Alyssa had dried her eyes by the time the cruiser pulled up to the Emergency Room. Since the officer radioed ahead to announce their arrival, there was a team waiting for Alyssa.

"I would really like to walk in and not be wheeled in," she said to Steve. Steve looked at her with a combination of concern and resignation, but he pressed his lips together and nodded. He slid out of the cruiser first to help her out. Alyssa made an attempt to step out of the car, but the moment she stood up, she needed to reach for the support of the car door as her knees gave out and the pain almost overwhelmed her. Steve was right there and caught Alyssa easily. There was now no more discussion of her walking in under her own power as he gently placed her on the waiting gurney.

Alyssa was wheeled into the Emergency Room with Steve by her side. He was holding her hand and had to suppress a shudder as he recalled the last time - not that long ago - that he had held that same hand and ran alongside another gurney and how dire those circumstances had been . He pushed the memory away. Alyssa was strong then and she would be strong now. Logically he knew that she would be fine, but looking at her bruised and bloodied face and hearing her gasp of pain as she was moved onto an examination table, still twisted his heart.

"Did you pick up both of the suspects," Alyssa asked. Steve smiled to himself. Job first - yet one more way that Alyssa was a lot like him.

"Yeah, we got 'em. You sure did a number on the one in the storage room. Maybe you should try out for the HPD Baseball Team." Alyssa tried to laugh at that, but her ribs hurt too badly.

Steve's voice became serious. "They are under arrest. There's charges waiting for them in New Jersey, but first they will need to face Kidnapping, Assault, and Attempted Murder charges here.

"And the Evidence," Alyssa wanted to know?

"The New York District Attorney's Office already has them. They will be issuing an indictment against Leone for Murder, Kidnapping, and Attempted Murder."

Alyssa was trying to get up the courage to say something, so Steve, sat quietly to give her the chance to say what she wanted to say. "Mary was very brave. She did just as I asked. She helped me when I did not think I could go any further. I don't think that I would not have made it out without her." Alyssa looked down embarrassed, "I would like to thank her. I know that she doesn't like me, but maybe you could pass it on to her."

Steve lifted Alyssa's chin to look into her eyes. "Don't worry about that now. Lets make sure you are OK first," Steve said gently just as the ER attending physician pulled back the curtain.

"I'm Dr. Embry, and you are Officer Grant." Alyssa nodded and then regretted it as her head felt like it would explode. "Looks like you took quite a beating. I hate to see the other guy," the doctor joked. Steve actually smiled, the two thugs did not look too good after his sister finished with them. "Lets take a look at what's going on," Dr. Embry said gently. He put on examination gloves. He started by looking at Alyssa's eyes and examining the blood-caked cuts along her scalp. He then had her lie down flat on the gurney and felt around her ribs. Steve grimaced in sympathy as Alyssa hissed in pain as the doctor's hands encountered the damaged ribs.

"Ok," the doctor said after about ten minutes. "Officer Grant has a concussion and a nasty scalp laceration. She also has some fractured ribs. I am going to have X-rays and a CatScan done to be on the safe side, but if I had to bet on it, I would say that she was very lucky and that there is no significant damage.

After an additional ninety minutes of poking and prodding and X-Raying and the claustrophobic tube that is the CatScan, the doctor came back to the room where Steve and Alyssa were waiting. "Good news. No ribs were broken. There are some pretty serious fractures that are going to keep Officer Grant pretty immobile for a while, but it will heal. She has a concussion, but no Hematoma or additional injuries. The laceration bled a lot, but we will glue it and it will be fine. Officer Grant will need a lot of rest over the next six to eight weeks for the ribs to heal. We will give her some pain medication, but that will need to wait for forty eight hours, while we monitor her concussion. We would like to keep Officer Grant for observation, but if all goes well, she will be able to go home tomorrow."

"Thank you, Doctor." Steve's relief was palpable.

Just as Alyssa was being wheeled into her room, she saw Mary walking down the hall toward Steve. Alyssa steeled herself – she figured a confrontation was going to happen any minute now.

Steve saw his sister too and decided to take matters in hand. "Mary – we need to talk," he said as soon as she had come near.

"Steve, I…," Mary tried to cut in, but Steve was not listening.

"I saw what happened at the memorial service. You can't treat Alyssa like that. You need to cut her some slack. She's never done anything to you and she did not choose her parents…,"

"Steve…," Mary tried again.

"Don't interrupt," Steve ordered.

"What she did do is keep you safe. She…,"

"Steve!" Mary raised her voice and grabbed Steve's face between her hands. "I know and I agree. I'm here to say I am sorry to Alyssa. I know I owe her, so if you would shut up, I am going to go in there and apologize." Mary smiled and turned to go into Alyssa's room, leaving a befuddled Steve standing, staring at her back.

Alyssa was dozing when a knock on the door woke her up. "Mary, come on in." Alyssa mentally braced herself.

"Alyssa," Mary started. "I just wanted to say, 'I'm so sorry'. My behavior was horrible. I have no excuse and I hope that you will forgive me."

Alyssa looked at Mary, who had the same color eyes as her and Steve, and smiled. "How about we start over?" At the inquiring look that Mary gave her, Alyssa reached out her hand and said, "Hi. I'm Alyssa Grant. Its nice to meet you."

Taken aback, Mary did the same. "I'm Mary. I am so glad to meet you." A few seconds of looking into each others' eyes, Mary said, "Alyssa – thank you. I know what you did for me and I can see what it cost you. I will always be grateful."

Alyssa nodded. "I am glad that I was there to do it."

"Hey," Mary said. "I have to catch a plane in a few hours, but do you think, if I gave you my cell number you could text me or maybe call me sometime and tell me how you are doing and," Mary smiled, "what's going on with our big brother."

"Of course," Alyssa was relieved and pleased by the request.

"Oh, there is one more thing," Mary said. She reached into her purse and took out the pearl pendant. "I certainly had no right to it. Nobody, but nobody could ever tell Aunt Deb what to do. If she gave it to you, she meant for you to have it. Please wear it and remember her." Alyssa just nodded, too stunned and too moved to speak.

The women hugged before Mary left. Alyssa lay back in bad contemplating the meeting. She and Mary may never be as close as sisters, but at least they would work on being friends.

Mary stopped to talk to Steve one more time. "I will come back soon," she said. "I promise not to be gone another year." Steve nodded. Mary put her arms around Steve's neck and he returned the hug.

"I love you,Mary."

"I love you too, Steve. "Take care of our baby sister."

Steve just nodded, overcome by both surprise and emotion that caused a strange pricking feeling behind his eyes.

I hope you are enjoying the story. I try very hard to stay true to the characters. Please let me know if I am succeeding or if you have recommendations. Your comments, suggestions and reviews are very much appreciated.