"This is crazy," Marcie said to herself as she sat in Rex's new restaurant. It reminded her a lot of Ultra Violet, same crowd, same look. There was a small illusion of water running around the bar. The walls seemed as if there were dozens of tiny waterfalls.

"Marcie," Paul said, seeing her. "I didn't think I'd see you here tonight."

"Why not?" Marcie said nervously, almost defensively.

"Hey, just saying," Paul defended. "You just lost your best friend. I'm sorry."

Marcie let down her guard a bit, sensing sincerity. "Thanks," she said, letting her eyes focus on Paul's face in the dim light of the club. The dark purple bruise forming around his eye became clear. "Oh my God," she said "What happened to you?"

Paul lifted his fingers to lightly brush the black and blue. "Oh this?" he said. "It's nothing. Doing a favor for a friend. Well not really a friend.. It's nothing. Really."

Marcie raised her eyebrows. "Right." she said heading over to the bar with him.

"I'll buy you a drink," Paul said, ordering a beer.

"No... thanks. Medication." Marcie lied. She looked around the restaurant, hoping to see Riley, but knowing that he wouldn't come. He still couldn't. He and Jen had gotten a lot closer in the past months. Marcie didn't blame him for staying away. Perhaps she should have done the same.

She watched Rex as he stood down at the end of the bar, watching the crows pouring into the new establishment. He lit the candles that were sitting atop the bar, giving the restaurant the final touch of the Nile at sunset.

But then Marcie thought of Jen again, walking towards the door. "I can't be here." she said to Paul. "I have to... go to Reverend Joey at St. James. I have to... I'm sorry." She was distraught, hurried out the door.

Paul sighed, saw Rex look over at him. "Guess she's still beating herself up over this," he said with a shrug. "Why are you even here? You and Jen were tight."

"She wanted this," Rex said. "You know Jen. Always loved a good party." Rex let out an exasperated sigh. "Watch the bar for me, Cramer."

Paul laughed. "And where the hell are you going?"

"I need some space," he said. "Peace. I'll be back before the ball drops just..."

"That's not even an hour," Paul said. " Where do you think I'm going?" Rex spit. "China? I'm stepping out for some air."

"You know, all these favors I'm doing for you and I've yet to see any cash."

"That's why they call them favors." Rex grabbed his coat.

"I got the crap beat out of me by RJ so you wouldn't have to fork over the extra bucks for this place. My eye is the color of an eggplant."

"You wear it well." Rex said. "Watch the bar."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Paul said. "I want my cash, Balsom."

"Keep the tips," Rex said leaving the restaurant.

"Tips," Paul scoffed. "Who leaves tips anymore?"

>>>>>>

Marcie sat in one of the pews at St., James. She only hoped that Joey would be there. He had to be. Jen was his wife. She took a deep breath, staring toward the front. It hadn't been that long ago that she had been right there for Al's memorial. A few tears trickled down her cheek but she quickly wiped them away. She cried for them all. For Al, For Jessica and Jen. She loved them and now they were gone.

At first Marcie didn't even realize that the seat beside her filled, but she looked to her left and saw Rex, his face blank, without emotion.

"I thought you were Reverend Joey for a minute," she said. "I never took you as a religious person, Rex."

"You either," he said simply.

"When my brother ended up in Iraq I guess I wandered back a little. It helps a little I guess. There's just been so much death. Pointless and... I don't know." Marcie paused. "I just hope the police find the guy who did this, who killed Jen..."

"He has to live with what he's done to her. She shouldn't have had to die."

"She didn't have to die," Marcie said. "Jen didn't deserve that. You know that. You loved her."

"And she loved the Reverend," Rex said. "And God knows she loved Colson."

"Riley?" Marcie said.

"Oh you didn't know?" Rex said, "Your best friend getting some on the side."

"Stop it," Marcie said.

"I knew she could never be happy with Joe. I told her that. And it was true. But instead of turning to the one person who loved her unconditionally, instead of coming to me, she went to him. To Riley, who... just like Joe, wanted to change her."

"That's not true," Marcie cried. "Rex, you're just upset."

"I saw them together. The night she died. He dropped her off down the block from her house. He kissed her..."

"They were friends." she said.

"You don't kiss your friends like that," Rex said. "She looked at him like she never looked at anyone. That's why she died."

>>>>>>

Al walked into the restaurant. "Raging Waters," he said to himself. "At least the name fits the place." He looked around, spotting familiar faces, people who needed to be out, who needed the new year to come and bring them a new start. Antonio Vega sat alone at a booth in the corner, Natalie and Joey slowly made their way up to the bar. But no Marcie. Al was sure she would have been there.

He leaned over the bar, picking up the lighter that Rex had used to light the candles earlier and twirled it in his fingers.

"Where's Rex?" Natalie asked Paul as he served her and Joey up two drinks.

"He took a break," Paul said. He looked at Joey. "I thought you were meeting Marcie."

"I haven't seen Marcie since Jen..." Joey trailed off.

Al didn't feel right, gazing down in his hand at the shiny silver lighter. The lighter with the engraving. RW "RW. Raging Waters. It wasn't a name," Al said. "All this time we thought it was a name. Where'd she go?" Al said to Paul. "Marcie. Where'd she say she was going!"

"St. James," Paul replied. "She'll be back when she sees Joe's not there."

"Call John," Al said to Natalie.

"What?" she said.

"Just call John and tell him to get to St. James." Al didn't wait, bolting out of the restaurant and running as fast as he could towards St. James.

>>>>>>

Marcie went to stand. "She had to die," Rex said. "She played me. Made me think that I had a chance to get her back. I loved her." Rex's fingers wrapped around the red leotard.

"I know," Marcie shook. "I know you did,"

"But who'd she turn to when he marriage was falling apart? Not me. Colson. I didn't want to kill her. Not like the others."

"Why?" Marcie asked, crying. Why'd you kill the other girls?"

"Started as protection," Rex said, cornering Marcie up at the front of St. James. "Money, Marc. I owe a lot of people money. Susan Gellman, Noralynn Atkins. They knew RJ. RJ paid them to find a way to get his money. To trick me into paying up. Marissa... Marissa couldn't handle a little honest fun and we had a few drinks. I didn't rape her."

"You didn't," Marcie said. "You didn't."

"I couldn't let her squeal. And when Madison found out what happened..."

"You killed her too," Marcie said softly. "And Jessica?"

"I had already gone that far," he said "So why not go after the Commisioner's niece?"

"Why me?" Marcie said.

"Now you know," Rex said. Marcie couldn't move. "How can I let you go, Marc?"

"I won't tell anyone. I swear I won't."

Rex shook his head, catching her off guard, leotard going around her neck. Marcie struggled trying to fight him off.

"Marcie!" Al called, running into St., James. "Marcie!" Marcie had slumped, lifeless, Rex turning to face Michael. The police were filing in.

"Don't move, Balsom!" John said as the officers surrounded him. "You're under arrest."

Al ran over to Marcie, gathering her in his arms. "Marcie?" he said. She was motionless. "Sweetie... please. Please open your eyes."

"Al..." Marcie managed to say.

Al smiled. "That's right. That's right sweetie."

"You came for me..."

Al shook his head. "No," he said as she went limp in his arms. "No, Marcie, you're gonna be OK. Marcie? Marcie?"

"Let her go, sugar," Luna said gently as the countdown to midnight began. TEN.

"What? She saw me She saw me, Luna. You can't take her." NINE.

"It's her time, darlin'." EIGHT.

"Is that why I came back? To Give her peace before she died?" Luna was silent. "You know. You knew she was gonna die!" SEVEN.

"You couldn't know." Luna said. "It would have been different if you knew." SIX.

"Yeah, Marcie would be alive!" Al cried. "I would have been able to save her!" FIVE.

"It's destiny, darlin'." FOUR.

"No. I am done with destiny! I am so done with destiny. What was the point of it all! Take it back. Take it all back! I don't care what happens to me! I don't care if I have to die a thousand deaths and live out eternity in hell. I don't care who I have to sell my soul to! Don't take her. I love her Luna. Don't take her and my little girl. Please." THREE.

"The rules, Al." TWO

"Forget about the rules. You forgot about them for me. Forget about them for her. I don't care if I never see the light of day again. But don't take Marcie. I don't care what happens to me anymore. Don't take her, Luna. Don't take her. Take me. Take me now." ONE.

>>>>>>

Darkness. All that AL could hear was a mumbled voice and he was terrified to open his eyes. "Al?" he heard. "Al?" He eased his eyes open, the light bright and blinding. A figure stood over him. "Welcome back," the voice was calm and comforting.

"Where... am I?" Al said softly.

"You're in the hospital. You just got out of surgery. I'm doctor McBain."

"Michael?" Al's eyes came into focus.

"That's right," he said. "Michael McBain. How do you feel?"

"Marcie." Al managed to say. "Where's Marcie. Is she... is she OK?"

"She's outside." Michael said.

"I need to see her. Marcie..." Michael nodded, stepped out.

Marcie appeared in the doorway. "Al?" she choked softly. "Hey..." A tear rolled down Al's cheek. "Oh, don't cry. Don't cry."

He was really there. He was alive. He was in the hospital and he was alive. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again." Al said.

"I knew you'd be OK." Marcie said. "I knew you would." She sat on the edge of his bed, running her fingers gently through his hair. "You're gonna be just fine. And we're going to move in together and we're going to be so happy. So happy. You're well, your mom is well."

"My mom's OK?" Al said. "Good. Oh that's so good."

"What happened while you were under?" Marcie asked. "It's like you're life has changed."

Al smiled. "It did, sweetie. I got my life back. My life with you. Here." He pulled Marcie closer, kissing her. "Let's just say... I got a glimpse of what could have been if I didn't come back to you and I... God Marcie. I want everything to be perfect."

"Wow that must have been some dream." Marcie said.

Al took a deep breath. "Yeah... a dream..." he paused, taking her cheeks in his hands. "God I love you Marcie."

"I love you too," Marcie cried. "Wait until Jess sees you. And Jen. Everyone's here."

"Everyone," Al said. He kissed her again. "Forever Marc. We're gonna be together forever."

"I like the sound of that," Marcie smiled. She settled down beside Al, arm cast gently across him, cuddling in. Resting her head against his chest, Al lifted his hand and ran his fingers softly through her hair.

"This is only the beginning, sweetie." Al smiled. It was the truth and as Marcie drifted to sleep, Al's memories of his experiences as Michael McBain began to fade. It was a new start. Al kissed the top of Marcie's head smiling, shutting his eyes, speaking softly. "Only the beginning."

THE END