Author's note: It has been a long time since I'd originally planned to publish Forever Season 3. Life got in the way and then I couldn't remember what I'd originally intended with what I'd started to write, so the first case of season 3 (partially written) was almost entirely scrapped and replaced. This chapter hasn't changed, but the next one had to be entirely reworked to begin to resemble a cohesive case. I'm very sorry to everyone who has been waiting for this chapter for sooooo long. It was not my intention to take four years away from writing, but I am finally getting around to writing and posting again. That being said, there will probably be long gaps in the writing as I am currently pregnant and will be busy in the foreseeable future. I apologize in advance for those delays and I will try to limit them as much as I can.

I'd like to thank several people who posted comments on Forever Season 2 during the hiatus: Densifan77, Firejester, Amethyst M, JediPanda22, Tea, Nik1627, MP Hill, toomanyfandoms98, NyxShader, SpeedyMcCoy, Jen in oz, Anna, Alexebert7, TheWickedTruth89, a Guest, Loki's Minion Gurl, Ankor, kiger-neko, Emily Nelson, SigningSiren, ZoeGold, dryccagoncalves, and AnnaRose1286. ZoeGold: While I appreciate your comment, I'm not going to change my story just because you didn't like the ending. I wrote that almost four years ago, it is my story, and I happen to think that there could be some interesting things to explore with that development. I understand that the original creator of the show would have had different ideas of where Season 2 would go, however I am not the original creator, so my vision of what could have happened is obviously going to differ from them. You are welcome to continue reading my stories, but please understand that I will not be changing what I have written because it didn't go the way that you would like. The only changes I make are related to grammar and spelling errors that I didn't catch before initial posting, correcting the conversations written in a different language if a native speaker notices errors with Google Translate, or to correct historical inaccuracies I didn't properly research. AnnaRose1286: My thinking on the insulin case is that there ended up being too much insulin in her system without her realizing that there was too much and that she succumbed to that in her sleep. dryccagoncalves: I would be happy to have you translate Spanish and Portuguese should I need anything in those languages. kiger-neko: Anneliese calls him "Henri" in these early chapters to remind him of when they knew each other last. I'm glad you appreciate Abe's adaptation in this story. Ankor: Thank you for the information and I have corrected the name in the story. Alexebert7: Thank you for understanding my decision to make Jo immortal even though it was not your favorite decision. I would love for your help with Spanish on any of my former stories if you would like to, as well as future translations. Just send me a PM so I can contact you in the future if you are interested. JediPanda22: I'm glad you liked my story and felt it captured the tone and feel of the show.

The first part of this chapter is the epilogue from season 2. It continues on from there and ends with the start of the first case of season 3. Disclaimer: I do not own Forever or its characters, I'm just borrowing them for a fan creation. This disclaimer applies to all future chapters. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

"Be like me."

With a sigh almost too soft to be heard, Jo's heart stopped beating. Henry squeezed his eyes shut, grief overcoming him. And then Jo was gone. His eyes flew open. No body, no blood; it was like she'd vanished. Henry's sobs turned into laughter. Relief flooded through him. She was an immortal too. How this had happened, he didn't know, but Henry didn't care. She was still alive and he knew where she'd probably be.

Which he was probably going to see sooner than expected because familiar footsteps were approaching. "That was unexpected."

A loud gunshot echoed in the alley, but Henry didn't live long enough to hear it. The bullet entered the back of his skull and then Henry's face broke through the surface of the East River and he sucked in a lungful of cold, refreshing air. With full lungs, he dove down and retrieved two bags from under the nearby buoy, quickly dragging them to the surface and the shore. He needed to find Jo before she was picked up for public nudity.

He didn't have to look far. "Jo?"

She was breathing heavily, eyes darting around like a caged animal. Henry could relate; the first time he'd resurfaced alive, he'd been just as confused and scared. She was cowering by the bushes near the shore, legs and arms wrapped around herself to cover up her body. She was also shivering in the cold, night air. Henry set down the bags and grabbed the towels from each, covering himself with one and holding the other out to her.

"Jo? I know you're scared. I know this is all new to you…"

She looked at him. "What the hell happened?"

"Do you remember how you died?"

She grabbed the towel and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Yes, I remember that. I'm… How…"

"I don't know." Henry moved the bags over to her. "After all my years of immortality, I've never figured out what changed me from a mortal to an immortal, so I can't say what changed you."

Jo's eyes moved to the bags. "Is one of those Anneliese's?"

"Yes. I'm sure she won't mind you borrowing them until we can get you home."

"I'm too tall."

"You're close enough to the same size. Or I can put the bag back. Your towel ought to cover you enough."

She glared at him. "Jokes? Right now?"

Henry smiled with a sigh. "Just get dressed. You can't afford a public indecency charge, detective. Trust me. We'll talk about everything later."

He turned his back to give her privacy and quickly dried off, still elated that she was alive. It was like the pain of the last several minutes had been lifted from him. He felt light and free. If Jo wasn't so terrified right now, he would laugh for joy. He quickly got dressed, glancing back when he was nearly done to make sure Jo was doing the same. She was nearly dressed now too, the towel wrapped around her hair.

She caught him looking. "I thought you were always going to be a gentleman with me."

"Jokes, detective?" He grinned. "I was making sure you weren't still in complete shock."

"I should be." They both ducked down as a pair of headlights washed over them.

The car came to a stop and a door opened. "Henry? Are you there?"

Henry straightened up. "Abe? How…?"

"I heard a gunshot and went to investigate before I called the cops."

"Abraham!"

"I know, I know. When I saw your watch, I realized you'd been there too. Was Jo injured when you were killed? Because I found a gun that looks like hers in the alley too." He noticed the toweled head next to his father. "Is Anneliese with you?"

"No." Jo stood up. "Surprise."

"Wait, you're immortal? How long have…"

"Just a few minutes ago." Henry gathered up the bags. "We'll talk in the car."

Just after 1am, the doorbell rang and Henry quickly answered it. "I'm glad you could come."

"I'm sorry it took so long to get here. I was at an event when you called. What happened?"

"Jo's become an immortal. She took it fairly well at the river, but I can't get her to relax now. Abe's with her upstairs."

Anneliese shrugged out of her coat and followed Henry. "So, what happened?"

"Adam happened. He killed her, probably to hurt me, but she became immortal instead of dying."

"Henry," Anneliese grabbed Henry's arm before they went into Jo's bedroom. "I'm not sure what you want me to do here. If she's having a panic attack, there's not much I can do. I'm not a doctor."

"But you were a nurse…"

"Yes, back when the treatment for mental illness was bleeding to stabilize the humours. Do you have any idea what the training for that job was?"

"No."

"Here's an example of the job interview: 'Are you comfortable with holding the hand of a man who is dying?' If you said yes, they'd say, 'Great. See that man over there? He's dying, go hold his hand.'"

Henry was quiet for a moment. "And if you said no?"

"'I'm very sorry to hear that. See that man over there? He's dying, go hold his hand.'"

"Oh."

"Exactly." Anneliese sighed. "What do you need me to do?"

"Just, be her friend." Henry opened the door. "Jo? Anneliese is here."

Anneliese walked into the room to see Jo curled up in a ball at the head of her bed. Abe was sitting in the corner by the window, looking very nervous. She also noticed her bag at the foot of the bed, her clothes a jumbled mess inside. She was going to need to get that back into the river sometime tomorrow. Jo looked over at Anneliese and the immortal saw terror in her eyes. She recognized that look; her second husband had looked like that when he'd found out about her secret.

"Jo? Are you alright?"

Jo shook her head. "No."

"Besides being immortal now, what's wrong?"

"I'm afraid."

"Afraid?" Anneliese sat on the edge of Jo's bed. "Afraid of what?"

"I'm Catholic. If I can't die, how will I ever get to Heaven?"

"You're worried about your soul?" Anneliese had not been prepared for that.

"Yes."

"When was the last time you went to Mass?"

Jo hesitated. "Easter."

"And I'm assuming Christmas or Ash Wednesday before that?"

Jo slowly sat up. "Yes, why?"

Anneliese glanced at the men in the room. "I have a hard time calling you a practicing Catholic when you go only a few times a year. Not that I'm judging. I'm Catholic too, but I don't go to Mass very often at all. Sometimes I go years without going to Mass at all."

"Why?"

"The church has changed a lot since the fifteenth century. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, or that I don't have faith. I just feel that, for me, faith should be between me and God."

Jo shook her head. "That's not so easy for me."

"I'm not saying that's the route you should take. Like I said, faith is between you and God. If you feel that includes attending Mass a few times a year, then you can still go. I just mentioned what works for me."

"How does this relate to my soul?"

"The bible tells us of an apostle who was promised he wouldn't die, that he would live until Christ came back." Anneliese stopped to carefully word what she said next. "I know he's an apostle and things are a bit different for him, but I don't think God would grant immortality to people if they weren't meant to serve a purpose. The apostle's purpose is to bring souls to Christ."

"So, what's our purpose?"

Anneliese sighed. "I don't know. It could be as simple as making people smile or as powerful as saving lives. Without being explicitly told what we are meant to do, it's up to us to figure that out. My point is, as long as we are doing good things with our lives, I don't think God would punish us for being immortal."

Jo thought about that for a long time and her body slowly started to relax. "I… think I can accept that."

Later, when Anneliese was leaving, Henry handed her the bag of clothes. "We borrowed these for Jo. I hope you don't mind."

Anneliese chuckled. "No, I don't mind. Looks like I need to get Jo a bag now too." She reached into her purse and took out a manila envelope. "The pictures you wanted. Weathered and everything."

"Thank you. These will be most helpful."

"I'm glad I was able to help."

Henry thought he heard a note of sadness in her voice. "What is it?"

"I'm remembering a conversation we had around the time you first started dating Jo. I thought it was good you were choosing to be with her while she was still alive; that maybe someday we could give 'us' another chance, a hundred years or so down the road. But that won't happen now, will it? The one you love is immortal now."

Henry didn't know what to say. "Anneliese…"

"Henry, it's fine. I'm fine. What I said wasn't a confession of love; I was thinking with my head, not my heart. I'm happy for you." She pulled her coat back on. "Take care of her."

Before Henry could say another word, Anneliese had walked out the door. He wasn't sure what to think. Anneliese wasn't someone he'd thought had been making plans to be with him. And whether she was telling the truth about her feelings or not, her last words to him made it sound like she was saying goodbye. Was she really trying to write him out of her life? Was that really the last time they would see each other?

Abe came down the stairs. "I need to go home and get some sleep, Pops. Are you coming with?"

"I should. Give me a couple minutes."

"Sure."

Henry went back upstairs and entered Jo's room. "Jo? I'm going to head home to shower and get a change of clothes. Would you like me to call the precinct and get you a couple sick days?"

Jo nodded. "I could really use them."

"Okay. I'll call Reece in the morning and let her know. I'll get myself the time off as well so I can be here for you."

Jo nodded, but it looked like she was distracted. Henry looked around the room, but nothing looked out of place. He turned back to her and watched her as she sat up. Her eyes were down and her shoulders were hunched inward, protective. She looked like she had something to say but didn't want to say it. Henry had a sinking feeling; Abigail had been acting this way just before she walked out of his life.

"Jo? Is something wrong?"

She sighed. "Henry, I… I think I need to have us take a break. I'm not saying that I want to break up, but I need some… some time… to… to figure all this out."

Henry's heart sank. "Did I… did I do something wrong?"

"No! No, nothing like that. It's just…" She sighed again, "I have so much going through my head right now, I can't deal with you hovering over me, trying to fix me. I need to figure this out on my own. So, as much as I love you, until I've sorted everything out, I need to have some space."

Henry was quiet for a few moments. "Hanson will notice that something has changed. What should we say?"

Jo looked away. "Just say I'm struggling with… Sean. When I broke up with Isaac, that was the excuse I used then. I'm sure he'll buy that again."

"I see. I guess I'll take my leave, then."

Jo looked up, pain in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Henry."

A/N: Stay tuned!