Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or ideas from The Killing. It's all just way too much fun.

Spoilers: Season 1, episode 13

Author's Note: Thank you all so much for reading this story so far, and special thanks to everyone who's taken the time to leave me a review! Of course, I'm writing this story because I enjoy it and I love the show, but there's something about knowing that other people enjoy it too that really makes me happy! This is the last chapter corresponding with season 1 (as you may have guessed from the "spoiler" line at the top), but don't worry, there's no break between seasons. I'll be diving right into season 2 as soon as this chapter is posted. As you can see, this story's not ending any time soon…

DAY 13

Linden and Holder are in the car, parked at yet another gas station where they failed to find any trace of Rosie Larsen or the black campaign car she had been found in. They're getting frustrated.

Holder gives his theory about why they're not finding anything on that part of the route – "No one fills up a tank til it's empty, right?" He continues his explanation. Meanwhile, Linden is grinning at him.

"What's so funny?" Holder can't imagine why Linden has that smile on her face. It's not as though she smiles that often, and now she's grinning for what seems like no reason – for the second day in a row!

"You trying to do math is kind of like a dog wearing a hat," she explains.

"Yeah, whatever. LISTEN! So he's got enough gas to go from the campaign parking lot, to the casino, and over the bridge. That's a total of 110 miles, give or take. Meaning, he would have been driving on fumes south of the bridge. That's when he filled up the tank. Not before."

"And how does this help us?" Linden is still skeptical of how Holder's calculations make any difference.

"There's a gas station on Lowell Street. It's about 5 miles from Discovery Park. It would have been right in his path."

"Lowell Street's not on the list." It's taking Linden a while to warm up to Holder's theory.

"Yo, trust me, Linden. I got this."

Holder

I think she's buying my theory. Even if she's not buying it, as long as she's willing to go along with it long enough to check it out, that's ok with me. She's making fun of my math skills, but whatever. I can take it as well as I can dish it out. I guess it's my turn to be on the receiving end for a change.

I know I'm right about this… it just makes sense. This could be the break in the case that we've been looking for.

Linden

I guess that after everything that's happened in the past two weeks, it's my turn to give Holder the benefit of the doubt. Besides, what's the harm in checking out that gas station on Lowell Street? I think I've second guessed him enough… and we seem to be striking out so far anyway. God knows I don't want to check any more of these nasty gas stations toilets than I have to.

…

Holder stands by the window that looks into the room where Richmond is being processed. Linden comes around the corner and sees him standing there. She walks slowly over to stand beside him.

"After all that…" she says, watching the exchange between Richmond and the officer behind the glass.

"Yeah…" Holder turns to face her. "So, what's next, Linden? You finally heading for So-no-ma?"

She turns towards him and leans the side of her head against the glass. "Yep. We leave tonight. I think I'm going to sleep for the next week, and then we'll see what happens."

"Well, you've certainly earned it. I mean, you've also been rewarded with the delightful opportunity to work with me, of course, which is a bonus…" They both smile at Holder's bravado. "…but you really put yourself through a lot when you're working a case, don't you?"

Linden's head bobs slightly in agreement.

"You always do that, or did you just do it this time because you wanted an excuse to spend more time with me?" Holder is such a little kid, Linden thinks to herself.

She looks back at Richmond on the other side of the glass. "I guess I do that with the cases I care most about."

Holder glances at Richmond, but then looks back at her. "Well, I for one am very impressed with your insane work ethic. It's completely unhealthy, and definitely makes you a workaholic. Seriously, you make me look like a slacker, which I'm not, no matter what you may think, so it's probably best that you move on out of here." Classic Holder, grin on his face, giving her a hard time once more for "old time's" sake… if it can be old time's sake after 13 days. Somehow it feels like they've known each other for years already.

"Yeah, sorry I've been cramping your style around here," Linden replies. They could probably go on like this all day.

"It ain't no thing, Linden. It's all good."

They both smile, then turn back to look at Richmond. It's been a crazy two weeks. They stand that way for a while, both lost in thought.

…

Without looking away from the scene still unfolding in front of them, with Richmond now being fingerprinted, Linden says, "I'm thinking you can handle the paperwork."

Holder turns his head slowly towards her, a smile creeping onto his face. "Oh, so now I'm OK to work alone." He almost laughs at the Linden's not-quite-a-compliment.

Linden smiles at him. "You're a pretty good cop, Holder. You're gonna make a passable detective." Holder chuckles as he repeats the word "passable" under his breath.

Linden continues, "You want a tip? That mouth of yours? You don't have to say every thoughtthat runs through your head." She isn't trying to be malicious - she says it with a smile. Yet again, Holder laughs.

"Yeah, well guess what I'm not saying now," he tells her. He pauses, then says, "Get outta here."

Linden smiles, and without a word she walks down the hall and around the corner. Holder watches her leave for the last time.

Holder

I guess she's not wrong about my mouth… she's not the first person to ever say that to me. Maybe one of these days I'll even take her advice into account… Maybe.

So she's actually leaving… I guess it's good that I didn't put money on that happening after all. It's gonna be weird around here without her, that's for sure.

Maybe I should've told her… No, it's all for the best.

Bye, Linden… it was nice working with you, after all.

Linden

Hopefully Holder can keep himself out of trouble, because I think he may do OK in this job. He's not what you'd expect a detective to be, but I guess sometimes that's a good thing. He definitely has his own way of doing things. I'll almost miss his stupid jokes…

Almost.

And now, to get out of Seattle, on to a fresh start.

End of season 1