Part 4 of 5

He nods, somber and serious, "Yes. At last. Finally," and he goes on to explain what PD 46 really means. She listens to his quiet voice and hears the sincerity, the absolute acceptance, and something else, something hesitant and questioning.

When he is done, she takes a deep breath, "What else? What is it you aren't telling me?"

Now it is his turn to cover his face, "I don't want to tell you. It all sounds so foolish, so jumbled. It all made sense only hours ago but now…" he drops his hands, "… I just don't know. I'm in uncharted territory here. I'm lost."

All her uncertainty, her doubts, her fears rise up and she is swamped, overcome. He sees this and turns to her, "Camille! No! I'm not lost WITH you, I'm lost with OUT you." He pulls back suddenly, hands clasped on his knees, closed off and guarded once more, "Sorry, but there it is," he whispers.

She is frozen in astonishment, her world up-ended completely. She gulps air and regains her voice, "There WHAT is? You still haven't told me."

His eyes flick to hers then down and away once more, "Yes, I have. I've just told you everything. Please don't make me say it again."

"Say WHAT again? Richard! You are going to drive me crazy!"

He studies her for a long moment, wondering, Can she really be that oblivious? "Did you really not hear me say it?" She shakes her head. "I said this island was my home." She nods. "I said… I said I was lost without you…" She nods again then stops suddenly, a soft uncertain joyous look stealing over her face.

"Do you mean 'lost' professionally or…?"

"Oh, well, no, not professionally. You are my perfect complement. Together we are unbeatable, along with Fidel and Dwayne naturally. We're stronger with each case. I am ready to tell the Commissioner to go peddle his papers elsewhere if he questions our abilities again!"

She can't help herself. She laughs at the very idea! "No, you wouldn't!"

"I bloody well would! He has no right! We're Team Saint-Marie and we're invincible!"

"Dwayne and Fidel need to hear it."

"I will tell them. They deserve to know."

"Yes, they do. But, Richard," her voice is low, tender. He stills, his confidence faltering. "Richard, what about unprofessionally?"

"Hmm?" he stalls for time, fidgeting, checks his watch, looks at the sky.

She touches his clasped hands. He starts but doesn't meet her eyes. "Richard, are you lost in your personal life too?"

His hands turn slowly in hers, fingers intertwining, warm, intimate. His eyes come up to meet hers, "I WAS… I may still be… if you don't… can you…?" Her eyebrows rise the tiniest bit, a smile threatens. He sees this and rallies all his courage, "Will you welcome me, accept me, here, to the island, to my new home?"

She is still slightly puzzled. English is his mother tongue. What is he trying to say? "Richard, concentrate now. Welcome you? Accept you? Haven't I been doing that all along? Well, except for those first few weeks when I wanted to throttle you, but if this is your home now then…?"

He frowns, sighs, "You are determined to make me say it, aren't you?" She gives him a deadpan look and nods. He takes a deep breath, "All right." Another deep breath then, "Camille, I want to stay. I want to make my life here. But to do that, I need… I need you. Not professionally. Personally. Can you do that? Can you make your life here? With me?"

She is amazed to hear a voice say, "Yes, of course. How could you ever doubt it?"

He smiles ruefully, "Well, I DID say it was all jumbled up and foolish inside my head. I did doubt it."

Still amazed, she hears a voice now say, "Well, don't doubt it a moment longer." She hears movement approaching in the inner office. Dwayne and Fidel are finishing up. They will come out to join them soon.

She stands and he stands too. She steps up to the railing and looks out over the island. Her island. His island. Finally. She feels a serene peace that is at total odds with her sudden joy.

She turns back to him. He is looking out over the island too, possessively, proudly. She smiles, "You really surprise me sometimes." She quirks an eyebrow. He quirks one back. "Just when I think you don't care about anything but your job, you do something like that." She jerks her head towards the station behind him then smiles to let him know she means everything else.

The men clatter out, full of indignation and demanding the truth, which he gives them. They are content and grateful for his confidence. His team gathers around him and he feels completely at home.

END – part 4