"The charges will be dropped immediately."
Kim had to let those words replay in her head a few times. The charges will be dropped immediately. After everything they had endured through the past several months, it was almost too simple, too easy for it to end with just those simple words.
She realized that she was still gripping Shane's hand extremely tightly, but she almost feared to let go. Maybe this was all some dream and, if she released his hand, she would wake up and it would be morning all over again.
No, this is real, she insisted silently. She looked up at Shane's face. He was still watching Tarrington.
"Shane?" she whispered.
His mouth moved, but no words came out. He seemed too stunned to speak.
Steve laughed. "I don't think I've ever seen Donovan speechless before. The man with all the words can't find any."
Shane shook his head. "I . . . I don't believe-"
"Believe it," Steve said, quickly cutting Shane off. "Now, why don't we make ourselves scarce? Unless you want to get mobbed by all those reporters when they figure out you're standing here."
Kim had been so focused on Shane that she had not realized that the press conference was ending. A glance at the podium showed her that Tarrington had regained his bearings and was making a concluding speech about the "tireless work of the ISA." She did not want to hear any more.
"Roman's office," she suggested in a low voice.
Kayla nodded. "Good idea."
Steve steered Kayla down the corridor toward Roman's office. Kim started, her hand still gripping Shane's, but he hesitated. His eyes were still focused on the podium, as if he did not wanting to tear his eyes away from Tarrington.
"It's real, Shane," Kim whispered. She tugged on his hand and he moved a step sideways toward her, then followed as she continued to pull him down the hall.
When they got to Roman's office, Bo was already there, his arms wrapped around Steve in a bear hug. "We did it," he said as he and Steve both grinned. Then Bo let Steve go and turned to Shane. "Sorry, Gov'nor. You didn't really think we'd let the ol' ISA scare us off, did you?"
Shane still seemed stunned. "I . . . I really don't know what to say." He shook his head like he was trying to clear it. "I'm grateful. . . . I really-"
Steve cut Shane off with a laugh. "Seriously, dude, stop it. You're making me a little misty-eyed here." He swatted Shane on the shoulder. "No thanks needed, Donovan. This was all family."
"Am I missing something about family?" Roman said, as he came bursting through the door, a broad grin on his face. "Make way for the actors.
Carly and Jack followed, his notebook in one hand a pen in the other. Kim saw Steve scowl at Jack, who, with a resigned shrug, put the pen in his pocket.
"Hey. . . ."
Looking up, Kim saw Roman smiling down at her. He held his arms out and asked, "Does my performance deserve some award?"
Kim felt such a surge of emotion that she dropped Shane's hand and rushed forward. She buried her head against her brother's chest and swung her arms tightly around him. "Thank you," she said, feeling the grateful tears sting her eyes.
"It's not an Oscar, but it'll do," Roman joked as he hugged her back.
"Hey, my turn," came Bo's voice from behind her. Kim turned away from Roman and her younger brother swept her into an embrace. He held her close and whispered, "It took too damn long to get you and Shane back together. We weren't gonna let the stupid ISA take him from you."
A stream of wet tears were flowing down Kim's cheeks and she choked a little as she said, "You always did look out for your big sister."
"Well, this was definitely a group effort," Roman said. "John also. He would've been here too, but we thought it might be hard to explain why he was here for the press conference." Roman paused for a moment. "But the credit really belongs to Steve. It was his idea."
Kim jerked her head around and looked at Steve. He shrugged. "Guilty as charged."
For a moment, she studied him. It was funny, she thought, suddenly thinking of how much they had all been through since Steve had returned. With a bit of a shock, she realized it had only been five months since she had first seen him at Donovan Manor, looking half-starved and barely able to climb a set of stairs. Now, he looked like the Steve Johnson of old - healthy, happy, and whole. His eye met hers and he smiled.
"Thank you," Kim said. It seemed completely inadequate, but it was all she could think to say.
"Aw, it was nothing compared to storming an armed compound in the desert with a bunch of Green Berets," Steve said. "Did Shane ever tell you how hot that place was?"
Kim reached up and pecked him on the cheek, causing Steve to blush. As she did, Kayla cleared her throat.
"I think we've been caught," Steve joked.
Kayla laughed and then it was her turn to give Kim a hug. Neither said a word. They didn't have to. Kayla's eyes were brimming with happy tears too.
When they pulled apart, Kim looked at everyone who was still hugging and reliving the press conference - her brothers, Steve, Jack, and Carly. She suddenly realized that one person was notably not involved.
Turning, she saw that Shane had turned his back to the group. He had stepped over to Roman's desk and was staring down at the desk. His palms were resting on the desktop and his shoulders were hunched forward.
"Go talk to him," Kayla whispered in Kim's ear, but the encouragement was unnecessary. Kim was already crossing to the desk.
Reaching him, Kim asked in a soft voice, "Are you okay?" She tilted her head so she could see his face, which was lowered.
He nodded, and she could see that he was struggling to stay composed. "I never expected this," he said, almost under his breath. "I still can't believe it."
As if on cue, Mickey Horton entered the office. "Here you are," he said, as he spotted Shane, who turned to face the door. "I just spoke to Lewis Pasqua. He's drawing up the dismissal papers as we speak."
Someone cheered, but Kim barely noticed. She was watching Shane, who seemed to still be processing what Mickey had said.
"It's over, my love," Kim told him. She grabbed his hand and, the tears again flowing freely, embraced him. "It's over, and we don't have to worry about our family ever being apart. We won, Shane. We beat the ISA."
From behind her, she heard a harsh laugh. Kim pulled her head back and turned to see that Tarrington had entered the room unnoticed. From just inside the doorway, he stared looked around the room at the group assembled in the office. Then, in a curt, clipped tone, he said, "Yes, Kimberly, I believe you have."