Two Weeks Later

"And then she died in my arms. It was just… I felt her take her last breath and… and then I just lay there holding her… completely unable to move. I'm not sure how long I was there… I wasn't even aware of anything that was going on around me until I heard Freddie's voice telling me I had to leave. He had to tear me away from her… you know… because even though it wasn't safe for me to stay with her I just didn't want to leave her there. So he picked me up and carried me off… leaving her body there in that awful, awful place. We waited outside and… and I just hoped against all hope that when the police came back outside they would have her with them and she would magically be alright. But… but they told me they couldn't even find her body… figured that cunt Effy had disposed of it before she ran off… you know not wanting another murder on her hands and all that. Then the cops put me in the ambulance and I spent the next night in the hospital and the rest of the week at home healing from the torture I had endured… and grieving over my losses."

As I finished speaking, I heard the click that indicated the tape had stopped rolling. I wiped a few stray tears from my eyes looked up to face the officer who had been taking the recording and gave him a weak smile.

"Is that everything Miss Campbell?" he asked, giving me a sympathetic look.

"Yes I believe so," I responded, nodding slowly.

"We're terribly sorry to have to make you relive all this again, and so soon. Especially considering the extensive amount of psychical and emotional pain you've been put through in the last few weeks," he told me, "but we wanted to get the details while they were still fresh in your mind. And now that you've had some more time to process it, we just wanted to get it all again."

"I understand officer," I said quickly to quell his obvious discomfort at the situation, "I don't mind because as painful as it is to relive it… if it helps put that bastard behind bars for the rest of his life it's worth every moment."

"I assure you Miss Campbell; we're doing everything we can to ensure that, that becomes a reality."

"Thank you, officer," I replied, and I started to get to my feet before he stopped me.

"Miss Campbell," he started, "I was just wondering, you know, if you've been seeing anyone… like a grief counselor or maybe a psychologist. I think considering the immense amount of psychological strain you've been put under… well It could really do you some good."

I nodded my head sadly, thanking him once again before offering my hand in a friendly handshake. He offered me one last look of sympathy before I spun around on my heels and made my way out of his office. I walked through the police department for what I hoped was the final time, nodding to the receptionist as I made my way out. I winced slightly when I opened the door. Although my wounds were healing nicely, every now and then pressure on the areas where I'd been cut still hurt quite a bit.

Making my way to my car, I was finally glad to be out of that wretched place. The moment I hit the driver's seat I let out a sigh of relief that this whole ordeal of dealing with the aftermath was almost over. My wounds were healing nicely and the police had been dealt with… now the only thing that remained was the grieving process. For my part, I had arranged a funeral for Cook that would be taking place tomorrow morning. Panda's funeral had been yesterday. I felt tears spring to my eyes as I thought about the loss I had endured, but I quickly pushed those thoughts away. I wouldn't let myself think about it… I fucking wouldn't.

As I pulled up to my apartment, I thought about how empty it would seem over the next few days. Most of the gang had been staying there the past few weeks, but Katie and Freddie had left this morning on a boat bound for Costa Rica and JJ had decided to go and stay with his family in London for a while. I had gotten really used to having them around, and I couldn't help but think it would feel weird not to have them there now.

I made my way into my apartment, being absolutely certain to lock it behind me this time. One thing I had learned throughout this entire ordeal is that being overly cautious and paranoid is not always a bad thing.

But sometimes letting your guard down could lead to great things.

I set my things down on the couch and made a beeline for the bedroom. When I opened the door I instantly felt better when I was greeted by a smile.

I stepped into the room and helped her sit up as she realized I was home.

"Hey babe," Emily said softly, smiling up at me, "how did everything go at the station?"

"Great," I answered leaning down to drop a kiss on her forehead before moving down to sit on the edge of the bed next to her," I'm just glad it's fucking over."

"And they didn't suspect anything?" she asked, quirking her eyebrow with curiosity.

"Not a thing," I told her, smiling warmly, "which was of course due in large part to my stellar acting abilities."

"Oh fuck off," she replied, laughing, "only because you're such a drama queen!"

"You just wish you were as talented as me, Fitch," I teased, jabbing her knee lightly.

"I'm plenty talented," she argued, pouting and pretending to be offended at my insinuation.

"I know," I admitted, squeezing her knee and causing her to stop pouting and smile widely at me, "how are you feeling today?"

"Ugh, a little better," she answered, her mood almost automatically deflating, "that Karen is a miracle worker… which is kind of hard to believe. But I still think I would have healed faster in a hospital."

"I know babe, but you know this was the safest plan," I told her, still rubbing her knee soothingly, "if Tony gets out you know he's going to come looking for you, he could have his minions that haven't been arrested after you right now if he didn't think you were dead. And we still don't know what happened to Effy…"

"So they never found a body?"

"Nope," I answered, shaking my head and shuddering slightly at the thought. Emily smiled sympathetically at me and placed her hand over mine.

"Don't worry babe, in a few days we'll be long gone and we won't have to worry about her anymore. Besides she's a fugitive now, I think escaping is more important to her at the moment."

I nodded in agreement and pulled her fingers to my mouth, delivering a soft kiss on her knuckles which gave me the satisfactory reaction of a contented sigh from Emily. I wasn't really worried about Effy coming after us right now, but I couldn't help but wish the bitch was dead. She had killed Cook and Panda, she had tortured me, and she had almost killed Emily. Karen had said we had got her there in barely enough time to save her… and perhaps in the short run it would have been safer to send her in ambulance. But faking her death was safer in the long run, as Freddie pointed out, and Emily was strong so luckily Karen had been able to save her. Also, Karen had told us that the bullet had missed all of Emily major organs which was another bought of good fortune. We were almost out of harm's way now, Emily just had to finish healing up enough to fly and we would be out of the country without ever looking back. When Freddie and Katie had left for Costa Rica this morning, Katie had left Emily her passport so that when she flew out to meet them she could pass herself off as Katie. As far as anyone in Britain was concerned now, Emily Fitch was dead.

"Are you okay?" Emily asked, snapping me out of my reverie. I looked up at her and she had a quizzical expression in her eyes. I guess she had sensed my change in mood.

"Yeah… I guess," I answered half heartedly, "it was just hard you know… going in there and reliving all of those horrible things."

"I know babe," she agreed, opening her arms to signal me to move up and join her on the bed. I kicked off my shoes and scooted up towards her, laying my head on her chest and she wrapped her arms around me. I wrapped one of my arms around her back but placed the other on her thigh as to not disturb her still fresh wound. Once I had settled she placed a soft kiss on my temple causing me to let out a soft hum of contentment.

But I still didn't feel content.

"I just don't like to think about it, you know," I started again, "I mean… I was just beaten and tortured and I have to bury my best friend tomorrow… and on top of all that I have to tell them all these things about you dying and… god I just can't stand even pretending that, that was what happened... I.."

"Hey, hey," Emily stopped me as I was starting to get upset, placing her finger underneath my chin and making me look at her, "that's not what happened okay. I'm right here."

I nodded vigorously, trying to keep myself from crying for what was probably the millionth time in the last few weeks. Emily leaned in and placed a sweet kiss on my lips that did its job of making me feel comforted and loved. I brought my hand up to her neck, pulling her towards me, just wanting to taste her a little more. I felt her moan into the kiss, and I knew we had to stop before we had gotten too deep into starting something we couldn't finish just yet. I reluctantly pulled away and opened my eyes to see hers were still closed in what appeared to be a look of pure ecstasy. I grinned and brushed my fingers along her jaw as she finally opened her eyes and shot me a coy smile.

"Did you ever think about how ironic this all is?" I asked suddenly, causing her furrow her brow in confusion at my seemingly random subject change.

"I mean how we met and this whole mess subsequently happened. When I met you I felt like I had been looking for you my whole life, and then all of that happened… and it just feel so fucking ironic."

"I suppose it is a little ironic," she replied with a smile, "I'd been waiting for someone to come along and save me for so long that when you walked into my life I couldn't help but think, you know, 'finally!' And then, for everything to spiral out of control like that…. yeah I guess it's rather ironic on both our ends isn't it?"

I just smiled in return and snuggled into her chest a bit further. After everything that had happened, we still hadn't really discussed much in terms of our future together. We were going to fly to Costa Rica together to meet up with Freddie and Katie, but from there I wasn't really sure what would happen. I knew I wanted to be with her, but things were so much more complicated than that. Technically, since everyone outside of our little group thought Emily was dead, she would be safer without me. If Tony ever got out of prison, or if Effy was still alive and ever found out where we were, she would be in danger if she was with me. After everything that we had been through, I wasn't sure Emily fancied the chance of having another encounter with the Stonem's. I didn't either, but they knew I was alive so I didn't really have a choice if it ever came down to it. Emily could disappear, assume a new identity, and never have to deal with any of this again. In reality, I suppose, I could do the same, and I had seriously thought about changing my last name to make myself less traceable. But when it came down to it, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. And I was completely terrified to ask Emily about it.

"Do you think you'll be able to come with me to Cook's funeral tomorrow… you know under the guise of Katie Fitch that is," I asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over us.

"I think I'm feeling up to it," she whispered into my hair, "and I want to be there for you."

I smiled genuinely and leaned back down into her shoulder, but she quickly stopped me by placing her fingers gently under my chin and raising it up so our eyes locked once again.

"I know things still aren't right between us after everything that happened," she started as she continued to lightly stroke my jaw with her thumb, "but I'll do anything to make all of this up to you… I just want you to know that."

I felt my chest tighten at her words and I placed a sweet kiss on the corner of her mouth before nodding. It was ridculous how crazy things had been between us since we met, but it was even more ridulous how in love with her I was.

And even though we were both broken, bandaged, and scarred; at that moment I wouldn't change a thing.

-x-

It was a cold and rainy on the day I buried my best friend; exactly the kind of day one would expect for such an event. The sky cast a shadow of meloncholy across the cemetary as our figures stood huddled together, shivering as his body was lowered into the ground. As the only two mourners present, we laid flowers by the headstone once the casket had been covered by the thin layer of green felt that would protect it until fresh sod could replace it. I sobbed into Emily's shoulder and she stood for me, strong and fierce, as the pastor spoke in almost nothing but cliches. I was never a religious person, and neither was Cook, but for some reason I wanted him to be laid to rest by a pastor. I thought it was the right thing to do.

It wasn't long before Emily and I were standing alone in the wind and rain, her strong arms wrapped around me as I wept for the loss of my family; for the loss of my life as I once knew it. It must have been hours before I finally stopped crying, and brought my shaking hand to my cheeks to try and wipe away some of the mixture of tears and rain that had formed there. I looked up at Emily, who's face was filled with love and sympathy, and I couldn't help but smile. Even as I stood in this wretched weather, huddled over the headstone of my best friend, something about her made me feel like everything would be okay. She leaned forward to place a soft kiss on my cheek and instantly felt warm where her lips had touched me, and inside my heart.

"Do you think we'll be okay?" I asked, seemingly out of nowhere, but both of us knew it had come from anywhere but that.

She looked at me for a long moment before whispering, "all but death can be adjusted."

"Emily Dickenson?" I asked, stifling a laugh causing her to look at me quizically, "I'm sorry, I just never took you for a poetry fan."

"I guess there's a lot you don't know about me then," she replied without missing a beat and smiling mischeviously.

With that, I brought both of my hands to her cheeks and leaned forward so our lips were barely touching and breathed, "and I can't wait to find out."

She kissed me then, with the kind of passion that most people only dream about experiencing. And as I stood in that cemetary, grieving the loss of my best friend and my former life, I was also celebrating. Celebrating the start of a new life, with a new person for me to love and to love me in return. She pulled away and gave me a look that showed she understood exactly how I was feeling. This was a new beginning for her as well.

The start of something beautiful.

She took my hand in hers then, and led me out of the cemetary, taking the first steps into our new lives. I didn't know what they would hold for us, for me; but I was excited to find out. I didn't know if what we had would last, or if we would be able to work it out after everything that had happened. But I hoped we would. I hoped that I would be able to fall into her arms every night and wake up the same way in the morning. I hoped I could hear her sweet laugh and see her beautiful smile ten years from now and still feel the same butterflies in my stomach that I do at this moment. But only time would tell those things, and right now time was all we had.

We made our way to my car, and as I turned it on the radio immediately kicked in with the familiar sounds of the beginning of one of my favorite songs.

"Oh I love this song!" Emily shouted, surprising me and reaching forward to turn it up a notch. I looked towards her and my mouth formed a smile that I'm sure was incandescent and I let out a small laugh.

"What?" she asked, smiling her adorable confused smile for the second time in the last hour.

"Nothing," I replied, "I love this song too."

She reached across the console as I pulled into traffic and grabbed my free hand. I felt the electricity run between us that I hoped would never fizzle out, as the words began.

All along the western front, people line up to receive.

She got the power in her hands, to shock you like you won't believe.

To all of you who didn't press the back button after the first sentence; thank you for trusting me.

This is the end, and a very emotional moment for me.

An authors note/soundtrack including a short epilogue will be posted within the next two days.