Chapter 4

Disclaimer: Time for more at long last!

Six Months Later

"Estrada's murder is proof that you ARE the Bay Harbor Butcher!" Screamed out LaGuerta towards Dexter in an interrogation room.

For his part, the man just stared at her with an unflinching gaze. "If I recall correctly, the Bay Harbor Butcher cut his victims to pieces where as Hector Estrada was found shot and stabbed several times. Which does not match the MO."

And while Dexter was happy the man is dead now, part of him was disappointed it hadn't been by HIS hands thanks to the fact he'd been too busy focusing on various other things to really give the man much thought. Estrada's death made him think that if he were the type to believe in spirits and the like, that his mother's spirit could finally rest now that all three men responsible for her death were all finally gone. Though technically 4 if you counted Harry's own involvement in things. And to think… The day was going so well until she showed up to arrest me. Thought Dexter to himself sourly.

It was also only recently that he and Hannah had chosen to take the plunge and get a new home together now that they were engaged with a large backyard for her business and other reasons. Now he had had a long serious talk with Astor and Cody before he'd even proposed to Hannah, along with a second chat about the home. Both talks had thankfully gone well thanks to the fact that by that point, his step-children had gotten to know Hannah during any visits they made after he had driven all the way to Orlando to properly introduce her to them. Astor understandably had been a little standoffish at first but gradually over came it. Believing it would be what her mother wanted in addition to wanting Dexter to be happy. Astor and her brother had even moved in with them after Dexter had talked to Hannah about it and then asked them if they wanted too. That they had said yes had made him damned happy and relieved.

Of course Hannah had no intention of saying no as she loves kids, especially his and she wanted them all to be a family. She was also 2 months along in her pregnancy as well and Dexter was quite attentive to her. Which occasionally annoyed her given the lengths he went too and Astor thought he was doing it as a way to make up for anything he might not have done when her mother had been pregnant with Harrison. Not to mention another way for him to keep his mind off of Debra's state of affairs. Hannah thought it was sweet and understood the reasons after he admitted Astor was right, but she did feel it was unnecessary as he had nothing to make up for in her eyes where his wife, her, and pregnancy was concerned. Debra was actually still in Rehab and refusing to talk with Dexter thanks to her anger towards him but the Detox had been working wonders for her.

Well, after the initial Hell it put her through anyway. Her being in there had proven to be hard on Dexter as he'd never realized just how much he needed his sister in his life and was essentially having to learn to live without her. And if it wasn't for Hannah and the kids, the man wasn't sure how well he'd be handling things with his sister in Rehab. It was also determined that Debra wouldn't be welcomed back at Miami Metro after Arlene came forward with information about how she had basically threatened to see her kids taken away if she didn't co-operate where Hannah was concerned. Something that served as another reason for Debra to be pissed at her brother for, in addition to Hannah and as well as Arlene. After Debra had been put into Rehab, Angel had ended up temporarily serving as the Lieutenant of Homicide before finally retiring to focus on his restaurant after Matthews had found a replacement for him that would play by his rules and not LaGuerta's much to her annoyance.

Jamie still served as the Nanny for Dexter where Harrison was concerned and Quinn, instead of letting things be a loss for him where Nadia was concerned, went to go win her back in Vegas. Something that had nearly cost him his job in the process as well but thankfully didn't and he had even been successful in getting back Nadia. Though there would be times when she was jealously upset with him due to all the concern he'd show for Debra. Which brings us to now when LaGuerta had arrested Dexter at the new home he now shares with Hannah. One they were still putting together for that matter and the kids and Hannah both had been very upset over the whole experience. "That is true, but I think you chose to act in a different way to try and cover up your involvement. After all, you have, excuse me, had, plenty of reasons to want him dead since he killed your mother when you were three years old. Something that had quite the impact on your older brother as it turned him into the Ice Truck Killer."

A sigh came from Dexter. "I would be lying if I said I didn't have thoughts of doing something to him ever since I found out about what happened to my biological mother. But that doesn't mean I would've actually acted on them. I'm not that kind of man and you should know that by now, Captain."

"Do I? Do I really? Come to think of it, another killer more or less changed his MO as well and that was Arthur Mitchell. I still wonder why it was Rita to this day that he chose to change up his MO for."

Dexter narrowed his eyes at her, feeling anger well up in him for where she was going with this. "I still ask 'why' everyday myself but I'll never know the answer and I hate it more than anything." Lied the man.

He then continued on quickly. "But the fact of the matter is, you have no proof I killed Estrada whatsoever. And you can think whatever of me but at the end of the day, the facts are clear: I did NOT kill him and I am NOT the Bay Harbor Butcher. You can even ask Hannah, Jamie, or the kids about my whereabouts the night of his murder."

"Right, and I'm sure they wouldn't lie just to cover for you." Sneered LaGuerta.

Whatever response Dexter was about to give was interrupted by Matthews' arrival and he did NOT look happy at all. "This little witch hunt of yours is over, Maria." He declared much to her immense ire.

"Tom, don't you dare try and fuck with me right now because this is not the time." Warned the woman.

But Matthews wasn't willing to cowtow to her. "We've got a witness' statement about who really killed Hector Estrada and it sure as shit isn't Dexter that killed the man." Matthews told her as he pointed at Dexter.

"Oh, that's bullshit!"

"Afraid its not, Maria. Afraid its not. And congratulations by the way, you just cost yourself your career with this little stunt of yours."

It feels so fucking good to finally get rid of this menace in my ass.

Dexter was surprised by this turn of events and wondered who exactly the witness was so that he could thank them for unintentionally saving his ass. LaGuerta just stared at Matthews in shock with an open mouth as he told an Officer to uncuff Dexter so that he could be on his way and that he could take a few days off as well as it was Matthews' way of making it up to Dexter for what had happened with him. It wasn't long before the screaming and swearing started up after that but the Dark Defender of the Night wasn't paying it any heed as he left. Eager to get back home to his family and hoping this would mean he wouldn't have to put up with LaGuerta's suspicions towards him. But he'd deal with her if it came down to it but doing so would have to be handled just right so as not to arouse suspicion his way. On his way out, he'd deal with the various questions that came his way and answered them as best he could.

Even being hugged by a very worried but relieved Hannah and the kids in the process thanks to their having shown up a bit after he'd been brought there by LaGuerta.

Author's Notes: Well, this certainly isn't LaGuerta's day!