Crane looked down at his partner, unconscious in his arms. Whoever and whatever she had faced in Purgatory had taken its toll on her. "I cannot do this alone Miss Mills, do you understand me?" he said with desperation as he hurried to the car.

"Crane," Abbie whispered weakly.

"Abbie?"

"You came back for me..."

Crane decided now was not the time for lengthy explanations. He was just relieved she was conscious. "Abbie. How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been fighting demons, and you?"

Crane cracked a slight smile. "Glad to see your wit remains intact, Lieutenant." He walked around to the passenger's seat. "Are you able to stand for a moment?"

"I...I don't think I can, Crane."

He awkwardly managed to open the car door while holding her and gently placed Abbie inside. He helped to put her seat belt on, closed the door then walked around and got into the driver's side.

Abbie looked at him. "Am I hallucinating, or are you...driving?"

"I am, indeed. Amazing the things one becomes capable of when the need arises."

"Amen to that." Abbie said, leaning her head back.

She slipped in an out of consciousness on the ride to the hospital. Ichabod brought her to the emergency room and made sure that she was being cared for. He wanted to accompany her inside, but he was not permitted. He let the staff know that her sister was also a patient there so they could be in contact with one another. They gave him a minute with Abbie before he left. She wasn't conscious at that moment. Crane held Abbie's hand in both of his and whispered to her, "Miss Mills, Abbie, I'm so sorry I did this to you. I don't know what I would do if..." He didn't want to finish that sentence. He lifted her hand to his lips and just whispered, "Please be alright, Abbie, please." He closed his eyes tightly as a single tear rolled down his cheek. He would come back later in the day to check on her and Jenny, but right now he needed to rest.

He got into the car and drove towards the cabin. As he got closer he began to smell something. Fire. No. As he turned the corner he saw the flames. Crane pulled over and got out of the car. The cabin was engulfed. There was no chance of saving anything. He stood watching. After everything that he had been through over the last day, he couldn't take this. He just wanted to sleep. He was emotionally numb. His body was about to shut down whether he wanted it to or not. He remembered he had taken Abbie's cell phone. He made two calls; one to 9-1-1 about the fire and the other for a taxi. He couldn't chance driving any longer in his present state, especially since he could not produce a license if he were asked for one.

The cab came and picked Crane up at the bottom of the hill, far enough away that the driver couldn't see the cabin. Ichabod asked to be taken to the nearest place where he could find lodging. The taxi dropped him off at a Blue Roof Inn just outside of Sleepy Hollow. He managed to get a room, even though check-in was not usually for another several hours. He entered his room and took off his coat and boots. He quickly washed out the rest of his clothes in the bathtub, figuring he could let the sun dry them while he slept. After his clothes were hung up in the window, he took the longest, hottest shower he had ever taken. Maybe he was trying to wash off this last day. Maybe if he stayed in there long enough Katrina wouldn't be gone, Abbie and Jenny wouldn't be hurt, the cabin wouldn't be in ashes and he wouldn't be so broken and alone. Maybe not.

He got out of the shower and blow dried his hair, then his boxer-briefs. He crawled into his underwear and onto the still made bed, where he passed out as his head hit the pillow.

xxxxxxxx

The alarm rang. Julie reached over to the nightstand and found her phone. Squinting, she pressed the button to silence the alarm. It was 11:30am. She made a deal with the lady at the front desk that if she was out of the room by noon, she would only be charged for one night. Besides, she really wanted to get home and see her kids. She took a really quick shower to wake herself up, put on her gym clothes she had in her back seat - yoga pants, tank top, sports bra - and headed out the door. As she walked past the other rooms on her way to check out, she noticed something hanging in one of the windows. What the hell... Is that...Crane's clothes? "There's no way..." She mumbled under her breath. She set her gym bag down, cupped her hands around her eye, and peeked into the room through a small space between the clothes and the curtain. Her jaw dropped. There he was - an almost naked Ichabod Crane sleeping like a rock face-down on the bed. "What the hell am I supposed to do with this now?" she asked herself out loud. She looked behind her as two older women walked by looking at her oddly. She gave them an awkward smile. Great. Now you are officially a creepy motel room peeper who also talks to herself. Classy, Julie. Just go home. She peeked in again. Wow, he looks amazing without clothes on. OK but really, God knows what just happened to him in that cave and he's obviously exhausted. Not to mention, do you really want to torture yourself by being face-to-face with Mr. Boxer-briefs? Just go home.

She walked to her car despite every fiber of her being trying to pull her back to that room. She put on her seat belt and drove out of the parking lot and down the road towards the Interstate. About twenty minutes had gone by when she heard her text notification ring coming from her purse. Shit, I didn't call Brendan. That must be him. She pulled over and grabbed her phone.

'TEXT MESSAGE FROM ABBIE MILLS'

What? From Abbie? She pressed the button to view it.

'Greetings, Ms. O'Connor. This is Ichabod Crane. I am in possession of Miss Mills' cellular phone. I trust you made it home safely?'

"You have GOT to be kidding me." Julie said out loud, laughing in disbelief. She sat there wondering how she should respond. After sifting through her initial instincts ('I'll be right there', 'Oh my God, is Abbie OK?,' 'So, boxer briefs, huh?') and much grueling internal debate, she decided to go with, 'I did. Thank you.' Then she called Brendan and let him know she was on her way. Although she really did want to know about Abbie, she decided the more interaction she had with Crane, the more likely it was that she would find herself turning the car around. She would ask him later, once she was actually home.