Epilogue

Five months later...

Tim leaned back in his chair and smiled. For a few moments, he had time to think. There was a search running and he was alone in the bullpen. He had found, more and more, that he appreciated the opportunity to think by himself rather than be surrounded by people. He was more introspective than he had thought he was. He'd always known himself for a loner, but these golden moments were appreciated, even treasured when they came.

Dr. Bowers had tried for an insanity plea, but he had been denied the chance. The trial was going to begin in a couple of months. Determining which out of all the deaths that had occurred at Sunrise Rehab were murders committed by Dr. Bowers would be difficult, but he was charged with the deaths of He'hea and Eric as well as the attempted murders of Tim and Kate. Time would tell how it would all pan out. For his part, Tim was simply relieved that there was so much evidence beyond what he himself had witnessed.

Kate had left Sunrise Rehab a couple of months ago, and Tim hadn't heard from her since. She had told him that she was going to give living with her family a chance but she wasn't sure how it would go. He made her promise to keep up with her therapy and he told her that if she was ever having trouble, she could call him. Day or night. ...but there had been nothing. He tried not to worry. It would take time for her to adjust to the quieter life of her family in New York.

It had taken him longer to readjust to everything than he'd thought. He still saw Dr. Washington, but soon, they'd be moving to monthly sessions. He still attended the group meetings, but he contributed more to them now than he had before.

All in all, his life was a lot better now than it had been, even a year ago. Even here at work, the tension that arose with every reminder of what he'd been in the past was lessening. It wasn't gone yet, and maybe it never would be, but for now, it was getting better.

His phone rang.

"Agent McGee."

"That sounds very official." There was a smile in the voice.

"Who is this?" Tim asked.

"It's...Kate...although I'm back to Jo most of the time. It's been an adjustment."

"Kate! ...or do you want to be Jo?"

"I don't care much anymore. It's just a name. One of my nephews has started calling me Katie Jo because I was having a hard time figuring it out. Now, I just figure that both are my names and I can answer to either one."

"I haven't heard from you since you left Sunrise. How have you been?'

"It's been...good and bad. I figured it would be like that when I agreed to go back to New York. The first few days were the worst." She laughed a little. "Will's kids...a couple of them started crying when they saw me."

Tim winced. That would have been hard on her self esteem.

"But after about a week, the youngest just accepted that it was how I looked, and Will's oldest, Chase...he's in college. He's actually asked me about my...past. He's curious, and for some reason, that doesn't bother me. I made sure that Will didn't mind, and we've talked about it a lot. I stayed with Will's family for the first month, but now...now, I've got my own little apartment."

"So you've got a job?"

Another laugh. "Yeah. I'm the highest paid phone-answerer and janitor in New York."

Tim smiled. "You're working at your family's salon?"

"Yeah. I wasn't sure about it. Had a few really rough days. I drove Will to the edge, I think. But we managed to have a practical discussion about what I could do. One of the few practical discussions we've actually had. I can't be the face of the salon, not looking like I do. But I never did any of the...inhalants; so my voice sounds about the same as it ever did. I can answer phones. And I clean up at the end of the day. It's not much, but it's more than I've ever done."

"That's great, Kate. Are you happy?"

"Sometimes. Sometimes, it's still a long hard slog, and I wish I'd had the sense to give up. But there's a small group of NA here. I'm going to it, and it's been good for me. I'm actually going to take a class from the college starting in the fall. I don't know if it will be for me, but I think I should try it out. I never did before."

"Wow. Kate, I'm really impressed."

"Oh, come on, Tim."

"No. Really. You're trying to get a life again. That's wonderful."

"Tim, if I'm ever in need of a non-familial ego boost, I'll call you."

"Do. ...and when you graduate from college, I want you to tell me; so I can be there."

"Tim...thank you. Most of the time, I even mean it."

"I understand."

"I know. That's why I can say it. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"I've got a call coming in. Bye, Tim."

"Bye."

Tim hung up and sat back...contemplating. Maybe there would always be that little bit of a shadow. It was bigger for Kate right now, and only time would tell how much it would lift for her. It had lifted quite a bit for him. ...but it wasn't gone. Maybe it wouldn't ever be, but that was all right. He thought back to that first night when he could truly say that he was off drugs.

"Today's been a good day."

The elevator dinged, and at the same moment, his computer pinged to indicate the program was finished. Tim took a breath and got back to work.

FINIS!