"Along Came a Spider" movie ending

I don't know where to put this. It's mostly the movie "Along Came A Spider" which was loosely based on the James Patterson book by the same name. I can't find a movie category so I have to go with the book category Alex Cross Series until someone tells me different. And it's a crossover with NCIS. It's confusing and I don't know what else to do.

The movie ended with Alex Cross and Megan Rose leaving the barn. I wrote this story ending because I wanted more and because I thought I could incorporate my favorite medical examiner. Credit goes to James Patterson for his novel and to I guess Paramount and James Patterson for the movie which is so different from the book. Morgan Freeman was very good in a movie not really liked by critics. It has flaws, it could have been better, but I like it and have it DVR'd to watch anytime I want. I like to write stories with alternate endings, in alternate time lines or in alternate universes. And I like crossover stories a lot. :)

"Along Came A Spider" was the first book in the Alex Cross books but the movie, released in 2001, came after "Kissing The Girls," which was released in 1997 and was the second book in the series. For this story, the events in "Along Came A Spider," book and movie, occurred after the ones in "Kissing The Girls," book and movie. It's an alternate universe, probably. :)

I'm not a good writer. I am not a good writer, but I hope you like it. All reviews are appreciated.
I wrote this pretty fast. I hope I caught my mistakes, or at least most of them.

xx/ xx/

Dr. Alex Cross returned to young Megan Rose's hiding place to find her looking a little scared. He crouched down to appear less threatening, hoping that saving her had earned him some good will. He'd already had his big hand over her mouth to keep her from crying out and she'd done as he asked; stayed quiet, stayed low and stayed hidden. There was no doubt she'd heard his exchange with Jezzie including the gunshot. His memory flashed to the dead fisherman and for a brief moment he wondered if she'd seen or heard that one too.

"You all right?" He kept his voice soft and concerned, not wanting her to feel more scared or uncomfortable, and kept eye contact in case she tried to bolt.

The young girl nodded slightly, gazing at him warily and his gut clenched with compassion. "You're a very brave girl, Megan."

She hadn't felt brave the last hour or so. She'd had Jezzie trying to kill her and all the loud gunshot noise still had her a little bit rattled but at least her heart wasn't racing anymore and her breathing had returned to almost normal. This man hadn't hurt her and she gained a little confidence from his words. "Who are you?"

"I'm a policeman," he replied and gently tossed his shield to her so she could examine it. He added, "My name is Alex Cross," before telling her the best thing he could have. "I'm a friend of your parents."

Her face brightened noticeably and she timidly inquired, "Can you take me to them?"

He gave her a small relaxed smile and said, "Nothing would give me greater pleasure."

Megan stepped to where he was crouched down and he indicated that he needed help to get up. She provided the help and together they walked out of the barn into the night air, heavy with humidity. The pavement was wet and littered with puddles and leaves from the earlier windy rain and they walked carefully but steadily.

Alex had left his car a ways away to keep anyone from hearing it as he drove up and it took more than a couple of minutes for him to lead Megan back there. He opened the passenger side door and she climbed into the back seat of his Porsche, getting situated quickly. He helped her with the seat belt noting that the fit seemed adequate for her height and weight. She looked exhausted and he whispered, "I'll get you a blanket." He retrieved two from the trunk and placed one over her gently, right up under her chin and the other, already folded, he folded over again and again to place as a pillow between her head and the side panel. The soft cloth and warmth must have felt good and she closed her eyes as the adrenaline rush and increased cortisol from fleeing for her life finally faded. She felt safe for the first time in days.

xx/ xx/

Megan slept or dozed as Alex drove from Lovettsville to Leesburg. He'd spent the time thinking about how to report what happened and the best way to reunite Megan with her folks, without a media circus. The FBI was looking for Agent Ben Devine, security systems supervisor, and while Alex had believed Jezzie was involved too, FBI Special Agent in charge Ollie McArthur and the other agents weren't there yet. While they scrambled to account for a secret service agent's involvement in a kidnapping and looked at everyone on the school security team again, he'd returned to Jezzie's apartment and found the surveillance photos of Soneji on her computer and the information about the farmhouse. He had jumped into his car and headed out, leaving a message for Ollie McArthur. "Mac, it's Alex. I found evidence I believe implicates Jezzie Flannagan in the kidnapping and cover up. I'm heading to a location in Lovettsville. I'm hoping Megan is still alive and they're keeping her there."

Alex had hesitated to tell him too much because the man would notify the locals and state cops who would rush to the location and go in. A small regret niggled his brain when he remembered the other times he'd not been upfront with FBI agents, but he quickly stopped thinking about those and concentrated on this situation. He'd found a body, killed Jezzie and was leaving the crime scene with evidence, not wanting to leave the diamonds behind. And he had the child hostage who was a primary witness. Believing in this case that asking forgiveness was better than seeking permission, he kept driving. The farmhouse was pretty secluded and would probably be fine for a while longer. Devine's body was all wrapped up by Jezzie and Alex had made sure the barn doors were closed so a coyote or large dog couldn't drag Jezzie's body away. Her body might get a few rat or mice bites but the cause of death was obvious.

He saw lights of businesses in the distance and started looking at road signs for a safe place to stop. Megan didn't wake up when he pulled over near Leesburg so he decided to call and let them know she was alive and that Devine and Jezzie were dead. Someone needed to secure the farmhouse and barn and wait for the FBI forensics people and a coroner. Reaching for his phone to call McArthur, his mind debated highway 7 or highway 267 as their travel route and he suddenly had an idea.

xx/ xx/

Dr. Donald Mallard, NCIS Medical Examiner, was ready when Alex and Megan arrived at his home in Reston. His mother was asleep upstairs with the Corgis and he'd secured the stairs in two places with baby gates in case the dogs tried to venture down. The elderly woman slept with a noise generator so the dogs would probably not hear them and she snored, loudly. He guided them into the study and while Alex made the call about the crime scene and the news that Megan was alive and fine, Ducky led Megan to the half bath adjacent to the library. After she washed her face and hands and brushed her hair, she sat on the toilet seat as the ME gently washed her legs so he'd be able to see the damage better. Surmising she'd been drugged some of the time, he gently took quite a bit of blood from a site on her arm and had her use the bathroom for a urine sample. He let her watch while he divided the samples and explained why he was doing it. Out of an abundance of caution because he knew how things sometimes got lost, he would keep half the samples in his refrigerator and send her home with the other half. He put the glass tubes and plastic cups, now in zippered plastic bags, into a box in his frig and into one of the insulated lunch bags he often carried to work. He added some cold packs from the freezer and they returned to the library just as Alex ended his phone call.

Megan seemed to really like Ducky and relaxed on the sofa as he checked her over some more, explaining every move and asking permission before touching her. About halfway through the exam, Alex brought up asking her questions and was met with a sharp look from Ducky. Alex wasn't deterred and said that talking about it right then could keep her from having to repeat everything again later but he couldn't promise. Ducky acknowledged that Megan was a victim/witness and would not be facing any charges. Still, questioning children without an advocate was tricky business. He was acting as a witness for Megan so why not consider himself a child advocate? It's not like he hadn't done it before. He didn't love the idea of children being questioned but he had seen his friend, NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, talk to kids often enough and knew the sooner most victims started talking, the sooner they'd begin dealing with what had happened. And details they recalled needed to be documented before their minds chose to block them out.

Ducky asked, "Will there be a trial?"

Alex shook his head and revealed, "No, no trial. I believe all the people who did this are dead." He turned to Megan and asked, "Megan, did you see anyone besides Jezzie and Mr. Soneji and the man you knew from your school?"

Megan scrunched her eyebrows while she thought about it and said, "No, just them."

Ducky believed it would be fine as long as Megan was okay with it. And lucky for her, it appeared she'd never have to testify in court. Alex was a forensic psychologist after all and a policeman and Ducky trusted him so he spoke to Megan, explaining that recording her words would certainly help. He assured her that she could stop talking at any time, that they'd stop asking questions about it, and Alex nodded in agreement, hoping she'd say enough about her ordeal to do some good for them both.

Megan felt safe and was comfortable with both men right then, believing they truly cared about her. She didn't want to talk to strangers about any of it and said yes, she'd answer some questions. Ducky brought them all some hot tea and Lorna Doone cookies and after a few bites and several sips, Megan was ready to start. Ducky monitored her closely while she told them about Mr. Soneji taking her to his office, how he accused her of cheating and then grabbed her. She was surprised when she saw him on the boat. He didn't look like the teacher she knew, but his voice verified it was him and he knew a lot about her. He'd said she didn't need to be afraid of him and she acted like she wasn't afraid. Megan told them about her attempted escape, about causing the fire, jumping into the water and Soneji killing the fisherman. Amid a few tears, Alex and the ME told her it wasn't her fault and she'd accept that in time.

Alex caught Ducky's eye and changed the questioning. "What did you eat while you were on the boat?" There were still tears but Megan suddenly seemed calmer. She told them about sandwiches and macaroni and cheese, carrots sticks and twinkies. Ducky jumped in with, "That all sounds good to me. What kind of sandwiches?" Megan responded with a small smile and admitted, "Ham. Peanut butter, jelly and banana. My dad never puts banana on but mom does."

Both men had noticed she didn't appear to be dehydrated at all and now knew she'd been offered food during her ordeal as a captive. After several seconds, Alex asked, "When did you get to the barn?"

Megan told them about waking up in the barn confused because she only remembered being on the boat. She didn't know when or how she got there, just that it was night on the boat and daytime when she woke up in the barn. She didn't know how long she'd been there but it seemed like a long time with only the wind for company. Finally a man came into the barn with some food. She recognized him from her school and knew he was going to hurt her. Megan cried some more when she told them about being happy when Jezzie was there before realizing the woman wasn't her friend after all. She'd fired her gun lots of times and Megan told them about hiding trying to make herself small and breaking the light bulb. She explained how she used the fork to escape, about being grabbed by Alex and hearing them talking before the last gunshot.

Ducky saw the guilt on Alex's face for having to do that with her close by and stepped in to ask her, "Were there any animals in the barn?"

Megan sighed and said she didn't know for sure but she hadn't heard any. "I would have liked to see a horse or a cow. Chickens too," she revealed.

Alex asked, "What about a pig?"

The young girl giggled and said, "Pigs are cute. Especially baby pigs."

Ducky waited just a bit before asking, "You heard Dr. Cross and Jezzie talking. Did you hear what they said?" Megan nodded and repeated the short conversation almost word for word before turning to Alex. "I thought Jezzie was my friend but she wasn't. I think she would have hurt both of us."

Alex thought they had enough, said "Interview ended," and stopped the recorder. Ducky asked her how she was feeling and rubbing her eyes Megan replied tiredly, "Okay, except I hear buzzing." Ducky explained to her that she would experience buzzing or ringing in her ears for some time from being so close to the gunfire without hearing protection. He said it should get better and that she might get a hearing test in a few weeks. He told her the scrapes and small cuts on her hands, knees and shins would heal quickly and that she might have bad dreams but her parents would help her and it would get better.

"I miss them," Megan admitted sadly before sipping more tea.

Alex had waited on the phone call because he didn't know how emotional Megan would be talking to her parents. She'd been remarkably poised for a 12 year old but he knew that could have changed at anytime and he'd needed her to tell them what happened to her the last few days.

"Megan, would you like to speak to your parents before we leave to get you home?"

Alex and Ducky both knew the answer would be yes and with Megan wrapped up in a comforter, the NCIS Medical Examiner was ready with the landline. Alex dialed and when the call connected he said, "This is Alex Cross. Megan would like to talk to her parents." Ducky took the opportunity to finish documenting the details of her exam and his belief that the sedative to keep her chemically restrained and compliant had not been an amnesiac. McArthur hadn't told Senator and Mrs. Rose about Megan after Alex's first call because they'd been asleep and had gotten very little of that since their daughter was taken. He and Agent Kyle Craig arrived at the house just after the second call when Alex and Megan had arrived safely in Reston.

Waking with initial fear that it was bad news, the parents were relieved and thrilled to learn that Megan was alive. He told them she was with Alex Cross at a house in Reston, seemed well but as a precaution was being checked over by a doctor and she would be calling to talk to them, probably in about 30 minutes. He'd debated sending a helicopter to get them but decided against it. Instead he alerted the state police and DC metro cops to keep an eye out for Alex's car but to not do anything except report location. When it was confirmed that the car was about 5 minutes away, McArthur told a colleague to alert the media that Megan was safe and that there would be a news conference the next day.. It only took a couple of minutes for the announcement to be on TV and radio and on some cable stations it was in the chryon or ticker scrolling at the bottom of the screen.

xx/ xx/

Reporters and camera crews from all the media outlets were camped outside the gate when Alex drove his car past them, pausing only long enough to be identified by the perimeter agents, and then he maneuvered up the driveway to the front of the house. Megan was in the backseat with Ducky's comforter covering her face and head just in case some sneaky photographer got lucky. Alex got a sleepy Megan from the car, the comforter still in place, and steered her inside to be reunited with her parents.

After a few minutes of joyful tears and lots of smiles, Agent McArthur told them he needed statements from everyone. The never patient FBI wanted all the details immediately, but Alex shook his head and held up the recorder saying, "Megan already gave a statement to me. I believe she needs some time with her parents and lots of rest before being asked anymore about it." Agent McArthur, and his fellow agents in the room, looked like they wanted to object but kept quiet, figuring out that they weren't going to win the argument. Facing the grateful parents, Alex said, "I'd like to stop by day after tomorrow, if that's okay." Senator Rose shook his hand and leaned in to say something nobody else could hear. Mrs. Rose thanked Alex, including a hug and a kiss on his cheek, while the senator picked Megan up in a big hug like a much younger child and headed for the stairs.

Wanting to do nothing but fall into bed, Alex considered, for a few seconds, collapsing onto the Rose's comfy furniture. He knew it was a bad idea and waited instead for confirmation that the family was upstairs behind closed doors. That's when he led the way through the foyer to the dining room where there'd be more places for people to sit. He retrieved the diamonds from his coat and put the thermos, the insulated bag from Ducky and the tape recorder on the table. He unloaded his gun and placed it next to the thermos. He took off his coat and put it on a chair before plopping down on the one next to it. It had been a long day, a few long days in a row, and he was dead tired, but he knew blowing them off would not garner any good will.

"The farmhouse, barn and surrounding area have been secured by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Department and Virginia State Police and the road is blocked off. The forensics team, coroner and half a dozen agents are almost there. We should do this at the office, Alex," McArthur told him.

Alex tilted his head and said, "I know, Mac, but how about I give you a statement right now and then tomorrow, after I've slept, I'll fill in any blanks."

Acknowledging that the man looked exhausted,and he had rescued Megan, the FBI agent reluctantly agreed. Alex waited for the recorder and microphone to be placed and for the agents to sit down. The recorder started and McArthur gave the date, the time, the location, his name and the other agents' names and then indicated Alex should speak. "I'm Dr. Alex Cross, detective in the Washington, D.C. police department. This statement might be broad strokes, might not. I'll meet with Supervisory Special Agent in charge McArthur tomorrow or whenever he wants me to sit down for a more formal statement."

Broad strokes was fine with McArthur. He and others would be heading for Lovettsville and he just needed some details before they left. Plus there would be the news conference and he wanted to get it right. An agent poked his head around a corner and announced that a doctor had arrived at the gate to see Megan.

"Dr. Susan Hopkins. The Rose's called her. Send someone up to tell them she's here and check her credentials," McArthur ordered. "Search and wand her too," the man surmised. "Yes, let's do it by the book. She should understand."

Alex waited until McArthur nodded at him and he started again. "I just placed on the dining table, an insulated bag with medical samples, cold packs and notes from Dr, Donald Mallard, a thermos with the ransom diamonds, my personal tape recorder with Megan's statement and my service weapon."

McArthur asked about the medical samples and Alex told him blood and urine because he and Dr. Mallard believed Megan had been drugged. The agents seemed to accept that and indicated Alex should continue. He removed Dr, Mallard's notes from a pocket on the bag and gave them to McArthur. "Can you make a copy or two and see that Megan's parents get the original?"

McArthur delegated and told Alex to go on. He told them about the conversation he'd had with McArthur about Ben Devine. He told them about his doubts concerning Jezzie Flannagan, going to her place, breaking in and finding the information about the farmhouse on her computer. He told them about speeding to get to the location and being a little concerned about accomplices, but that he'd had a gut feeling it was just the two secret service agents. He believed since they had the diamonds that they'd be getting rid of Megan.

Agent Kyle Craig, who remembered Alex going off to California to find the gentleman caller, was miffed and asked, "Why go alone? Why didn't you tell us?"

McArthur had the decency to look embarrassed and admitted, "That's my fault. I made the decision to have everyone looking for Devine and delving into every other member of the school security team again. There was no evidence Devine and Flannagan were anything to each other beyond working at the school and I didn't think Flannagan was in on it." Another agent spoke up. "None of us did. Most of us didn't believe Devine was in it at all. Thought he had just screwed up." McArthur continued with, "She'd had a chance to shoot Soneji at the embassy and didn't. She's a trained agent but didn't inflict more damage to him with the knife and I still couldn't see it. I was busy when Alex phoned and I let the call go to voicemail and I didn't get around to it until after he called again, to tell me he'd found Megan. I'm sorry I did that."

Alex didn't want to get into a discussion with them about it. He'd been with Jezzie for days and hadn't recognized her narcissism and duplicity until it was almost too late. The FBI agents weren't the only ones who hadn't gotten it right and they were all lucky that Megan was alive with only minor injuries. He continued with his oral report, telling them about finding the wrapped up body and concluding that it was Devine. He'd then heard gunshots and raced to the barn, hoping and praying he wouldn't arrive too late. He explained about seeing Megan but not Jezzie yet and had gotten the young girl somewhat secured before he confronted the armed secret service agent. He told them about killing Jezzie and taking Megan to Dr. Mallard's home in Reston.

"Why Dr. Mallard? He's a medical examiner," Craig asked, still a little miffed.

"He was on the way." Alex half smiled. "I know him well and knew Megan would be comfortable with him." He held back a smirk at the incredulous looks on the agents' faces and added, "He's a medical doctor. He works for NCIS. He knows how to keep his mouth shut."

McArthur had questioned the choice but couldn't have done anything about it. And it made sense to keep the girl away from anywhere she could be identified. "Is there anything in Megan's statement we need to hear right now?"

"I want to hear it," Senator Rose announced. They hadn't heard him come in.

McArthur turned off the recorder. "I don't think it's a good idea, Senator."

"Why not? Dr. Cross, you were there. What do you think?"

Alex knew Megan's parents needed to know what she'd been through so they could better deal with her nightmares and get her trauma counseling. He just wasn't so sure right then was the best idea but maybe they should play the tape to make sure it was all there. "It's not long. It's not graphic. Mac?"

The agent looked resigned and said, "Okay, but you need to know we'll be recording with our equipment and it will pick up all of our conversation."

"That's fine," Senator Rose told them as he sat down at the table.

Alex asked him, "Megan doing okay?"

Rose relaxed against the back cushion and smiled. "Yes, happy to be home. Dr. Hopkins looked her over and she's taking a bath now."

xx/ xx/

Senator Rose had listened intently and handled it well. With the recorder still going he told them, "My daughter is going to be fine. Her mother and I are going to make sure she gets everything she needs. Thank you, everyone. Dr. Cross, I appreciate you finding her and for being kind. Dr. Mallard too." He stood up tiredly, wished them a good night and headed back upstairs.

The agents sat quietly for a bit, digesting what Megan had gone through and how well she'd expressed herself for a 12 year old. And they were secretly impressed with the way Alex and Dr. Mallard had gotten her to answer questions, but of course would never say that to anyone.

The agents were finishing up, bagging and tagging the items on the table, documenting everything when McArthur told Alex. "I'm going to need you to walk us through it at the scene."

The tired policeman sighed and dipped his head. "Not now, please. Megan is safe. Jezzie Flannagan and Ben Devine are dead. Gary Soneji or Jonathan Mercusio is dead. Photographing everything and evidence collection will take a while."

McArthur chuckled. "Okay, Alex. I'm not going tonight either."

"No, that falls to me. I don't need sleep anyway," Agent Kyle Craig only half grumbled. He was excitedly looking forward to being the lead agent at the farmhouse crime scene.

Alex got up and put on his coat. He was more than ready to get himself home to his wife. He knew Vicky would probably be asleep, but he'd shower and crawl into bed with her. "Watch out for the big potholes near the farmhouse," he quipped to Kyle before moving toward the foyer with his exit. "Somebody call me after about 10 and we can set a time for me to do whatever you want." He waved a hand behind him and said "Good night," before going out the door to his car.

xx/ xx/

Alex saw the Rose family two days after Megan returned home, with his wife. The Rose's were insistent the two come for dinner so they did. Megan had been to see a therapist and was preparing to return to school. She and Alex had a private conversation before he and Vicky left for home. Alex saw them again at a thank reception for many of the people who helped bring Megan home and for a few of her close friends. He and Ducky had a great time watching Megan with Dimitri and the other kids, and chatting about psychology and profiling while observing the people there. He was invited again when the family gave money and scholarship gifts to the families of the five people killed: The teacher, the fisherman, two police officers and the tourist/driver. They knew how lucky they were to get an alive Megan back and were grateful. Alex didn't attend those five visits, writing letters to the families instead. He agreed to consult with agents conducting security clearance interviews so maybe a Jezzie or a Ben wouldn't get past them next time and he attended meetings about school security and how Jonathan Mercusio, known as Gary Someji, made it past the extensive security check to be hired at the private school. He'd never tell anyone except his wife, but he credited Soneji with getting him back to work and to writing.

End

That's all. I hope you liked it. I'm going to watch the movie again. I enjoy it especially when I pay attention to Jezzie and the looks she gives throughout, especially to Alex. When you know she's a baddie, it's easy as pie to see she has an agenda. Reviews and comments are appreciated.