CHAPTER 17

Papa Good sighed with relief. "Oh. Thank you. Thank you."

"I'm not like you. Nor do I ever wish to be like you."

Papa Good crawled on his knees over to where Dean stood.

"You're a good man, Jonathan. I underestimated you. You truly are a good man. You have a good heart. You have a good soul. You have..."

Papa Good brought his arm up right between Dean's legs and connected with a lowblow. Dean collapsed to his side moaning loudly and coughing. Papa Good rose to his feet and stood over him.

"You have no brain, boy. You shouldn't have lowered the gun. You should have killed me when you had your opportunity. Big mistake."

Papa Good reached down and grabbed a handful of Dean's hair.

"GET UP!"

Dean slowly stood and turned to face his attacker. "I hate doing this to my own flesh and blood. But now, you've left me no other choice."

Papa Good grabbed the back of Dean's jeans and tossed him over the side of the Hoover Dam. However, Dean was able to grab for the barrier cement wall before falling to his doom. He grunted and gritted his teeth struggling to make it back over the side. Papa Good looked down at Dean, smirking through a bloody grin.

"Oh, my dear boy. I've waited years for this moment. The moment I bring your life to a permanent end. I've heard it said that good things come to those who wait. For me, seeing you like this, well, it's a very good thing."

Dean screamed as Papa Good rubbed at the wound on his right arm. Dean's right arm briefly lost the grip on the wall, but was able to grip it again. Papa Good bent down and retrieved a small hand gun from the ankle holster on his left leg and pressed the barrel of the pistol to Dean's forehead. Dean couldn't move. He went stiff. Horror filled his blue eyes as Papa Good pulled back on the hammer.

"Time to die, boy. I will make this as quick as possible. Just close your eyes and enjoy your last few breaths."

Dean knew that there was nothing he could do now. Dean closed his eyes and waited.

*BANG*

A gun shot fired through the night. Dean slowly opened his eyes. Nothing had happened. He heard a gun shot. He was still alive? How? Papa Good had a look of shock on his face. Papa Good had been shot in the back. He slowly turned around and saw Mark standing there with a gun in both hands. He was aiming directly at him.

"Mark..." Papa Good whispered. "How..."

"Rest...in...peace..."

Mark fired another shot into Papa Good's stomach and it sent him over the edge of the barrier wall, down to the water below. Mark dropped the gun to the walkway.

"God forgive me."

He walked over to Dean and helped him back over the side. Dean lay on the walkway panting. Mark assisted Dean to a seated position, his back resting against the wall. He looked at Mark shocked.

"Mark...how are you...how did you..."

Mark reached into his shirt and pulled out the cross he wore around his neck. A bullet struck it bending it into an awkward shape. Dean stared wide-eyed at the cross, then at Mark.

"Long story short, God wasn't ready for me yet."

"You killed him."

"He was going to kill you. Believe me, I have a lot of praying to do after this for forgiveness."

Tears began to fill Dean's eyes, then he dropped his gaze from Mark. He didn't want Mark to see him this way. Dean quickly wiped at his eyes. Mark reached forward and lifted Dean's head so they were looking at one another.

"Jonathan. It's okay to cry you know. I won't tell Renee."

Dean closed his eyes and lowered his head again. His body began to shake and sounds of weeping escaped him. Mark pulled his son close and just held him. Tears fell from his own eyes. Both men had been through so much these past couple of days. The lives of their families at risk at the hands of a sadistic man. Their own lives were at risk. And it was all over. It was finally over.

"I love you, son."

"I love you too, Dad."

-"Mommy! Renee! Daddy did it!"

Kaia opened the door to the truck and jmped out as Michelle and Renee were exiting the truck themselves. Kaia ran towards Dean and Mark. Mark caught Kaia in his arms and held her close. Michelle approached and hugged Mark, then hugged Dean. Dean looked over Michelle's shoulder and saw Renee standing by the truck rubbing her stomach. Michelle stepped away from Dean and pushed Dean toward Renee's direction. He walked over to Renee not removing his eyes from her.

Her face and her clothes were filthy, but to him, it didn't matter. She was still the most beautiful woman on Earth. He stopped in front of her, taking her in. Dean's right hand rested on Renee's pregnant belly. Their daughter kicked, bringing a smile to Dean's bruised and battered face. His right hand reached up to Renee's shoulder. His left hand reached her right shoulder and he gently pushed her against the passenger's door of the truck. He looked at her. She looked at him. Not a word between them was spoken. The kiss they shared spoke louder than any words ever would have.