.
"I'm going to take this in another room," she replied.
"Don't go too far," Morgan yelled out as she left the room. Kimberly found an empty office that overlooked the football stadium, and sat down at a table, and took a couple of deep breaths before she spoke.
"Tommy?"
"Hey Beautiful," his voice warmly greeted her, she was amazed at how it affected her. Sweet memories and emotions stirred her heart, and relief came, alleviating what felt like a hundred pound weight off her shoulders.
"You haven't called me that in ages," she replied, a little blush coming to her cheeks.
"Well, we haven't really been a 'thing' in ages either..." Tommy started.
"Are we really going to have this conversation right after I found out you've been rescued?" She teased.
"No... I just figured after the past few days, or how ever long I was held captive here, I just don't want to hide how I feel." She could tell there was a big grin that came with those words. She also heard a round of snickers in the background.
"You couldn't get somewhere private for this conversation, could you?"
"Nope, Jason's practically in my lap." She chuckled at the odd visual.
"We do have a lot to talk about," she replied. "But... first, I'm glad you're ok. You had us worried. You had me worried."
"It was worth it to take you out, you know," Tommy mentioned.
"And that's the second thing I want to talk to you about," Kim continued. "You... drew near to me even after I treated you terribly. I know some of the things I did were due to my own abuse... but I did treat you terribly. Even when you tried to help, I wanted to push you away. Thanks for drawing near while I was frail. When I was in pain. When I felt no beauty within me. You loved me anyway, and it's because of that that I'm healing. Thank you."
"Kim... I love you. Even if I'm not the one to be with you, I will always love you, and I will always want what's best for you."
"Let's talk about that when you get back," Kim replied.
"Which part?" He questioned.
"The, 'are we together or not?'"
"Sounds good," Tommy smiled wide as he considered her request. "I should probably get off, just in case Agent Jareau needs to use her phone. We'll be back soon, Kimberly."
"See you soon." She sighed as she hung up. It was such a different feeling, having hope. Feeling loved. "He called me 'Beautiful,'" she said aloud. "He actually called me that..." She lingered as she considered just how joyful it made her. The man that she had loved for so long, the man that she thought she had to let go... the man she thought would have been repulsed by her and her actions... he called her beautiful.
Grace met her in ways that she never expected... and she was radically moved in ways she couldn't understand. A smile couldn't be erased from her face, and the peppy bounce in her step couldn't be taken away. She went back to the room where Agent Hotchner and Detective Morgan had been, abounding into a room that was suddenly silent.
"What's going on, guys? You both look like someone just kicked your dog."
"We have a problem," Hotchner replied. "Cooper was just informed that players had been inquiring as to why they were being questioned. One of the players noted that someone Carman implicated went outside to make a phone call. They believe it was to someone within the drug ring." Kim's eyes went wide.
"He'll come here."
"How can you be sure?" Morgan asked.
"When Sebastian feels threatened, he goes on the offensive. I've never seen someone get as close to him as you all have, but we need to assume that he's going to bring the fight to us."
"We'll need to coordinate with campus safety to make sure that security is tightened," Hotchner replied. "I want Sebastian Schmidt's face and profile on everyone's desks, from officers, to administrators, professors, residential advisors... if they have some sort of position on campus, they need to know that he's coming."
"Do we really want to widen the net like that?" Morgan asked.
"Based on the profile, not only will Schmidt go on the offensive, but when threatened, he escalates," Hotchner replied. "His intentions are for Kimberly, yes, but based on how they went after Tommy, he's not concerned about avoiding collateral damage." He turned towards Kimberly. "We should get you out of here, now."
"No," Kim replied. "I've been running for far too long. Today I stand my ground."
"Look, Kimberly, there's no doubt that you are a brave woman," Morgan pleaded. "But this is a time to run."
"What about Tommy and the others?"
"We'll warn them and make sure..." Before Hotchner could finish, Cooper burst into his office. "Is everything ok?"
"Jack Carman is dead," he replied. "Shot twice in the chest, once in the head, all while being detained in his office."
"What about the security detail that was with him?"
"Dead."
"He's all ready here," Morgan replied.
"How?" Kim asked.
"There's no telling when that student-athlete called him. The compound isn't too far from here. The reality is he's here, in this building, and he's after you," he said, pointing to Kim. "Cooper, I want you to call campus safety, tell them what's going on. I'll cover you, and give you a description of the man we're looking for. Morgan... take Kimberly with you, get her out of here."
"Sure thing, Hotch," Morgan replied.
"And Morgan... don't be surprised if he has others with him," Hotchner replied. "Keep your eyes open."
The pair left and found a stairwell in the back of the building and made their way down to the lobby. Morgan looked up to make sure no one was trailing them, and then slowly opened the door to see if anyone was there. No one was, and so he motioned Kimberly to follow him. They were shocked to see that the lobby of the building was deserted. The receptionist was no where to be found, and the rest of the security team had deserted the lobby as well.
"What do we do?" Kim whispered.
"I don't know," Morgan replied. They crept along the side wall of the lobby, hoping to have a clue of what they should do. Suddenly, an elevator chimed. "Stay behind me." He walked slowly towards the elevator behind the receptionist's desk, Kimberly close behind. They stood right in front of it, waiting for the doors to open. They finally gave way, but no one was there. He walked a bit further, right in front of the elevator doors, when he heard something behind him.
"Be careful what you do next, Detective," a voice slithered behind him. "One wrong move and I snap her neck." He turned to find Sebastian, his arm wrapped around Kimberly's neck with a gun pointed at his head.
"Kimberly..."
"No use talking to her, Detective. Here's what you'll do. Get in the elevator, and go up. You follow us, she dies. You come back down, she dies. Understand?"
Morgan looked away, not wanting to give in to this monster's demands.
"Do you understand!?" He shouted angrily. He started to enter the elevator and pushed one of the buttons to bring him upstairs.
"We will find you, Kim..." he said as the doors closed on him, the elevator bringing him up a few floors.
Kimberly tried to move, but Schmidt held his gun to Kimberly's head, his other arm around her neck. "If you continue to resist me and my instructions, my dear, I'll have no choice but to kill you here and now. You can either die here, or follow me. Come back your old life. Never speak of this again."
"No... I can't go back," she struggled to get out.
"Such a pity, to be so beautiful and yet to die." Before he could fire a shot, she bravely stamped on the inside of his toes, and she ran. She ran as fast as she could. She knew it probably wouldn't save her life, but she had to try. She heard the shot ring, and expected it to hit her, but the bullet never pierced her. She turned around, however, when she heard a thud. She looked over to find Tommy sprawled to the ground. He had jumped in the way of the bullet, saving her life.
"No..." She trembled. Sebastian readied his gun for a second shot, but it never came. Multiple shots fired from Jason, who had followed Tommy into the building. He ran over to the wounded man, and kicked his gun away from him.
"It's over," Jason said, standing over the bloodied villain. He held his gun pointed at him, while pulling his radio with his other hand. "We need medical attention, now!"
"Don't leave me Tommy," Kim pleaded as she helped to roll him on his back. "Where did it hit you?"
"My shoulder..." he struggled to say. Blood stained his lips, clearly from internal bleeding. At that point, Morgan, who also had Cooper and Hotchner with him, stood over the injured hero.
"Stay with us, Tommy," Morgan said. "An ambulance is coming for you, just hang on."
*Three Days Later – Palo Alto Police Station*
Kim sat across her abuser and, for the first time, didn't sit powerless. Sebastian was restrained. Now he was the one exposed for all to see. Kimberly was the one confronting him, not the other way around.
"Come here to gloat, my dear?" Sebastian asked.
"No... I wanted to come and see you one last time. Before they put you away for good."
"Why is that?" He asked. "Want me to see the pain I've caused you. Want me to feel sorry for you? I'm not. My legacy will continue. And you'll live with the scars forever. And I don't regret a thing. So while you grieve the loss of a past love, I'll bide my time. My lawyers will get me out of this, and then... well, let's just say, things will go back to the way they were." Kim let out a slight chuckle at his assertions. "You find this amusing?"
"I do," Kim replied, smirking. "Tommy survived. Your compound, investigated. The women who you kept as your 'employees?' Freed. Your henchmen? In custody. And the case against you is so severe, that even if your lawyers can help you, the best help you can get is at least 20 years. And even then, I doubt they can help you. Justice is coming, Sebastian."
"Then you've won then, my little crane," Sebastian mocked.
"No... no this isn't about winning and losing."
"Then what's it about?"
"I hope one day, you understand that what you did was wrong. I hope one day, you turn away from all the horrific things you've done. But even if you don't, I'm confident that justice will come. And because of that, I'm free."
"Freed for what?"
"Forgiveness. I forgive you Sebastian. And I hope... somehow... I hope you can change because of that." She stood up and went to walk out the door, before Sebastian cackled.
"You really believe that? I don't want or need your forgiveness."
"I didn't think I needed it either. But it's called Grace. Unmerited favor. Maybe that will help you as you're locked up in your cell, day after day, pondering the atrocities you committed." Kim stood up and began to exit. However she stopped, and turned around. "I hope you find peace."
Kim checked in with Morgan and Hotchner as she left, thanking them one last time for all their help.
"Thanks for all your help, Detective," Kim added as she headed towards the door.
"It's Special Agent Derek Morgan, now," Morgan grinned. "I guess the BAU got to me after all."
"They're lucky to have you," she replied with a small smile. She walked out the door and made her way to the Stanford Medical Center, where she took an elevator to the third floor. She walked into Tommy's room, where there were cards, balloons, and other get well items. One of the things she placed by his nightstand was a picture of them when they had dated in high school. She was on his shoulders, smiles as wide as could be.
Tommy's eyes began to flutter open, and he looked over to find Kimberly there.
"I hope I didn't wake you," she said.
"I was only resting my eyes," he said. "I knew it was you, anyway. I can smell your perfume." She sat down beside his bed, placing her hand on his arm.
"Where are Jason, Kat, and Hayley?" She asked.
"Went out for a bite to eat," Tommy answered. "They said they were going to bring me back something, but they've been gone for quite some time. To be honest, I'm not sure I'm going to eat much anyway."
"Oh... do you want me to get you something?"
"No... I want you right where you are," Tommy grinned.
"You know... you saved my life in more ways than you know," Kim said. "You chose to draw near to me when I was at my worst. And then you took a bullet for me after you had been tortured. All of this after the horrible ways that I've treated you. I can't ever repay that debt to you."
"I've all ready paid that cost in my mind," Tommy replied. "And it's worth it. It was worth diving in front of that bullet, just like it was worth it for me to come to the police station that first time."
"Why?"
"Because I made a choice," Tommy shared. "I choose to love you, even when it's hard, even when it's inconvenient, even on your worst days. Even if it means I must suffer pain and hardship, I choose to love you. I want to see you soar, Kim. I want to..."
Before he could continue, Kimberly leaned over, her lips met his, and they kissed once more, breaking apart only when her hand brushed up against his bullet wound.
"Ow!" He winced.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry..."
"It's ok, Beautiful. I choose to love you even when you aren't careful with bullet wounds." The pair chuckled.
"It's a kodak moment," Jason's voice penetrated the room. They looked to find him, Katherine, and Hayley there smiling at the pair.
"Can always count on you ruining the mood, Jase," Tommy quipped.
"That's what brothers are for," he quipped back. "We can leave you guys be, we'll be outside eating." As they left, Hayley looked at Tommy for a long while, finally giving a very obvious wink to him.
"Hayley really cares about you," Kim replied.
"Yes she does," Tommy replied. "She's a good friend." He paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on Hayley as she walked out of the room. As she left, he continued. "Look, speaking of friendship..."
"Yes..."
"In your letter, you said we'd always be friends. I'd like to ask you revise that statement."
"And how would you like to be revised?"
"Boyfriend and girlfriend, with the potential for husband and wife in the future."
"You know... I think I'd like that." She giggled as she leaned down for another kiss. A moment that seemed near impossible ten years prior. Her life had been stripped away. She had been used and abused, and was devastated by the sins committed against her, hurting others in the process. But grace given by the one she hurt the most not only redeemed their relationship, it restored her in ways she never thought possible. Not by her efforts. Not by anything she had done. But by grace. Grace alone.
"I was an orphan lost at the fall I had no righteousness of my own And in love before you laid the world's foundation You left your home to seek out the lost I worked my fingers down to the bone By your blood I have redemption and salvation
Running away when I'd hear your call
But Father, you worked your will
I had no right to draw near your throne
But Father, you loved me still
You predestined to adopt me as your own
You have raised me up so high above my station
I'm a child of God by grace and grace alone
You knew the great and terrible cost
But Jesus, your face was set
Nothing I did could ever atone
But Jesus, you paid my debt
Lord, you died that I might reap what you have sown
And you rose that I might be a new creation
I am born again by grace and grace alone." – Dustin Kensrue, Grace Alone
THE END
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- Googz333