We just got back from our weekend trip. Here is the final chapter of this story. It's short, but after such a long story, I thought it was right.

Chapter 178.

Marisa looked tired but she grinned as she walked out with Bev, Ricky and Marcello. She'd probably return to work in a week or so.

Locarno left The Melting Pot with his bodyguards after a long talk with Giordano. Both men seemed pleased with whatever agreement they'd come to even shaking hands on it. Papa took a final long look at the kitchen doors before sighing and leaving alone.

The restaurant was almost empty when Jess was ready to leave. The tables were cleared and the cleaning crew were stacking chairs upside down on the tables. Some of the food aromas remained, but none of the food. A muffled clatter of staff washing dishes came from the kitchen. Didn't Bertoli have electric dishwashers back there?

"I'm exhausted." Jess dropped into the still-upright chair next to mine. "Give me a minute to catch my breath, and then we can go."

"Sure." I'd gotten a cup of coffee from Ellie so I'd be sober enough to drive home. There was on gulp left.

We watched Nina leave with Wilson. She waved and shouted to Jess, "Call you tomorrow."

Jess put a hand over my right one, lacing her fingers with mine. "Thanks. I don't think I could have gotten through tonight without you." She beamed at me.

"Don't sell yourself short, Jess. You used your own skills, not mine, to build a successful business."

"Maybe. But I might have crumbled with tonight's unexpected events if I didn't know you were here."

I shook my head. "The Locarnos' bodyguards and Edgar handled it all. And Locarno himself. I just sat here, enjoying the wonderful food and the floor show."

Jess smirked. "And who made sure they'd be here? You don't have to do things yourself if you can get others to do them for you."

I hid my smile. "Let's go home and you can show me your gratitude."

She chuckled. "Okay, c'mon." She rose again. "Just remember, while you've been sitting, I've been on my feet most of the day."

"What I have in mind is best done lying down." I wiggled my eyebrows and stood too.

Jess was grinning when we left the restaurant, but I knew how to make her grin even more.

Once we were home, she went straight to the refrigerator, emerging quickly with a half-finished bottle of wine. "Want some?" She waved the bottle at me.

"I think I had enough for one night. The bubbly you served was superb. Didn't you have any?"

"I was too busy, but now I just want to relax." She poured herself a glass and sat on the couch.

I didn't need her to pat the spot beside her to know she wanted me there. "Still wound up?"

She nodded. "It'll take me a while. The swing from dread to euphoria combined with the sheer physical effort tonight were more than enough to get me keyed up."

"Let me take care of that." I massaged her shoulders as she sipped the wine, then moved my hands around to the back of her neck. The muscles were tighter than size six pants on a super-sized woman. I loosened them some before moving down her back, pressing my palms along each and every vertebrae.

Jess closed her eyes and sighed. "I think I might put you on retainer, schedule a treatment like this after every party we do."

"Here's hoping the rest won't be anything like this one."

"Greg, do you think my father was honestly considering Mr. Locarno's offer?"

"We can only hope so. He still doesn't understand why you all turned away from him, and he wants your loyalty again, so he'd probably do anything to gain it. Little does he know that you and your sister and brother have seen the light. It will take a lot to get any of you to trust him again." I ran my hands down her sides once, twice, three times. "We may not trust your father to keep up his end of the bargain, but I for one trust Locarno."

She nodded.

"Locarno knew how to appeal to any shred of family loyalty he has left. All we can do is hope your father will honor their deal. And if he renegs, Locarno is on our side. He'll take care of him for us."

She nodded. "I guess time will tell." Her body slumped a bit, muscles no longer taut, but I continued to rub her back. Once she was relaxed enough, I upped the tempo. "Oh, that's even better!" She leaned into my hands.

After another ten minutes, it was time to take this to the bedroom. I stood and held out my hand, and Jess took it. Arms intertwined we headed to bed. The massage I'd given her was just the appetizer, a prelude to what we did next.

I pushed the bedclothes off with my cane and we both fell onto the mattress. I smoothed her hair off her face and kissed her forehead, her cheeks and her lips. She was already grinning. Her hands slithered down my sides and cupped my cheeks. And I don't mean the ones on my face.

We quickly removed each others clothing. The touch of her bare skin against mine was more stimulating than any porn flick. This was the real deal. The taste of the wine on her lips added to my excitement. The perkiness of her breasts showed she was excited too.

I found that spot that I knew would rouse her still more, and she returned the favor. My body ached for her.

When we joined, it felt like the best thing in the world. Together we continued to ascend until all thought vanished and everything was pure satisfaction.

Afterward, I lay back, a big grin on my face. "And you said you were exhausted."

"You always re-energize me."

I glanced at her. She was smiling too. "Guess you'd better keep me around."

"I hope to." She turned her body toward mine and kissed my cheek. "Forever and ever." She rained kisses on my eyelids and lips.

"Sounds like a mushy love song."

"What's wrong with those? As long as we don't make a steady diet of them."

My arms found their way around her body. The warmth and calm lulled me to sleep.

When I woke, Jess was still sleeping. She hadn't moved far from me, but sometime during the night, she'd donned one of her silky nightshirts. Those things were almost as smooth as her skin. I studied her face, completely relaxed and lovely.

Looking at her lying next to me brought a peace to my mind and heart I'd never had. The incessant thoughts warring inside my head were clearer, and my heart had learned to sing a new song.

How had I reached this point in my life? I don't know how I lost sight of my worth and of what was important to me. Sure, my life had meaning all along. I think it was after I was shot, that I hallucinated telling Cuddy that what I had, what I valued most in myself, was my brain, my ability to connect disparate facts to obtain a diagnosis. That was my gift to the world. I might not have cared about all of my patients, but I'd always cared about finding the solution to the puzzle of their illness.

I was only partially right. Now I felt as if my life had more meaning than ever. Jess had brought me that. She'd given me the happiness and serenity to make full use of my brain without the torture of conflicting thoughts and the sadness of being totally alone. I'd never be alone again.

I loved the idea that I could work behind the scenes, solve problems for people I cared for, without them fully being aware of it. That's right. I cared for people. Sure I cared for and about Jess, but there were others. Not many but a few.

Jess had taught me that, too. Taught me that it was okay to help people besides my patients, that it enhanced my reputation rather than diminished it.

She stirred and smiled at me. "What were you thinking just now?"

"That maybe life is good."

THE END