Notes and disclaimers in part one :)

For better or worse here's the end. Thanks to all of you who've left feedback it's been greatly appreciated. Apologies if

there's any strange formatting.

Michelle stood in the living room of her apartment staring down at the ocean below.

The sun was just starting to set.

After a shower and a nap she felt refreshed. Not quite healed from the events of the

day. Michelle wasn't sure if she'd ever be completely healed but she was definitely on

the road to recovery.

It felt weird to be home. Michelle had spent so little time here since she had been

employed by CTU. She'd never realized how good a view she had from this

apartment.

A knock at the front door drew Michelle out of her reverie and she walked toward the

door and opened it.

Tony stood in the hallway. He had changed into a pair of blue jeans, a red t-shirt and a

black leather bomber jacket.

"Hi."Michelle greeted as she stepped aside to allow him entry.

"Hi."Tony replied with a smile as he moved to stand next to her. He drew her into an

embrace as she closed the door behind them. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay."Michelle assured him as she rested her head against his chest.

Tony gently stroked her hair for a moment before pulling back so he can see her face.

"This is me.....you don't have to put up a brave front for me. You went through hell

today, Michelle."

Michelle smiled touched by his concern. "I'm alright, Tony. Really. I'm not as fragile as

you think."

Tony shook his head as he gently touched her right cheek. "I never thought you were

fragile."

Michelle nodded and melted back into his embrace.

They stayed like that for several minutes before Tony stepped back and took her right

hand in his.

"Let's go. Grab your coat."Tony suggested.

Michelle walked toward the front closet and took out her coat. "Where are we going?"

Tony smiled. "It's a surprise."

"Tony....."Michelle began as she put on her coat. Normally she loved surprises but

after today she couldn't take any more.

Tony reached over and squeezed her hand. "This is the good kind, I promise. Trust

me?"

Michelle smiled. "Always."

Tony opened the door and Michelle grabbed her purse. "Let's go."

*********

The sun was just finishing it's decent below the horizon when Tony pulled his car into

one of the parking lots along Venice Beach. As Tony turned off the engine Michelle

got out of the car and closed the door.

Tony got out and locked the vehicle and joined her.

Taking Michelle's right hand in his he led her over to the beach.

After walking for ten minutes or so Tony walked over to a cement bench sat down

pulling Michelle down next to him. All the while being careful of her injured arm.

"This is nice."Michelle murmured as Tony wrapped his right arm around her shoulders

and drew her close. She didn't want to think of how close she'd come to dying that

day. She didn't want to think of how she felt being locked in that trunk.

Tony let out a shuddering breath. There was a lot of things he had to say and he didn't

know quite where to begin. So he started with something simple. "You have no idea

how sorry I am, Michelle."

Michelle pulled back concern in her eyes as she placed a comforting hand on his chest.

"For what?"

"Auda shoving you in that car trunk at gunpoint.....the kidnapping. Everything you went

through today leads back to me."

Michelle saw the unshed tears in his eyes and fought against her own. "Tony, listen to

me, please. None of what happened to me today was your fault."

Tony shook his head. "I ordered you to question Ali. I knew what the man was and I

still let you interrogate him."

Michelle placed her hand under Tony's chin forcing him to meet her gaze. "I knew the

risks, Tony. I knew the risks when I took this job. If you hadn't ordered me to

interrogate Ali I would've found a way in there anyway. I was determined to help

Jack. This isn't your fault, Tony. If it's anybody's its the people behind Second Wave."

Tony nodded in acknowledgment before he continued. "I tried everything I could to

protect you and I still nearly lost you. Seeing Auda press that gun against your

head.....knowing he was becoming unstable....I don't think I've ever been so scared. I

was terrified that I couldn't get you out, that I couldn't full fill my promise."

The tears Michelle had been fighting against broke free but she didn't care. This

wonderful man had been willing to give up everything for her. Michelle didn't know

how she deserved that but she was grateful.

"You did full fill your promise, Tony. Jack told me how you stood up to Chappelle and

Divison when they wanted to shut the rescue down. You both could've walked away

but you didn't. I'm grateful for that, more than you'll ever know."

Tony gently took her free hand away from his face and tenderly wiped the tears away

from her face.

Tony smiled. "I couldn't walk away. You've become such a part of my life that I

couldn't picture you not being in it. I couldn't let Auda take away our future before we

even had a chance to start it."

Michelle's tears were happy tears now. She'd been afraid that it'd been the events of

the day that caused Tony to have dinner with her. That she'd been convenient,

something to grab onto when chaos was raining down around him. But she could see it

in his eyes now that he really wanted to give this new relationship a try.

Tony misinterpreted her silence. A frown began to cross his face. "Unless, after

everything that happened today. Did you change your mind about us? We can take it

as slow as you want...."

Michelle leaned forward and kissed him. When they broke apart Michelle smiled as

she said. "I'd never change my mind about us. It's the only good thing I have."

Tony pulled Michelle onto his lap and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. He

rested his head on top of hers and watched the waves beat against the shore. Tony

couldn't remember the last time he'd been this content.....this happy.

After several minutes Michelle was about to drift off to sleep. The traumatic events of

the day beginning to catch up with her. Just as Michelle's eyes drooped closed she felt

Tony reach into his jacket pocket.

"Almost forgot."Tony said softly as he took the six inch long jeweler's box out of his

pocket. "I picked this up on my way home tonight. Hope you like it."

Michelle sat up and took the box from him. She gently fingered the purple velvet as

she looked at him. "Tony, you didn't have to."

Tony smiled. "I know....I wanted to. Go on, open it."

Michelle slowly lifted the lid of the thin box and gasped softly. Nestled inside on a gold

chain was a simple diamond shaped heart.

"Tony, it's beautifal."Michelle whispered as she gently lifted the necklace out of the

box.

"I'm glad you like it."Tony replied as he took the necklace from her. "Here let me help

you put it on."

"I love it, Tony. Thank you."Michelle said softly as Tony placed the necklace around

her neck and closed the clasp.

"You're welcome."Tony replied as he turned her around so she was facing him. "With

our jobs it won't be easy but I promise we'll find a way to make this work."

"I know."Michelle said as she leaned forward and captured Tony's lips with hers in a

long passionate kiss.

The next few days Michelle knew wouldn't be easy. But whatever life threw at them

Michelle knew they'd be able to handle it.

end