Derek Frye walked into the main entrance of Pine Valley Hospital followed closely by Zach and Kendall Slater. She had her hand clasped in her husband's and wore an expression of concern. Zach, however, had assumed the inscrutable expression that he had perfected when dealing with people and issues that disturbed or irritated him. For anyone that didn't know him as well as his wife, he appeared almost nonchalant… however, his pain was very evident to Kendall.

After showering, dressing and eating a perfunctory breakfast that Kendall had insisted they needed, Zach had called Derek and asked him to join them at the hospital so that he could take care of the formalities and allow him to begin his investigation. Zach had tried to convince Kendall to remain behind and enjoy the accolades she deserved for another successful re-opening event, but she refused. Finally, he gave in not because he thought she was right but because he was too weary to argue – and if he was honest with himself he wanted her close by his side for the coming ordeal. The hours spent alone with his thoughts had been agony, but Kendall's comfort had been a welcome relief and one that he was loathe to give up. Together they drew strength from each other and nothing had seemed so bleak since she had woke that morning – he would savor every moment that they had with each other, no matter how much it would hurt him in the future.

Derek led the way to the elevators and the basement of the hospital, all too familiar with the way to the morgue. Once there, Derek presented identification and asked to have Ethan's body prepared for viewing. They were seated in uncomfortable, vinyl-covered seats as they waited to be called in.

"Kendall?" Zach said softly. Waiting a moment for their eyes to meet, he finished, "I'll do this by myself. You don't want your last memory of Ethan to be like this."

"Wherever you go, I go… we're in this together, remember?" Kendall answered firmly.

Zach shook his head but Kendall just as firmly nodded hers, pulling Zach's left hand to her lips and kissing the ring finger just above the wedding band she had placed on it. "We made a promise to each other… for better or worse. If this isn't worse, I don't know what is," Kendall said.

"But Ethan was…" Zach started.

"… sadly misguided; someone who I once thought I loved. It was all a romantic fantasy, Zach, and if you haven't figured that out yet then you are being purposely obtuse," Kendall interrupted. "The day he tried to blackmail me into divorcing you opened my eyes… no one does that to someone they love. I'm sorry that you've lost your son – but I'm not sorry the war is over." The look of sadness in his eyes nearly broke Kendall's heart, but at this moment she was determined to be strong for both of them – Zach had been strong for her when she needed him to, it was time to return the favor.

After their brief exchange the room became quiet as none of them were capable of even the most basic conversation, all lost in their own thoughts about the young man who had been Ethan Ramsey Cambias. At the sound of footsteps in the tile hallway outside the waiting area, each one of them lifted their heads and looked expectantly at the doorway. When Dr. Maria Santos-Grey appeared, every one of them had a different reaction.

Maria looked at Zach and caught his eyes with her own before he looked away with only a brief nod in greeting. Kendall looked at Maria and felt an immediate stab of resentment that this woman who had meant so much to her husband would intrude on his grief which turned quickly to fear that he would prefer Maria's comfort to her own. The feeling passed quickly as Zach squeezed the hand that he had not relinquished. Kendall glanced at Zach and he gave her a warm and caring look, enough to convey a silent message that she was the person he wanted with him – and she heaved a sigh that he could still consider her insecurities at such a difficult time.

The first person to speak was Derek Frye, "Dr. Grey… Maria… thanks for coming down here."

Kendall and Zach immediately looked at Derek in curiosity before casting their glance toward Maria in confusion.

"I… I was the attending physician when Ethan… when he was brought in last night," Maria explained quietly. "Derek thought you'd like me to come down and tell you… answer any questions… either of you… might have."

Zach was the first to respond, "Thank you… Was he in any…"

Anticipating his question, Maria quickly answered, "I don't think he suffered, Zach. The autopsy will tell us more… but I doubt that he ever regained consciousness after impact."

"Um… do you know…" Kendall started to ask. After an extended pause she continued, "We'll probably have to wait for the autopsy to know exactly…"

Maria nodded, "They were unable to find a pulse or respiration at the scene. Even though they tried in the ambulance… he was gone before he ever arrived at the hospital. I'm so sorry."

Zach said again, "Thank you… will you… will you be signing the death certificate?"

"Not exactly… I'll sign the attending physician's statement, but the coroner will sign the actual certificate after the autopsy. Have they given you the autopsy consent form?" Maria answered.

"No… not yet. They said after Zach identifies… um… Ethan," Kendall answered softly. She turned and looked at Zach who was still holding her hand tightly, "Why do you want to know about the death certificate?"

"Paperwork… I understand paperwork… and it keeps me from thinking about him in that cold…" Zach whispered for Kendall only, but was easily overheard by Derek and Maria.

Maria stepped over to the other woman and touched her shoulder, "Kendall… may I have a word… privately? Just out here?"

Kendall flashed a look of anger at Maria before Zach relinquished her hand and gave her arm a little push. She glanced back at him and he smiled and nodded, "I won't go in there without you… I promise."

Kendall rose and followed Maria into the hallway; very unhappy at being pulled away from Zach and wondering just what the other woman was trying to prove. "What is it, Maria? I need to be with Zach right now," she said sharply.

"I'm sorry, Kendall. I don't mean to intrude… it's just that… well, when Zach mentioned paperwork I remembered noticing something unusual and I don't want to bother him with it… but I was hoping… you could find a way to discuss it with him," Maria answered quietly. "Kendall… I'm so sorry for what you and Zach are going through… and I'm… I'm glad that he has you here with him… you're very good for him."

Kendall had the good grace to look contrite for her anger and answered in the same quiet tone, "Thank you, Maria… I… I love him… there's nowhere else that I could be." Those words… I love him… echoed in Kendall's head and bounced around. She gasped and placed her hand on the wall to steady herself. Standing in the cold, sterile hallway of the hospital morgue she suddenly realized that this game of love that she and Zach had been playing was very real… at least to her. Somewhere in the course of their marriage she had fallen in love with her husband… and all those words she had said to convince others were very, very true. She took a deep breath but was able to maintain a serious expression as she said to Maria, "What is it about the paperwork that bothers you?"

"I know this may seem silly… and nitpicking in the extreme… but it's Ethan's birth date. It doesn't make any sense," she answered.

"His birth date? It's sometime in August if I remember correctly… but we never celebrated…" Kendall answered with a frown, trying to remember the exact date he had told her.

"That's what his passport said, too… August 10… but that can't be right," Maria responded. "Zach's son couldn't have an August birthday."

"We already know that Ethan is Zach's son… we have the DNA evidence to prove it, Maria. What kind of game are you playing? Trying to un-write history?" Kendall said with renewed irritation.

Just at that moment the morgue attendant came out to escort them to the room where they would view Ethan's body. Maria commented, "You go on… I'll wait here with Derek and we'll talk when you're finished."