AN: And here's the last chapter… you guys have been so awesome to stick with it for so long!

I awoke the next morning to beams of sunlight peeking shyly around the blinds. Last night was just a dream. When I get up, I convinced myself, everything would be back to normal.

"Did you sleep well?" A familiar voice greeted me.

I opened my eyes groggily, refusing to budge from the comfort of the pillows. "Good morning to you. You get any sleep?"

He was sitting in a chair, next to the bed, watching me. "Not really. I've been tying up some loose ends with what happened last night.

I groaned. So it wasn't a dream after all. "Did they find the body?"

He shook his head. "No, but I didn't expect them to."

I slowly sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes, in a vain attempt to wake up and shut out of my mind what had happened last night. But the images cam rushing back. The pounding rain. The iron grip of both my arms by the two men who dangled precariously over the cliff. James' pleading voice and pledge to love me, take care of me, and never leave me; Holmes' calm, collected voice, telling me that it was my decision and completely my decision- and I had made one.

The memories of what happened after that seemed more jumbled. I remember changing into dry clothes and promptly falling asleep on the hotel chair as he talked to police. He must have carried me to the bed. And here I was, sitting up, facing him. His eyes were uncharacteristically soft, reflecting a concern that I had never seen before. He got up from the chair and sat next to me on the bed, never taking his eyes off of me.

"Why me?" he whispered.

The fool still didn't know. "Because I trust you, Holmes."

The pause that followed my admission was the longest I had ever experienced. Holmes closed his eyes, seemingly lost deep in though, unmoving, contemplating his next move. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. I began to feel slightly uncomfortable.

I couldn't stand the silence anymore. "Holmes, I…"

Holmes shushed me, putting his fingers on my lips. "Don't say another word," he murmured, tucking wayward strands of hair behind my ears. I could feel his nervousness as his trembling fingers brushed against my hot cheeks. He smiled ruefully at me. "I have a hard time trusting people, but it's no excuse for what I said to you. I'm sorry- and I will never question your intentions again."

I was now in complete disbelief. He was apologizing? Maybe I should save his life more often.

Not even his apology could have prepared me for what happened next. He leaned forward, and after a slight hesitation, pulled me into his arms- a soft and gentle embrace- something I previously did not believe Holmes to be ever capable of. "Thanks," he mumbled.

I felt a hot blush creep up in my cheeks before we finally broke apart. "Anytime."

Holmes then pulled a pair of tickets out of his back pocket as he eased himself off the bed, regaining something of his old manner. "Now then, I have box seats for Das Reingold tonight. Might I trouble you to be ready in a few minutes so we can be back in LA in time for the show?"

AN: And as Kittenchatter says, "We all know who she dropped." ;)

Thanks again to those who reviewed, especially those who've stuck with this story for so long- snowwolf, Kittenchatter, Komikitty, Mists of Myth, LeperMessiah86 and Blue Crayon, Es, Nightbreeze, Kerowyn, Silent Beatnik, jepa, Silcatra, Rosethorn, Kenta Divina, Pinkpanther, Finley, Moonrose1, A.Spencer, .. and anyone else I forgot.

Now a question to you all: I have one last story with Laura Watson/Jake Holmes in mind (where we finally address Holmes' past as well as other things, cough cough)… would it be something you guys would like to read? Let me know!