Sorry for the long wait for this epilogue! I realise this may be redundant by now, but I promised an epilogue and I always keep my promises. If it's been too long then please feel free not to read it!

Best wishes,

Sarah

Bending stiffly, Steve picked up the over night bag his father had brought for him and dumped it on his recently vacated hospital bed. Dropping his motor cycle magazines and pyjamas in to the case he winced. Although he'd fought to be released today, from the pain he felt just from the every day movements of packing his bag, it was obvious that it was gonna be a while before his body felt normal again. Still all he was doing today was sitting in on the interrogation of … and he could put up with a thumping headache, tender ribs and a bad shoulder for that.

Steve wasn't naive enough to think that the interrogation would be easy. This guy was a pro. To turn state's evidence on Sweeney and any other members of the team, he was gonna want something in return and it was gonna be something big. The question was how big and would it be too big for the Mayor and Chief Masters to agree to? … was a pawn in a larger operation and pawns usually knew how to exploit their positions. … could get lucky, get himself off of death row in exchange for information. Steve sighed, those decision were out of his hands.

Taking one last look around the hospital room he gave a wry smile. He was lucky to be walking out of here at all and he knew it. If it hadn't been for Jesse's quick thinking … well he didn't wanna replay that scenario again. After his father, Jesse and Amanda had left him for the night, visions of the bomb detonating had kept him awake and when he had finally slept his dreams had been fitful, violent. The explosion at Susie's dinner, being shot by Cainen, the thunder storms, all of it had played out in technicolour, as he tossed and turned, until he finally woke sweating and breathless in the early hours. To be honest he couldn't get out of here fast enough. What he really wanted right now was to sit by the ocean for awhile, enjoy the rhythmic beat of the waves on the shore, feel the California breeze on his face. He needed time and space to get himself together before the interrogation this afternoon.

He was catching a cab back to the beach house. His father was off on some secret mission, no doubt to do with tonight's dinner! Jesse hadn't been cleared for driving yet and Amanda had taken the day off to be with CJ. Steve didn't mind getting a cab. He had a lot on his mind and alone time was just what he needed right now. Hopefully the cab driver wouldn't be one of the chatty variety.

Hefting his bag on to his good shoulder he headed for the door and pulled it open.

Tanis Archer was on the other side.

Her face was pale, her eyes haunted. Her hair was tied back in a pony tail and she was wearing a dark coloured trouser suit. Her hand was raised to knock on the door, frozen in place as if she'd been turned to stone.

Steve's stomach dropped the way it did when he rode the roller coasters at Magic Mountain. After wondering if she'd visit him, his heart leaping every time the door opened, he'd finally realised that she wasn't coming. Partly he was relieved that he wouldn't have to face her, to talk to her until the interrogation. When he'd found out she'd slept with Cainen, it'd been like a knife to the heart. He'd gotten out of her car at the hospital without a word and he hadn't looked back. He hadn't wanted to look back. He needed space to deal with his feelings, to come to terms with the fact that their relationship was over before it had really begun. She'd betrayed him, betrayed what they had, what they could have had.

And yet there was a part of him that had been disappointed. A part that every time the door had opened, had hoped it would be her. And now here she was.

He looked at her, his emotions doing a crazy dance. His stomach was churning, with anger, with hurt, with regret, with hope. His eyes raked her face, a lump rose in his throat. When he finally spoke, it was only one word.

'Why?' Was all he said.

Tanis could see the hurt in his eyes, the anger in his stance, the mental battle to maintain some control. Slowly she lowered her hand.

'Because I felt like he understood me' she said, her eyes lowered, fixated on a spot just in front of Steve's left foot.

'And I didn't?' his voice was rising, his emotions getting the better of him.

She shook her head sadly 'No'.

Tanis made no attempt to justify what she'd done. There was no justification, just an explanation.

Finally she met his eyes 'I'm sorry Steve' she said quietly 'I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry'.

With that she turned and headed out of the door.

Steve stood his breath coming in gasps, his fists clenching and unclenching she was half way down the corridor before he spoke again

'So that's it?' He shouted after her 'That's how this ends? How we end?'

She stopped, slowly she turned, her fingers nervously twisting the strap of the bag she carried on her left shoulder

'I've accepted a secondment' she said. 'There's an opening in New York, for a year'. She took a deep breath 'I leave tomorrow'.

Steve's heart contracted, this was all happening too fast. He hadn't had time to think, to process. He was losing control.

There was a pause. They looked at each other until finally Tanis turned away.

'Are you going with him?' Steve finally asked, his voice tight, his stomach clenching.

Without turning back she shook her head 'He's retiring from the task force, relocating to Arizona'.

And then she turned

'Good bye Steve' she said.

She looked at him, as if trying to memorise every last detail. And then she turned, walking quickly, until eventually she broke into a run, holding her bag strap with one hand whilst the other wiped ineffectually at the tears streaming freely down her face.

Behind her Steve leant against the wall his head in his hands.

DMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMD

The door of the prison cell clanged shut behind him and Mark Sloan shuddered, memories of his own mistaken incarceration flooding back. The claustrophobia, the panic, the feeling that his life was no longer his own.

'Something wrong Mark?' the man at the table said 'Please, sit down, relax, I want you to feel welcome in my humble abode'.

Mark stayed standing, his arms folded across his chest, a frown marring his usually kind features. The man sitting at the table opposite looked like an every day middle aged business man, albeit that he was currently sporting a regulation orange jumpsuit. But he wasn't an ordinary man; this was a cold blooded killer. On the table before him sat a chess board. Spotting it, Mark felt the bile rise in his throat.

'You won't get away with this Sweeney' Mark said, his voice harsh with anger.

'Get away with what?' Sweeney asked; a smile on his face.

'The murder of three innocent people' Mark said steadily 'Sam Wallis, Ernie Ellis and Nikki Elzeni'.

Sweeney shrugged 'and here's me thinking that you and your son communicated. Correct me if I'm mistaken Dr. Sloan, but don't the police have a man in custody for those murders?'

Mark moved forward and leant over, the table his face close to Sweeney's

'Roberto Caradine was working for you. He was acting on your orders'.

Sweeney smiled again and shrugged 'You're welcome to try and prove it Doctor, but in the mean time if you'll excuse me, I'm rather busy. As flattered as I am by your personal visit, I really need some alone time right now'.

. Mark Sloan was not a naturally violent man, but Sweeney's calm indifference was almost worse than if he'd been vehemently denying the charges.

'You won't get away with this' Mark said 'I'll find some way to stop you'.

Slowly, with a smile twisting at his lips Carter Sweeney packed away the chess board that was on the table in front of him, lovingly caressing each piece.

'Well it's been fun Mark' he said lightly, 'but I'm afraid our little game is over now. I'd like to congratulate you, as you've been a skilful player, truly you have'. He sighed, 'it's so hard to find worthy opponents'.

Sweeney sat back, his arms folded behind his head and met Mark's gaze directly. Mark felt a chill go through him.

'You won't win, Sweeney' he said, as he turned and signalled to the guard to let him out.

Sweeney laughed 'I'm looking forward to our next match already Doc'

As he left the prison Mark could still hear the manic laughter.

THE END