"Pete, hi. Can I come in?" Kimberly asked hesitantly after knocking on the young deputy's door.
Pete had to restrain himself from stepping back from her, and he knew from their last conversation that she wasn't someone to back down easily. He studied the remorse in her eyes for a second, and he had to feel terrible about all that she had been through as well. He had heard bits and pieces of it from Kenny and Max, and he knew Jimmy was doing his best to cover his shock at his daughter's behavior.
"Sure," he said reluctantly. "Long time no see. How is everything going Kimberly?"
"Not so good," she sighed, as he moved to let her enter. "I've been looking at my own actions of late, and I don't like who I'm becoming Pete. I never in my entire life would have tried to hurt and manipulate someone the way I did to... well a lot of people. Have you ever just felt alone in the world? And you want one person to just accept you for who you are?"
"I think everyone has felt that way," Pete replied, watching her carefully. "Everyone is looking for somebody to care about them."
"I know. I talked to Max and my parents yesterday," Kim began. "Apologized, and tried to explain why I did what I did. All of them... they all listened to me. I'm not sure if Max believed me completely, but she was giving the benefit of the doubt. Mom and Dad, all I know is that I disappointed them, and I want them to be able to look at me without doubt and worry."
"Why are you telling me this?" Pete asked bluntly.
"I want to tell you how sorry I am," she continued quietly. "I took advantage of you and your crush on Max. I should have never put you in that position, I shouldn't have put anybody in it. It wasn't fair to you, Kenny, Max or my parents. I know you might never want to ever see me again or believe me, but I want to apologize. I think I need to get some help, but Pete I never meant to hurt you or anyone else."
Pete sighed. "You did hurt a lot of people, Kimberly, and it's going to take them awhile to heal. You can't make all of this disappear with one simple apology."
"I know, but it's a start," she replied firmly.
"That it is," Pete agreed, feeling some of his walls break down when he looked at her then, "Do you want to stay awhile? We can just hang out and talk some more?"
Kim nodded. "I'd like that."
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Kenny couldn't tear his gaze away from Max, as she talked quietly with Jill in the corner. He knew they both thought he was asleep, but he just wanted to look at her for a few minutes. He decided that she looked like she swallowed a soccer ball, although the rest of her was as slim as ever. He couldn't help by speculate what their child would look like, and he hoped that it would have its mothers red hair. There was something about red hair, Kenny mused to himself, and he wanted to run his fingers through hers. Straining his ears a bit, he tried to pick up some of Max and Jill's conversation.
"Today? Are you sure?" he heard Max ask quietly.
"Physically, he's fine. The rest of the memory loss, being around familiar surroundings might jog some more of it," Jill replied. "I know you're under a lot of stress right now. I need to know if you can handle this."
"Of course I can," Max replied somewhat defensively. "The trial is over, and being pregnant isn't exactly a burden."
"It looks like it's agreeing with you," Jill replied, thinking how she was glowing. "Your due dates getting close, about two more months. Nervous yet?"
"Somewhat," she admitted. "I don't know anything about kids. I talked to my sister a few days ago, she has two, but she wasn't much help. They spend most of their time with a nanny."
"You'll be fine," Jill insisted, nodding towards Kenny. "I think that someone is awake."
Max turned to look back at him and shot him a quick smile. "Hi. I thought that you were sleeping."
"I was for awhile," Kenny replied, as the two women made their way over to his bed. "How long have you been here for?"
"About fifteen minutes," Max replied, catching Jill's eye. "I just wanted to check up on you."
"And," Kenny prodded, wanting to know what they were talking about.
"You're going home today," Jill informed him. "I still want you to get plenty of rest, but there isn't any need for you to be here anymore. Plus being around your own things might bring back the rest of your memories."
"Really?" he responded, and he realized that he wasn't exactly sure where home was. "I feel pretty good."
"It shouldn't take to long to get the paperwork in order, so I'll be back shortly," Jill said noting his distant expression.
Kenny watched her go before turning back to Max. "Hey, where do we live exactly?"
"We bought a house about a year ago, over on Lakeshore. We lived in your apartment for the first few months, but with all of our stuff we decided to get something bigger. It's nice, it backs up to the woods and if you take the path for about a half mile you come to the lake."
Kenny tried to picture it, but nothing came to him. "Well I guess I'll have to wait until I can see it."
"You practically dragged me there when you first saw it," she said with a smile. "And said it was big enough for the six kids you were planning on."
"You're not having six right now," he asked quickly.
"Not that I'm aware of," Max replied as she carefully lowered herself into a chair. Kenny watched her and part of him still couldn't believe that she was his wife. Even with all that he could remember part of him was still in shock over it. "I think that one will suffice for now."
"For now?" he asked grinning at her. "You planning ahead here?"
Max grinned back at him. "Hey, you're the one who wanted six."
"When did I tell you that?" Kenny asked.
Her smile faded, and Max knew that he didn't remember that conversation. "It was the night after you proposed to me, and we were wondering what would have happened if we started our relationship sooner."
"Oh," Kenny said thoughtfully, and looked over at her engagement and wedding ring. "I see I gave you my grandmother's ring."
"Yeah. You were quite sweet about it too," Max said truthfully, recalling that day in the park. "Oh Kenny... there's just so much that happened, and I hate the fact that your stuck at such a bad time."
"I keep picturing that night," he said quietly. "And I know you don't want to talk about it, but Max it just kills me to think of Danny hurting you like that."
She nodded and gathered up all her strength before responding. "Do you want to talk about it? Kenny I've been over it a thousand times, and I'll do it again. I know it hurts, and I want you to know that you were wonderful to me after it happened. I wasn't the easiest person to handle, but whatever I needed or wanted, you were there."
"You know what I want? I want to go home with you, and figure the rest of this out later," Kenny replied. "I don't want to drag you through this all again. Let's get out of here first."
Max smiled, feeling a little bit relieved that he wasn't going to push the rape issue with her. "Sounds like a plan."
Kenny knew that a giant burden had been lifted off her shoulders at his words and he so happy that he could give her at least that much. "Max? I love you... I know I haven't said it recently, but I do. I always have and I'll always be in love with you."
"Are you trying to make me cry?" Max said softly, as his words filled her heart. "I love you too, I've wanted to say it for weeks now, but I really wasn't sure how you'd take it."
Jill stood in the doorway and listened to the tail end of their conversation, and she could practically feel her heart break for her two friends. Rapping on the door softly, she came in with Kenny's release papers.
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"She's not going to prison," Jimmy asked Georgia that same afternoon. "Bone is actually sending her to the mental institution?"
"She's not in her right mind, and with the proper help he believes that she might be able to get a grip on reality again," Georgia said. "Then she might be able to appreciate going to prison more."
"This women killed a dozen men, many of them criminals themselves, manipulated woman, and shot Kenny!"
"Some of the papers are calling her hero," Georgia said. "She saved these women from their abusers."
"She is a murder," Jimmy said evenly. "There are other ways to exact justice, that is what the system is for."
"I agree, but it is kind of poetic for the shrink to be sent to the institution," Georgia said with a smile. "She's not going to like that."
"Probably not," Jimmy conceded. "I'm not sure I do either."
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"Wow," Kenny said, as he and Max went home. "We actually live here?"
"Yup," she said, smiling at his astounded expression. "We put a lot of work into it, but it's ours. At least it will be when we pay the mortgage off."
Kenny shook his head, as he turned back to look at her. "We've both certainly grown up. A house in the suburbs, a baby... what next? We don't own a mini-van do we?"
"No, you're bike is in the garage, even though you haven't taken me out on it since you knocked me up," Max said. "And your truck and my jeep. I'm putting off the mini-van, I'm not sure I'm soccer mom material."
"You're going to be great," Kenny said, as he pulled her into his arms. "Max?"
Max paused at his distant expression, and he looked deep in thought. "Hey, what is it?"
He looked down at her thoughtfully for a moment before responding. "We were in a park, and I remember being really nervous, right after the trial..."
He trailed off, and Max couldn't help getting her hopes up that it was all coming back as he continued. "I really said I wanted six kids? Guess you weren't making that up?"
"No," Max said through her tears.
"Our wedding," Kenny continued quietly. "You looked amazing, so beautiful... it scared me."
"It scared me too, all of it," Max said softly. "We were both ready to bolt that day."
He smiled at her, and she could tell that he remembered it by the glint in his eye. He tightened his arms around her waist and kissed her softly. "How could I have forgotten all of this? My wife... you know you're so much more then that to me? You're my best friend, Max, and the most intelligent, beautiful, caring, trustworthy, loyal, and incredibly sexy woman I've ever known."
"What happened to stubborn, reckless, impulsive, and ambitious?" Max asked through her tears. "I never thought you would look at me this way again."
He ran his fingers through her hair, and cupped her face in his hands. "I remember everything... nearly falling over when you said you were pregnant... you weren't kidding when you said these last few months have been interesting."
She shook her head, not quite able to speak yet. Never in her entire life had she felt so joyful and thankful, and when he lowered his mouth to hers Max vowed never to take any of this for granted again.
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"You look great," Pete said to Kim later that same night. He wasn't really sure it was a good idea to date his bosses daughter, but he couldn't help feeling drawn to her. He knew she had serious issues to deal with, but Pete also realized that he had helped feed her fantasy. He couldn't help but feel attracted to her, and in many ways they were a lot alike.
"Thank you," she responded, smoothing out her short blue dress. "It's been awhile since I've been on a date."
"Me too," Pete said, thinking of their recent activities. "I just hope we both enjoy it.
He held out his hand to her and she took it shyly. Looking up into his handsome tanned face, Kim couldn't help smiling at him. He was adorable, she conceded and much closer to own age then Kenny. And single.
"Let's go have a good time," she said. "We've earned one."
13131313131313
"If she had hurt you while I was off talking to Kimberly," Kenny trailed off. "I couldn't have forgiven myself for that one."
"She didn't," Max insisted. "I'm pretty good at taking care of myself Kenny, even though I felt completely relieved when the three of you came bursting in. For all of five seconds."
"We're both going to have to be more careful," he replied. "We don't want our kids growing up without their parents."
"No we don't," Max agreed. "I said the same thing myself. We seem to attract trouble though, maybe we should have our auras cleaned."
"Our auras? You're not serious," Kenny asked, running his hands over her stomach.
She grinned at him, and wanted him. Max knew how much she hurt after she was shot a few years ago, and recalled when he tried kissing her the first day out of the hospital, well it hurt a lot. She just wanted to curl up with him, and hold him close. She was happy that they were both alive and healthy.
"You're wonderful," she breathed. "I love you Kenny, please just don't ever scare me like that again."
"I won't," he promised, taking her by the hand. "How about we go upstairs?"
13131313131313
"Pete," Kimberly moaned as he kissed her in the car. "Oh Pete."
Pete couldn't quite believe he was necking with Kimberly Brock after all they had done together in the past few months, and he was positive that her father would hate him for it.
"Kim," he gasped, pulling away slightly. "My god, you're beautiful."
She blushed slightly, and smoothed his hair back from his face. "You make me feel that way. Tonight has been terrific... You're the sweetest guy I've ever known."
Flattered by her compliment, Pete knew he didn't want to take advantage of this vulnerable girl. He knew she had been through a lot, and he wanted to take it slowly with her.
"Do you want to go out dancing?" he asked. "It's still early, and I know this great little club."
"Sure, I could work off some of that food I ate," she replied with a wide smile. "Lets go."
As he started up the car he couldn't help but feel like life was coming together again for him. Shooting a sideways glance at the young woman next to him he smiled to himself as he thought towards the future.
13131313131313
"She wants to see me," Max asked dubiously. "I thought she wanted to kill me."
"You don't have to do it," Jimmy replied, hoping that she would choose not too. "But knowing you the way I do, I thought you might want to."
Lying happily in Kenny's arms that morning the last thing Max wanted to do was move, much less go see Jen Davis who had tried to kill her and shot Kenny.
"Do we know why?" Max finally asked.
"She's psychotic," Jimmy said dryly. "She really doesn't need a reason then. She's been quiet lately, and I think she feels badly about what happened to Gina."
So do I, Max thought. "Gina had a lot of problems, more so then anyone realized before. I wish I had done more for her, and Jen should feel badly for taking advantage of her like that."
"Do you want to see her or not?" Jimmy asked.
Glancing over at Kenny, and knowing his reaction to when she went to go see Danny, the last thing Max wanted to do was rock the boat anymore, but she was oddly intrigued by Jen's desire to see her.
"Can I think about it? She isn't getting dragged off to the hospital for a few more days," Max replied finally.
"That's fine," Jimmy replied. "How's everything going at home?"
Max smiled over at Kenny who was beginning to kiss her neck. "Oh things are a lot better. I'll let you know about that, I've really got to go. Something is starting to burn."
Knowing about Max's lack of aptitude in the kitchen, Jimmy said a quick good bye as Kenny continued to kiss her.
"What's burning?" he asked grinning at her, as he ran his hand over her pregnant stomach.
"Me," she replied kissing him quickly. He kissed her back, and their bodies easily joined together.
13131313131313
"Sir? Do you have a moment," Pete asked knocking on Jimmy's door.
Jimmy glanced up at the young deputy, and made note of his nervous expression. He knew that Pete had been avoiding him, and thought it must be serious for him to initiate a conversation.
"Sure, have a seat," Jimmy answered, as Pete closed the door behind him. He sat down reluctantly in front of Jimmy's desk and felt like he was in high school again.
"I know you don't think much of me," Pete began, and hated that he sounded like a teenager at the moment. "And I've bent over backwards trying to fix my past mistakes."
"I know."
"Well, um, Kimberly came to see me a few days ago, to apologize," Pete continued nervously. "And I know she feels terrible for everything that has happened, and is ready to move on from it."
"I know, she talked to Jill and myself," Jimmy said, wondering were Pete was heading with this conversation.
"She didn't want me to come and talk to you," Pete replied hastily. "But I wouldn't feel right about this without at least asking you. She is your daughter after all."
"Yes she is," Jimmy agreed, having no idea what Pete was talking about.
"We went out to dinner and then went dancing a few nights ago," Pete said finally. "And I really like her sir. I know we both made some mistakes, but we're doing our best to rectify them."
"You want to date my daughter?" Jimmy said slowly, thinking that this situation reeked of déjà vu. "You're serious?"
"Yes," Pete said nervously. "I know how you reacted when she and Kenny went out, but I'm 23 and she's 22, we're both adults here."
"You hurt my daughter, and I'll hurt you."
"Yes sir," Pete replied rising, holding out his hand. "Thank you sir."
Jimmy shook it reluctantly, and hoped that Pete might be a good influence on his daughter. He was honest when he messed up, and he genuinely seemed to care about people. He was just misguided, and Jimmy promised to monitor the situation.
13131313131313
"You sure?" Jimmy asked Max lowly the same day. "She's put you through the ringer lately."
"I'm sure," Max replied, with a lot more confidence then she had. "Professionally I'm curious about why she wants to see me, and personally I want to throttle her."
"Stay professional then," Jimmy said dryly. "Go on in."
Max shot him a look, and knew that he'd be waiting for her at the end of the hallway. Recently she had found his fatherly concern for her sweet instead of feeling resentful for it. Knowing her protectiveness for her unborn child, Max understood where he was coming from. Slowly she walked down to Jen's cell, and the therapist looked up with a malicious grin.
"Well you're looking plump," she said in way of greeting. "Most women would kill to look like that when they're pregnant."
"I hear you kill for a much lesser reason," Max shot back, as she tried to retain her professionalism.
"No, I do it to save lives," Jen replied. "Thanks to you and your friends here these bastards will get away with it."
"There are other options," Max argued, knowing that they had this argument before. "What did you want, Doctor? You're not my favorite person at the moment."
"How is you husband doing?"
"Fine," Max said evenly by sheer force of will, not wanting Jen to get the reaction she was looking for.
"I wanted to talk about Gina," Jen replied lowly. "She would have never killed herself if her past hadn't come out. I want you to know that I hold you entirely responsible for her death. You could have kept your mouth shut and honored your vow to the group, but instead you drove a fragile women to suicide. I hope you're satisfied with yourself, and you can go to bed happy every night knowing you did your civic duty."
"She didn't have to kill herself," Max replied just as coldly as Jen, "She's not the first person to have problems, and her past would have never been an issue if the two of you hadn't killed Kurt Campbell. Don't put this on me, you took advantage of that girls emotions and used them."
"He hurt her, and deserved to pay," Jen insisted. "As do you, but that is going to happen another time."
Max smiled at her. "I feel badly that Gina was abused so badly throughout her life, by her family and by you. And you're right, I do feel partly responsible for her death, and I wish I did more for her when she was alive. Like making her report her brothers abuse of her, but I don't pin your guilt on me."
"You bitch," Jen hissed. "When I get out of here..."
"You won't," Max finished for her. "Have a good time at the funny farm."