Guys...I can't believe this is the end. I think that's why it took me a while to upload this last chapter. I didn't want it to end! Thank you so much to everyone who has read and reviewed. I take great pride knowing that I made this crazy idea actually work, and having people tell me that is just, well, cool!
Also, I meant what I said when I mentioned I was toying with the idea of writing a sequel. I have some possible plot points, but a cohesive story still eludes me. If you have an idea let me know! Although I can't promise I'd use it, just like I can't promise I will actually write anything else.
The epilogue is short, but I hope you enjoy.
Epilogue:
More Than Human
It only took a couple hours to find Mark Collins.
Walter watched as Tim led Collins off the interstate bus with Cabe close behind. Collins stepped off the vehicle and came face to face with Walter, his hands cuffed behind him.
Collins initially showed a hint of fear at seeing Walter, but once noting that Walter was in a much more…human mood compared to their last encounter, he just narrowed his eyes at him. "You interrupted my journey," he accused, sounding annoyed.
"Mm-hmm." Walter said in response. He was waiting to see what he said about his supernatural discovery. Turns out that was not Collins' reigning curiosity at that moment.
"So how did you find me?" Collins questioned.
"Like I said, Mark. Scorpions hunt spiders."
Collins' lip raised in a small snarl at Walter's answer, but his skin also paled slightly as he recalled his fear only hours before when Walter spoke those same words.
Walter smiled at Collins' discomfort and proceeded to explain how he remembered when Collins once told him about a summer he spent in South Carolina when he was ten with his uncle, the only person who really accepted him for the way he was. Collins didn't understand initially where Walter was going with his recount.
"How is any of this relevant?" he asked with impatience.
Walter took a step closer to Collins so he could speak more softly.
"Well, I'm not like most humans, Mark, and even though I'm not technically human, as you now know, I have gained humanity these past years."
Collin looked slightly ill at the word "humanity." Walter continued to explain. "The old Walter would've remembered the story about your uncle but not really understood the relevance. But now I know why, out of all the solitary animals you could've chosen, you picked…the Wolf Spider, the state arachnid of South Carolina. It's the local of your fondest childhood memory. You were about to be on the run and scared, and I knew that you'd want to go back to the one place you'd ever felt safe."
Collins didn't look pleased about how Walter had figured him out. Walter finished by clarifying his own feelings.
"I understand that feeling, Mark. I feel the same way about my cyclone at Scorpion."
Collins looked disappointed. "They ruined you, Walter. Today I saw you go against the greater good and let sentiment rule your actions." Collins nearly spat out the word "sentiment". He lowered his head in apparent sadness. "I mourn the Walter I once knew."
But then Collins raised his head just slightly. Just enough to make eye contact with Walter, and his expression was no longer one of sadness, but of intrigue. "But that's not the only thing I saw today, was it Walter?" That sick smile once again stretched across his face. "You say you've gained humanity, and by your actions today, I must accept that." His insane smile seemed to widen even further. "But I must wonder, what's even the point of that, now that you are no longer even human? Did you tell them, Walter? Did you tell them how close you came to killing me today? How long do you think you can keep hold of this new found humanity?" Collins taunted, venom dripping from his voice, injecting doubt into Walter's mind.
Those words sent a chill down Walter's spine. Walter couldn't get into Collins' mind, but it seemed Collins could still get into his.
He felt the thread of doubt start invading and growing until he felt someone take his hand, and it stopped. He looked over. It was Paige.
She stood beside him and looked at Collins with an icy stare, and responded to him with conviction. "He already has kept it, many times over, and continues to gain more humanity every day. In my opinion, he's not the genius standing here who isn't human."
Walter noticed his whole team was there. They had approached and were now standing with him, silently backing Paige's assessment and support. Even Tim, still restraining Collins, gave a small nod in agreement with her words.
Collins had no more words for them, and only glared at the group with disdain at his defeat.
Tim, sensing there was no further good to come from continued conversation with Collins, led him away.
As they watched Collins move further from view, Paige took Walter's hand, standing by his side. She then asked him a question.
"Do you remember that night, the night we watched the sunset, when I said even if you are no longer human, it doesn't mean you would be any less human?"
Walter recalled the conversation. "Yes," he replied as he watched Tim push Collins not so gently into a patrol car.
"Do you remember when you said that statement did not make any sense to you at the time?"
Walter nodded.
"Do you think it makes sense now?"
Before he replied, he looked around at his team. His family. It was difficult to explain, but at that moment, he could almost tangibly feel the strength they carried together. There was no hint of the weakness Collins perceived.
They had all worked together that day. Walter himself had contributed both his vampiric abilities and his genius mind, but in the end, it was his humanity which contributed most to saving Toby, then apprehending Collins.
He, Walter O'Brien, was a genius as well as a vampire. Right now though, standing there with his family and the woman he loved, he had never felt more human.
"Yes," he answered her honestly. He put his arm around her and gave her a soft kiss, before gazing lovingly into her eyes. For the first time in his life, everything made sense.
"Perfect sense."
Thanks again! Especially to my regular reviewers (you know who you are!) Happy Holidays!
