Epilogue

Several days later, Mark, Jesse, and Amanda were gathered around the table on the beach house deck, with Steve comfortably ensconced on the chaise lounge, a light blanket tucked around him. It was his first day home from the hospital, and the gang was sharing a celebratory meal. Cheryl had been by earlier to tie up the loose ends surrounding the case, including the fact that they had finally located Tommy Callander, and the four friends were discussing the information she had brought.

"So Callander never had anything to do with this at all," mused Mark.

Steve nodded. "Apparently he was involved in attacking another girlfriend. When he recognized me as a cop, he was afraid she had pressed charges and I was there to arrest him. Another conviction for that would have resulted in a long stint in prison."

"I still can't get over the fact that Terri killed Pete just because they were getting close," said Jesse.

"Well, it wasn't exactly Terri who killed him," Mark said. "Her alternate is truly like a completely different person. As frequently happens with multiple personalities, Terri was completely unaware of the alternate's existence and what she was doing. And the alternate seems to have absorbed the attitude that Terri's father tried to instill – that all men were 'evil' and out to hurt her. She thought she was 'protecting' Terri."

"How does something like that happen?" asked Steve.

"Well, it's hard to say, of course," Mark replied. "But there's often some background of abuse in these cases. From what I found out talking to the psychiatrist who had treated Terri before she moved out here, her father was a pretty disturbed person himself."

They continued to talk about the case a little longer, then the conversation passed on to more pleasant things. After a while, Mark noticed that Steve was leaning back against the chaise lounge, looking pensive.

"Tired, son?" Mark asked.

"Not really." Steve looked up at his father soberly. "I was just thinking about some of the things you told us about Terri's father and some of the things she said. It must have been hell growing up with a father like that."

Mark reflected with affection that it was like Steve to be able to look beyond the attack on himself to try to understand the horrors that had warped someone who might otherwise have been a normal person.

"We can make sure she gets the help she needs now," Mark assured him. "Apparently she never finished her treatment with the psychiatrist she was seeing before. We'll make sure she gets assigned someone she can relate to better – that should make the treatment more effective."

Steve nodded, remembering Terri's complaints about the doctors she had known. "You know, she told me that she hated doctors – hated having a doctor for a father, hated that he was so judgmental and had such rigid expectations for her."

There was a momentary silence, then Jesse piped up: "I'll bet you're glad your dad's not like that!"

Steve grinned back at him, the somber mood broken. "It's kind of hard to think of Dad and 'rigid' in the same sentence," he admitted, casting an affectionate glance at his father.

They all shared a laugh, and spent a few more minutes in light conversation. Then Amanda and Jesse decided it was time to leave, observing that Steve shouldn't overdo it on his first day back. He laughed and protested, but they said their farewells, promising to see him again the next day.

Father and son were left alone together, and Steve went to stand beside Mark at the rail, looking out across the beach.

"You should go in and rest, Steve," Mark told him.

"I will, Dad," Steve assured him. "I just want to soak up the view for a few minutes."

Mark nodded and turned back to look out over the pleasant, peaceful scene. They stood there quietly for a while, content with the moment and each other's company.

"You know, Jesse was right about one thing," Steve said eventually, turning to his father with the glimmer of an affectionate smile in his eyes. Mark looked at him questioningly. "I am glad you're my dad."

Mark gazed back at him with a sudden rush of affection and a deep sense of gratitude for the continued presence of his son.

"Me too, son," he replied. "Me too."

THE END

Okay, folks, this was a bit different for me – hope you liked it! As always, feedback is deeply appreciated. Many thanks to those of you who have been providing feedback all along! You kept me going through the rough spots, and I hope you enjoyed it to the end! -- Nonny