After the applause died down and people began to disperse, Darren McGrady noticed an older man watching him.

He finished his current conversation and moved towards the back of the room. The mysterious man was only a few years older than himself, but was already showing some gray at his temples, reminding Darren of his own aches and pains - and of Reese..

When he reached him, the man put out his hand. "Darren McGrady?"

Darren nodded and shook his hand. "And you are?"

The man smiled. "Carter. Taylor Carter. I am honored to meet you."

Darren shook his head, gesturing at the dwindling crowd. "You shouldn't believe everything you hear."

Carter chuckled. "I don't, don't worry. But you and I share something in common. John Reese saved us both."

Darren stared. "You knew Reese? John?" Finally, he knew the man's first name.

Carter smiled. "Yeah. My mom was the lady detective that helped you put those guys away."

Darren's jaw dropped.

His new friend explained. "The mob kidnapped me to try to get my mom to cooperate. Reese rescued me." He sobered. "My mom died saving his life."

Darren frowned, thinking of the loss of his own mother. "I'm sorry." He said softly.

Taylor nodded. "Thanks - it was a long time ago. After that, he checked in with me once in a while - see if I was okay - if I needed anything. But eventually he just stopped coming… I figured somebody finally got the drop on him. I knew I was right when, about a year after he disappeared, a woman stopped me in the street and handed me a package. All she said was "John Reese should be remembered." There was a note inside. It said… well, here." He handed Darren a sheet of paper.

Reese cared about people. He never had any 'things' he cared about. But in later years, he started keeping a few items around. You will find those items in this package. He left no explanations for any of them. Probably worried someone could be hurt for being connected to him. I didn't know him well enough to understand. Finch would've known, but he's gone now, too.
Do what you want. If you throw this away, no one will know the difference. But if you choose to - you can try to find the people who will understand. You always were a smart kid, and I liked your mom.
Good luck.

Darren looked up. "Items?"

Carter turned to the table next to them and poured a few items out of a manila envelope onto it. "Anything look familiar?"

Darren was suddenly struck with the strangest feeling. Until that moment he'd forgotten about the picture he'd drawn and handed to Reese the last day he'd ever seen him. A picture of Reese with his fourteen year old self beside him as a sidekick.

"Would you look at that? I always wanted a sidekick… thanks."

He could hear Reese's voice in his head as if the words had been said yesterday. He pawed through the items on the table looking for the drawing. It was an odd assortment: a bullet, a photo of a young Reese and a blond woman that had brown stains around the edges, an earbud, a plane ticket to Istanbul… the largest item was a baseball. There were a few other odds and ends - but no drawings. Darren began to shake his head until he slid a delicate necklace to the side to reveal an ordinary quarter. He froze, remembering.
"This… is my going rate."
And then - sitting in the car, shortly after he'd handed over the photo, Reese had held up the quarter he'd given him. "I'm, uh, still on the clock."
Darren smiled softly as he picked up the quarter and turned it in his fingers.

Taylor raised an eyebrow.

"This was how I 'hired' him." He shook his head. "Can't believe he kept it."

Taylor nodded. "You can keep it if you want. I'm just glad I could find you."

Darren shook his hand again. "Thanks. It means a lot."

oOo

For many years afterward, there was a small picture frame hanging above the door of the Neighborhood Center. In it was a single quarter. If you asked around enough, sooner or later you would find someone who knew the story. It was a story of honor, courage, change, and hope.

oO0Oo

A.N - Who do you think that woman was? I don't know for sure myself, although I have a guess... Review with your idea - (If you feel like it. :-D) I'd also be interested if you have any ideas about what else might have been in the envelope...