Epilogue
Brian smiled at me. "So, what's the good news you wanted to tell me?" We were at dinner at his favorite restaurant on Christmas Eve, ten months after we returned from New Orleans. I had kept my promise to Brian about dinner, and found myself having such a good time that I agreed to another dinner. And then another one. And then a dinner and a movie. And then a play. And it was the perfect way to forget all that had happened with one Jake Holmes.
Brian, ever so tactful, had never pestered me for details about the falling out I had with Holmes, and I had never volunteered the information. Either way, Brian and I were happy in our own way. He was a complete gentleman, steady and comforting, loyal to a fault. Holmes was right about one thing- Brian definitely knew how to take care of me. I couldn't ask for anything more, and was very content with the way things were going. There was a safety being with Brian that I never fully felt with Holmes; I knew that if I asked for the moon, Brian would have jumped immediately into a rocket and brought it back.
I grinned at Brian, unable to contain my excitement any longer. "I got promoted," I gushed. "Anderson's retiring and they offered me his job."
"That's so great, honey!" Brian exclaimed. "Chief ME, that's something." He reached over, giving my hand a congratulatory squeeze.
I blushed. "Yeah, it means no night call ever again."
"Which means more time to spend with me," Brian winked.
"You goof. It's not less work, you know. Just different. Besides, who says I'd spend my free time with you?" I flashed him a teasing smile.
He sighed melodramatically. "Then who would you possibly spend your time with? Unknown John Doe #28 lying in crypt 15?"
"Only you could be jealous of a corpse," I countered.
"Touché. But I can't help it if I want to spend every waking moment with you."
I laughed, embarrassed. Brian was definitely quite the charmer. "You can't possibly mean that. For one, I have horrible morning breath."
Brian's face grew serious. He hesitated slightly, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small black velvet box. "Oh but I do mean it, Laura," his voice thick.
My breath caught in my throat. Was that…?
"Laura, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you the very first time I met you." He smiled nervously at me as he opened the box, revealing a sparkling diamond solitaire on a platinum band. "I really do owe Jake big time for introducing you to me."
I was vaguely aware that the commotion around us had stopped abruptly, and every patron and waiter nearby was eagerly awaiting my answer to Brian's yet to be asked question. My thoughts, however, drifted momentarily to Jake Holmes; Holmes, the unofficial consulting detective with the brooding eyes, hawk like nose, abrasive and cold personality, the one who had changed my life so much that I was now looking at my second chance- a chance that I thought I'd never have again. I glanced at the ring briefly before returning my gaze to Brian's face- hopeful, glowing, anxious, and most importantly, safe.
"Will you marry me, Laura?" Brian's whisper broke through my thoughts.
Brian would never break my heart. Brian would never hurt me. Any sensible person would have already said yes and kissed Brian senseless. I was far from being sensible, but even I had had enough. Ex-husband James, ex-affair Dr. Reingold, and unrequited love interest Jake Holmes. Enough, I told myself. You deserve some happiness.
"Yes," I replied simply, smiling back at Brian. "Definitely yes."
Brian's face lit up as he took the ring out and slid it on my finger. The next moment, applause (and catcalls) erupted from the tables next to ours, and I was being practically crushed in Brian's bear hug, until my pager interrupted our reverie.
Brian's face scrunched up. "Please tell me you don't have to go in tonight. I know you're on call, but still…"
I too, was slightly annoyed. "It's ok, if I do have to go in, it'll be the last time." I reached into my purse, pulled out my cell phone, and dialed the coroner's office.
"Dr. Watson. You paged?"
"Dr. Watson, someone's here to see you." Jim, one of the night clerks down at the office, sounded exasperated.
"Who is it?" I asked, puzzled.
"He says he really needs to talk to you, and I can't get him to leave."
"Ok, um, can you put him on the phone then?"
I heard some muffled conversation on the other end, but couldn't make out what was going on. "Dr. Watson, he says he really needs to speak with you in person."
"Is he a family member of a victim or something? What is this about?"
There was some more muffled conversation on the other end until suddenly, another voice came through, loud and clear. "Watson, I just need a minute of your time."
It was unmistakable; the sharp commanding voice could have only belonged to one Jake Holmes.
"What's this about?" I asked, apprehensive.
"Just come down, Watson." He hung up.
I closed my phone, casting an apologetic look at Brian. My curiosity was getting the best of me, however. I hadn't spoken to Holmes since that fateful day at in New Orleans, and here he was, calling me on Christmas Eve. "I don't know what it's about, but it shouldn't take more than 10 minutes."
Brian smiled. "I'll drive you then."
I grinned, grateful for the company. "That'd be great."
As Brian called for the check, I began to think- what could Holmes possibly want?
Brian and I arrived at the coroner's office about thirty minutes after I had gotten paged. He stayed in the front to chat with Jim while I headed to my office.
Holmes was perched on my desk in the office, his usual place whenever he came by. It was if nothing had changed. I closed the door behind me, and waited expectantly.
"Merry Christmas." He was the first to break the ice.
"Same to you." I studied Holmes' appearance a bit, trying to see if there were any clues as to what he had been up to these last ten months. Holmes looked in a rush; his hair was messier than usual, his clothes seemed thrown together in a haphazard fashion, as one of his shoelaces wasn't even tied. His face was haggard, worried, and he was fidgeting with the Rubik's cube I usually used as a paperweight.
He smiled as he got off the desk and walked towards me. "You look nice."
"Thanks." I felt a tiny blush creep into my cheeks. I had gone to extra lengths to dress up for dinner tonight with Brian, wearing a dark burgundy chiffon dress and even curling my hair.
"I realized something today," Holmes stopped in his tracks, as if unsure what to say next.
I nodded, encouraging him to continue. "Oh?"
"We've been through a lot together and I don't ever want you to think that I didn't appreciate it. Since New Orleans though…" his voice trailed off for a moment before he continued. "I just want to know if you still feel the same way because I just signed the papers on a vineyard and I was wondering if you-" he came to an abrupt halt as he stared at the diamond ring on my finger.
"I suppose congratulations are in order then," he said, after a momentary pause, his voice hoarse.
I nodded, my face flushing. "He asked earlier tonight. But what were you wondering?"
Holmes involuntarily took a step back. "I just wanted to know if you and Brian would come visit sometime," he mumbled, his face glazing over.
I nodded slowly. "That'd be nice." Holmes had played too important a part in my life- and Brian's- for us to completely ditch the friendship. "Did you want to talk to Brian too? He's just outside."
Holmes gathered himself together, regaining something of his old manner. "Sure."
He followed me out of my office, and greeted Brian enthusiastically. They chatted briefly before Holmes bade us both a good night and left.
"So what was that really about?" Brian asked, once Holmes was out of earshot.
I shrugged. "I don't know, actually."
Brian smiled. "You never really know with Jake."
I laughed lightly. "I suppose you're right. But I suppose we do have to thank him sometime."
"What for?"
I pulled my finance towards me and kissed him passionately. When we finally broke apart, I grinned sheepishly. "For us." Holmes was right- Brian would take better care of me than anyone else, and I finally had a shot at something right- a redemption of sorts.
Brian laughed heartedly. "You're right about that."
We headed out of the office, hand in hand, to enjoy the rest of the night- and for me, to celebrate the start of a new life.
AN: And this is the end of Redemption! Thank you allSOOOOO much for your reviews and support and comments! You have been a fantastic (and very patient) audience, and I hope you had even half as much funreading as I had writing! Thanks again :-D
Pinkpanther: Not too sad! There's a 4th story coming. Sorry about the vial colors- what can I say, I'm retarded.
Horsefeathers103: Thanks! I actually have an alternate ending someplace in rough draft purgatory, but I don't think I could ever post it because it's just not right… would you settle for an ambiguous epilogue and 4th story instead? I promise I won't write Holmes to be too "intellectually superior" and boring :-D
