Well folks, it is hard to believe it, but the end is finally here. I have had so much fun writing this story and creating Meg's character that it's hard to let it all go. But let it go I must. Finally I have finished this story and I am quite proud with what I've written. I hope that you all have enjoyedreading this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it. I want to thank all of you who reviewed and I want you to know that I really appreciate all the encouragment you gave me, all the compliments, and all the criticism. Every single word that you all wrote to me was a way to help make this story better.

Now, without further ado, let us proceed to the final chapter.

Chapter Seventeen

The judge frowned as he listened to the tape that Grissom played for him. With a shake of his head, he reached for his pen and signed the arrest warrant.

"It's a sad day when one of America's protectors would stoop so low." The elderly judge sighed as he handed the warrant over to Grissom. "Do me a favor, Gil; make sure you get enough dirt to put this guy away for good."

Grissom couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. But, just as quickly as the smile appeared, Grissom pushed it down again. Now was not the time for smiling; that could come after Adam Wilkins was in jail for good.

"Thank you Judge Feldman." Grissom said, taking the warrant. "I'll see what I can do."

The judge smiled and bid farewell to Grissom.

> > > > >

"So how long until I'm moved to the prison?" Meg asked, glancing at Catherine through the bars.

It had been two days since Meg had gotten Adam's confession and he had been arrested. Preparations for the trials of both Meg and Adam were going full sped now and Meg could no longer be kept at the small holding area. It was time to move to the real prison. She dreaded the move, knowing that the few freedoms she had been allowed would no longer be given to her. She wouldn't be able to see Amy everyday; instead the visit with her sister would have to take place only once a week.

But at least Amy was safe now. Adam was locked up and could no longer threaten Meg's sister. Sometimes good could come out of bad situations.

"One hour." Catherine replied.

Meg sighed and placed her forehead against the cool bars. One hour. Sixty minutes. It didn't leave a whole lot of time to tie up the loose ends that still hung about. She had so much to do before she could be taken away; so many things she needed to make right.

"Can I see Amy?" She asked.

Catherine nodded, a sad smile on her lips. She felt bad for Meg; she was so young, and yet her life was about to end. Maybe not literally, but figuratively she would be dead. A life of prison cells and dangerous inmates lay before her. If only there was something more that Catherine could do for her. Already the CSI had made good on her promise and made sure that Meg would not receive the death sentence. But maybe that would have been better. Maybe Meg would be better of dying instead of facing all those years in prison. But Catherine had made a promise, and she always made good on her promises. After all, there was always the chance that Meg would make parole. Catherine could only hope that that was the case. A girl like Meg would be eaten alive in prison. She was much too sweet and- despite the whole assassin thing- too innocent to survive in prison.

"I'll go get her." Catherine said, turning before Meg could see the tears that were forming just behind her eyes.

> > > > >

Greg dreaded the upcoming trial. He knew that he would be called upon to testify against Meg, and he wanted no part in sending her to prison. Yes, it was true she had tried to kill him, but he still loved her. His heart was breaking even now as he thought of her being sent to prison and facing the horrors that were sure to reside there. Prison was no place for someone as beautiful and pure as Meg. If the other inmates didn't use her than the guards surely would. Her innocence was much to alluring for people of less honorable intentions to ignore. They would want to use her and take everything they could from her until she was nothing but a shell of the woman she was now.

But still Greg hoped. He prayed fervently that some miracle would happen to deliver her from the sure fate that would befall her. Hope and prayer; that was all that he could offer Meg now. That, and his undying love. For surely he would love her until the end of his days. Their affair had been a short one, but that didn't make it any less intense or full of honest love than a relationship that had lasted for years.

His thoughts of Meg were interrupted as Amy reentered the room.

For the past two days she had been under his careful watch, both clinging to the other for support for the hell that they would surely face in the coming days.

The look of sadness in Amy's eyes broke his heart. She was such a wonderful girl, so much like Meg and yet so different at the same time. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she sat down beside Greg.

It killed Amy to see her sister behind bars, she hated seeing the woman who had once been so free and loving trapped in a cage. But it was the only choice she had if she wanted to see Meg.

"Dad and the girls are getting in tonight." Amy sighed as she leaned back into the seat. "It sucks that they weren't able to get an earlier flight. I know Meg wished that they were all here now, you know, before she goes to jail." Her voice broke as the tears fell down her cheeks.

Greg placed his arm around Amy's shoulders, pulling her in to a tight hug. They both sought comfort from each other, both wanting to forget that this event had ever happened. Both wishing that things could go back to the way they used to be.

> > > > >

The hour had passed and Meg could feel her freedom slipping away with each tick of the clock and each step of the uniformed guards that had come to take her away.

She had spoken with Amy, had told her everything that she could think of to tell her, imparted every piece of wisdom that she could. But there had been no time to fix the wrong that weighed upon her heart. Greg. She had no seen him since the night that she had almost killed him. The last image she had of him was one of a confused and shocked Greg. Not the image that she wished to keep forever in her memory. If only she could remember the good times, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. Or the way his lips twitched before pulling up into a full fledged smile. Instead, her mind chose to remember that last moment, that moment that had forever changed both their lives.

The door to her cell slid open with a sickening clang and the guards stood just outside of the cell, arms crossed and emotionless expressions on their faces.

"C'mon," the older of the two said. "let's go."

Holding her head high, Meg walked out of the cell and held her arms out for the men to cuff her. As the metal snapped closed around her wrists she felt a part of herself die. This was it, the final moments before her life came to an end.

Not an end, she thought, blinking back tears, merely a new beginning.

They led her out of the holding area and into the lobby of the building. Meg could feel the eyes on her, the condemning stares and the looks of sympathy. She kept her chin up and her eyes forward, not letting the looks get to her.

The trio rounded a corner and there he stood. Meg's breath caught in her throat as she looked at Greg, the look of hurt and…could it be…love in his eyes so overwhelming that Meg was tempted to look away. But her eyes held to his, even as she felt the tears come fresh to her eyes.

"A minute, please?" Greg asked the guards. The two uniformed men exchanged a look before the elder nodded. They stepped away from Meg, leaving her and Greg in the middle of the hallway as they took up residence against the wall.

For a moment, neither Greg nor Meg knew what to say. They stood in silence, simply staring at each other, both wanting to look away, and both never wanting to see anything else but the person standing before them. The seconds seemed to drag on forever for Meg as she stared at Greg. She wanted to hold him in her arms, to trace the lines of his face with her fingers, but, most of all, she wanted to kiss his lips and never come up for air. If only a kiss really could last a lifetime. If only there was nothing else she needed than the feel of his strong lips against hers.

"I suppose I should be asking you why you did it." Greg said, breaking the silence. "But I know why you did it. I guess the only thing that I don't understand is how he even trapped you in the first place?"

"I wish I knew the answer to that myself." Meg replied. "The truth is, though, it was so long ago that I've forgotten."

Silence once more covered the pair. But they didn't need words to communicate their thoughts, their feelings. There was something so deep between them that it was as if they could actually hear each other's thoughts.

"Do you think you could ever forgive me?" Meg asked, wanting to hear his voice again so that she could commit it to her memory.

"I already have." Greg whispered, so overcome by emotion that it was difficult for him to speak. A slow smile tugged at Meg's lips.

The guards returned then, taking their place on either side of Meg. The couple's time was up, and it was time for Meg to continue on her journey. The guards began to lead her down the hall, but only progressed a few steps before Meg turned around.

"I want you to know, I really did love you." She said before being led away.

> > > > >

The day of Meg's sentencing was the last time that Greg ever saw her. She had stood when the jury delivered its verdict, her back straight and shoulders rigid as the foreman delivered the guilty sentence. Greg would remember forever the way that she had looked as she was led away from the courtroom. Grace and dignity had been in each step she took. Her chin was held high. Even as she was being taken away she was a queen- regal to the end.

> > > > >

I used to be as much of a victim as those I killed. Wilkins had kept me trapped within the twisted game he'd devised. It was a game that not only killed, but that broke the spirits of the players. He thought he had broken me, and, I have to admit, I'd thought so too. But we both turned out to be wrong.

Wilkins never broke me, because, in the end, I found the strength to break away from his hold.

I'm no longer trapped within the game.

No. Now, I am free.