Chapter 11

Alex and Gil were sitting in the helicopter scanning the vast desert beneath them. Gil and Catherine had called in quite a number of favors to get a number of helicopters searching for Greg. And even then, finding him was still going to be an arduous task.

Gil hadn't left Alex's side. He knew that she needed him right now. What he didn't know was what she was keeping from him. But he couldn't bring himself to ask her about her use of the word 'husband' or what caused her to be so violent. It was something he never would have expected from her.

As they circled above the sand, both looked down searching for any sign of Greg. Alex silently prayed they would find him and soon. She didn't know what she would do if they didn't find him or worse, find him dead.

"There!" Gil shouted, pointing to a speck in the distance.

Alex quickly turned her head to look where Gil was pointing. She squinted her eyes, desperately trying to see what Gil saw. The pilot turned the helicopter and flew towards the direction Gil had indicated.

As they got closer, the speck got bigger. It grew into a human form, with arms waving. Alex's heart jumped into her throat. It had to be Greg. How many other people would be out in the middle of the desert?

Alex was sure it was Greg while he was still a little off in the distance. She recognized the color of his shirt as the one he was wearing when he'd left for the lab. Her heart was beating a mile a minute and she couldn't stay seated. She just wanted to jump out of the helicopter and run to him. And as the helicopter started to touch down, that's exactly what she did.

The helicopter was still a few feet off the ground when Alex surprised Gil and jumped out. She ran as fast as she possible could up to Greg. He was still a little ways ahead of them. The pilot didn't want to kick up too much dust around him.

Greg had seen the helicopter while it was in the distance and knew it was headed towards him. He dropped to his knees, exhausted. He didn't know how long he'd been walking, how long he'd been in the desert or when was the last time he'd had water.

When Alex got to Greg, she nearly knocked him over with her embrace. She dropped to her knees in front of him and threw her arms around him. Tears were streaming down her face as she held on to him for dear life because he was her whole life.

She was still holding unto his hand hours later, when he was lying, sleeping in the hospital. Greg's right forearm was in a cast to the elbow. Just as he had thought, his ulnas had been broken by his kidnapper. He was somewhat dehydrated, but basically was there for observation.

Gil looked into the room and knocked lightly on the doorframe, trying to get Alex's attention. He didn't want to wake Greg up. Alex turned and looked at the noise. When she saw Gil she motioned for him to come over, but he shook his head. Then he motioned for her to come to him. She gave one more look to her sleeping husband and then obeyed her father.

When they were out in the hall Gil asked, "How's Greg?"

"Greg's alright. A little banged up, but good," she replied.

He put his hand on her arm and looked her straight in the eyes. "How're you?"

She let out a wavering sigh. She knew what he was talking about: the stairwell. "I'm…I'm…better now that Greg is ok."

Gil just nodded. He started to ask about what he'd heard, but stopped. She'd noticed his hesitation and decided to offer the answer to what she assumed was his unspoken question.

"Yes," she told him. "Greg and I are married."

Gil didn't know how to respond. "When?"

"About a month ago," she replied. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you."

Gil was a little disappointed. Although apprehensive about Greg and Alex marrying in the beginning, he'd begun to like the idea. He was actually somewhat looking forward to walking Alex down the aisle, getting to do something fatherly. "Congratulations," it was a little less than enthusiastic.

She understood his response. She figured he'd be disappointed. They'd grown close since she first entered his life, not just as a father and daughter, but as friends. And for someone who understood dead people more than he did live ones, that was a big deal.

She took a deep breath. "And, while I'm coming clean, there's something else I should tell you."

Gil raised an eyebrow, not sure what else there could be.

"I still work for the Bureau," she spit out.

"That," he replied, "I had figured out."

"How?" she questioned.

Gil looked to the left and behind him, showing Alex his evidence. There were two men in black suits talking to Ed.

"Shit!" she said under her breath, and then looked down at the ground. She looked back up at Gil. "Gil," she started, but then stopped. She took another deep breath and started again, softer, "Dad I'm in a lot of trouble."

Gil was silent for a moment. It was the first time she'd ever called him 'dad' and it felt surprisingly natural. "What sort of trouble?"

"There's a lot I can't tell you," she replied. "Basics: Ed came to deliver a package to the FBI, not just see Greg and I. The package is what Greg's kidnapping was over and I didn't follow orders. Plus, the whole, beating thing…" Her eyes started to well up with tears.

Gil embraced his daughter. "I'm sure everything will be ok," he tried to reassure her, knowing she was probably right.

She broke their embrace. "Tell Greg I love him and…I'm sorry." She left Gil and walked over to the men wearing suits.

Gil could tell from their expressions and the tones of voice that they were not happy with Alex. He watched, dumbstruck, as they cuffed her. She looked over her shoulder at Gil as they led her out, another apology in her eyes.

Ed didn't know how to react either. They had cuffed her right in front of him. He wanted to stop them, but couldn't. He was just glad, although guiltily so, that they weren't arresting him. He was glad that Greg was all right, he only hoped Alex would be. It was a bittersweet day all around.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Epilogue

It was sometime the next day when Alex returned to the sleeping Greg's side. She was let go with no charges because the man in the mask wouldn't say who had handcuffed him to the stairwell. And the FBI was understanding, especially after Alex delivered the tapes.

Alex never did find out who the man in the mask was and he was never tried for Greg's kidnapping. It turned out, when the FBI got a hold of him, he was someone they'd been looking for in connection with some high profile murders; another reason Alex was given some reprieve.

He slowly opened his eyes and squeezed her hand. "Hey," he said, to get her attention, a little surprised to see her. Ed and Gil had told him about her being taken away.

She looked at him. "Hey," she smiled, glad he was awake.

"You aren't an escapee, are you?" he jokingly asked.

She shook her head. "I did more good than bad, so they called it even."

He returned her smile. His face turned more somber and he questioned, "They know?"

This time she nodded. "They know."

"So you're finally going to change your name?"

She laughed. "Yeah," she replied, moving to sit on the bed next to him. "I'm going to change my name now." She leaned over and kissed him.

"Good," he responded, taking her hand in his. "Now we can get on with the rest of our lives."