The standard disclaimer holds. Alien Nation does not belong to me, nor do the characters.

Author's Note: Finally after all this time I am happy to say that I kept my promise and did bring this story to and end. As stated at the beginning of the first chapter there has been a major overhaul of this story so it probably wouldn't hurt to go back and reread the other chapters.

Chapter 6

Dr. Thomas Russell had been a successful plastic surgeon in Los Angelus until he became involved with medical missions in Central America. Finding his calling in life he began to split his time between his LA practice and the mission work that meant so much to him.

Kirby had been Dr. Russell's right hand for the last four years overseeing the mission and keeping everything running on an even keel. Buck's call had been transferred to the good doctor who had been trying to track her down ever since. Kirby always seemed to forget the portable GPS or the satellite phone she was supposed to carry with her when she visited outlying villages. She usually hiked in carrying in everything she needed in a pack on her back and to her medicine seemed much more important.

At first the doctor tried spotting her from the air but the jungle was much too thick. So he hiked out after her sending runners in several different directions. He finally found her in a settlement of loggers overwhelmed by cholera. In the end it had taken him over a month to get her on a plane for the states.

The first rays of the sun were making their way over the horizon and Buck and Jason were just finishing the graveyard shift. That's when Buck got the call that Kirby was at the airport.

He saw her standing just outside the main entrance a lone duffle bag, her only luggage, slung over her shoulder. She was pale and almost waiflike with large frightened eyes smudged underneath from lack of sleep. It had been a hard trip, bone weary and scared to death she had pushed herself to get to her Dad as soon as she could.

Buck smiled and gave her a quick hug. "He's going to be okay Kirby." He smiled again trying to still her fears.

She nodded returning his smile, "I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. I came as quickly as I could. Dr. Russell flew in himself ..." While she took a breath Buck quickly tried to set her at ease, "Its okay Kirby. I spoke with Dr. Russell and he told me that he was trying to find you. He said that you were out in the wilderness somewhere, I'm just glad he found you."

Buck took a long look at her. "You look ready to drop. When was the last time you had anything to eat?" she raked long slender fingers through her bobbed hair. "I don't know, I think I ate some crackers yesterday." He took her duffle bag and led her to his car. "Come on, let me get you some breakfast, and maybe you'd like to stop by my place for a quick shower before you go see your dad?" she smiled appreciatively "Oh God yes! Hot running water! I can't remember when I've been able to take a hot shower."

Buck laughed, "Okay, which one do you want first? Food or shower?"

She scrunched her face up, "Um…can we do drive through on our way to the shower?" he laughed again, "Sure come on."

Matt woke that morning feeling drained. There were still gaping holes in his memory but it was coming back. It was like gluing the splinters of a shattered plate back together but he knew that even if he didn't have all the pieces he had enough. He would probably bear the scars for the rest of his life, but he was going to be alright. He knew that now.

He maneuvered himself around and sat on the edge of the bed weariness dragging at him. He glanced around searching for his brace and caught sight of a little grey velour elephant sitting on guard duty in the chair near the bed. He picked her up and looked in her little black button eyes, "Abigail, thank you for keeping the monsters away." He said playing with her soft trunk a sad smile pulling at his lips.

He found his brace, strapped it on over his sweats, grabbed a crutch and hobbled to the bathroom to take care of business.

The first order of business taken care of he pulled himself over to the sink. He brushed his teeth and grabbed for his electric razor. He had grown quite adept at taking care of this morning routine without the need of a mirror but this morning he knew he had to as it were "face himself". He had to face this fear as well. He stood clutching the sides of the sink his breathing ragged and his good leg threatening to buckle. He had no idea how long he stood fighting that internal battle but finally he slowly brought his eyes up to lock on the face in the mirror. He took a long deep breath and let it out just a slowly. He stood for a long time just staring at the face he saw there. The face wasn't so alien anymore, he could see himself again. He looked older maybe a little sad "Ok, you don't look so bad." He told his reflection and began to smile a little awkwardly "I think you're gonna be ok, old man. Yeah we're gonna come back from this."

By 7:00 a.m. he had shaved, showered and dressed himself and was slowly making his way down the stairs clutching Abigail under his arm.

George stood in the shadows just out of sight watching his descent. There was a definite change in his friend. He was still spirit wounded but he was no longer lost.

"Good morning George I thought you'd be up." He grinned his old Matt grin.

"Good morning my friend, how pleasant it is to see you looking so like…you." George met him at the bottom of the stairs and gripped his shoulders with affection.

Matt laughed "Not just yet but I'm getting there. Thanks to you, and Cathy and…everybody really. I don't know what to say."

"Oh Matthew, there is nothing to say. We love you. You belong to us. As I've said before, you're family." George answered with shining eyes.

Matt's eyes were misting a little as well, "Who would have thought it all those years ago, huh?"

George smiled nodding slightly, "Yes my friend, who would have thought it."

Kirby had rested very little on the plane and taut nerves hadn't let her relax since she had gotten the news about her father. She needed to see him first. There was no way she could rest until she had seen him for herself.

She knew that his injuries must have been very serious or George would never have sent for her.

Buck had been a Godsend. He had been a quiet presence while she ate not forcing her to participate in small talk. He had ushered her into his new apartment and pointed her in the right direction for the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later Buck tapped on the bathroom door "Kirby? Is everything alright in there?" no answer. He turned the handle and finding it unlocked pushed it open a crack "Kirby? You need anything?" still no answer so he opened the door wider and found her wrapped in a bath sheet with a towel wrapped around her head, sitting on the toilet seat sound asleep.

"Kirby?" he gently nudged her on the shoulder. She jerked awake almost falling off her perch. "Oh, I can't believe I did that!" she covered her face embarrassed.

"Don't worry, why don't you crash here for a while. Rest up and maybe eat again before you go see your dad?" As much as she would have loved to she couldn't she had to see her dad. She knew she would never be able to rest until she could see him with her own eyes.

"Oh, Buck I'd love to but I need to see him. For my own peace of mind you know? But first I want you to tell me what happened to him ok? I know that he might not want me to worry but I need to know, so don't leave anything out."

He sighed but nodded in understanding. "Okay, I guess I'd feel the same way if it were my dad, but Kirby this isn't going to be easy."

She nodded "I knew it had to be bad for your dad to have sent for me. Come on Buck let me have it."

"Okay, get dressed and we'll have a talk."

And they did just that. Kirby listened while Buck told her the truth, all of it, and then he held her while she cried.

George answered the phone relieved to be able to push the report he had been reading to the side for a moment. "Hi Dad, good morning," he smiled upon hearing the familiar voice, "Good morning yourself, I am doing very well thank you. Matt seems to have his old spark back. He made it downstairs on his own and…I don't know how to explain it…he seemed…not so lost" he finished.

"I'm glad, after what you told me about last night I didn't know how he would feel today."

George had had the same doubts "I know, I wondered about that myself but it seems that in confronting everything he's been through he's been able to, using his own words 'begin to fit in the missing pieces'. He still has a lot to process but I really think he's on his way back to us."

"That's great, but how will he feel about seeing Kirby right now?" Buck asked.

"Kirby? Have you heard from her?"

"Yeah, I picked her up at the airport this morning. She was dead on her feet so I took her to my place to rest for a while before taking her to meet Matt."

George smiled sadly "That was very wise, it won't be easy for her to see him like he is now, even though he's so much better than he was when we brought him home."

Buck cleared his voice "Um…Dad? She wanted me to tell her everything that's happened…so I did. I don't know if it was the right thing to do, but I would have wanted to know had it been you."

George was quiet for a long moment and just when Buck thought that maybe he'd lost the connection George asked, "How did she take it?"

"She was upset. She cried herself to sleep but I really think she deserved to know. As soon as she wakes up she's going to want to go see him. Do you think he's up to it?"

George took a moment before answering "Yes I do." He remembered his friend from earlier that morning, "Yes Buck I think he'll be fine. Just when I think I know him he surprises me. He's so much stronger than I would have ever thought when we first met." He smiled. "Yes, he will be fine."

Matt sat in the kitchen nursing his cup of coffee. Cathy, Susan and Vessna were all upstairs seeming to know that he needed the space to think. He was grateful for their understanding.

There was a part of him that wanted to go after the bastard who had turned his world upside down, but another part knew that doing that would be a big mistake. Going after the guy feeling the way he did right now, he would probably just kill the scum ball and get himself or maybe even George killed in the process. And he had to be honest with himself, he was in no condition to play vigilante. Physically he was still looking at weeks of rehab and only God himself knew about his mental condition.

Matt decided to give up on the coffee and move to the living room. He had made it to the doorway when he heard something. Looking up he noticed Vessna sneaking down the stairs. He couldn't help but smile as he watched her make her way down on tip toes stopping every now and then to look behind her, making sure no one saw her.

Matt quickly as his crutch would let him moved back into the kitchen and once again took up his spot at the table. Vessna still on tiptoes found him there and whispered "Matt? Can I come in?"

"Hi Sweat Pea! Of course, what's up?" he asked

"Mama says that I don't need to be bothering you." She seemed a little hesitant.

"Now how could you ever bother me?" he asked with a grin.

"I know, that's what I said" she came around to sit in the chair beside him moving it up against his so that she could snuggle against his side. "I've missed you Matt."

"Me too" he added as he pulled her snugly up under his arm. "Thanks by the way for sending Abigail to look after me. You were right she's very good at keeping the monsters away."

She nodded "I know, she's had a lot of practice." She replied reaching for the little elephant that had been sitting next to Matt's coffee cup.

"You know I really think she's ready to go back to your room now. She's done a good job but now she needs to be with you." He told her in all seriousness.

Vessna nodded again "Alright, I was beginning to miss her a little bit."

He smiled hugging her closer, weariness seemed to wash over him like a wave and suddenly all he wanted to do was lie down. "Hey Sweet Pea, why don't we go upstairs. Your old Uncle Matt needs a nap I think."

"Okay, do you need for Abigail to stay with you?" she asked a little guarded.

"Nope, but I'd appreciate it if you'd go ask Cathy to come see me for a minute."

"Okay and she scampered up the stairs with an agility that he envied.

Matt was becoming an old hand at navigating the stairs with his crutches or even just the single crutch he now preferred. That being said, he was still exhausted by the time he got to the top.

"Matt! Why didn't you wait for me? I would have helped you." Cathy scolded as she took his arm and helped him to the bedroom.

"Yes ma'am" he teased not even trying to pull away as he might have done only a day ago. This surprised her. Not knowing what to expect next she settled him on the side of the bed and knelt there to remove his shoes.

"Cathy?" he rubbed the palm of his hand lightly over the spots on the back of her bowed head causing her to shiver. She looked up at him her surprise written across her face.

"Please, stay with me for a while?" he had moved his hand to gently touch his knuckles to her temple. He looked almost afraid that she might refuse.

"Of course Matt." And she reached to pull the chair over closer to the bed.

"No Cathy, here." He patted the space on the bed next to him.

"Okay" she came around to the other side and made herself comfortable. Matt turned on his side facing her and began to stroke her face with his fingertips. "I've missed you." His voice was low and very sad.

This was something new. She didn't know how to react. So she decided to do what came naturally, she drew her arms around him bringing his head down to pillow on her chest and with a sigh he snuggled closer bringing his arm up to wrap around her, almost as Vessna had done to him downstairs. "I'm so sorry Cathy. I'm sorry I pushed you away."

"I understand" she started to say but he cut her off "I know, but I'm sorry anyway."

Her throat was clogging with emotion but she tried to make her voice sound as natural as possible "Matt? George called a few minutes ago. He said that Kirby's plane got in this morning and that she wants to come over. She wants to see you. Buck met her at the airport and took her to his place to freshen up but she was so exhausted she fell asleep. Matt? How do you feel about her coming to visit?" She felt him tense in her arms and only held him closer. "Does she know?" he asked in a small voice "Yes, Buck told her everything. She deserved to know sweetheart, she loves you." Matt sighed tiredly relaxing in her arms, "I guess it's kind of a relief that she knows. I don't think I could ever tell her my self."

He was quiet for a long time and then "Cathy? You do know that I love you, don't you?" not giving her a chance to answer he went on "I would be dead right now if not for you."

"Shhh, go to sleep now." She whispered protectively.

"You'll stay?" he asked hopefully. She nodded almost unable to speak. "Yes Matt, I promise, I'm not going anywhere." She held him close kissing the top of his head. "And I'll be her when you wake up." She finished but the rhythm of his breathing told her that he hadn't heard her he was already fast asleep.

George had gone to the hospital looking for Lily. All he found were blank stares. It seemed that there had never been a nurse named Lily stationed on the ICU ward. No one knew anything about her. George had tried to describe her but again he only met with blank stares. They had all thought him insane. Anger and frustration sent him flying off the elevator on the ground floor to rush in the wrong direction. He didn't realize his mistake until he looked up to see that he was facing the entrance to the little chapel. Needing a quiet place to pull himself together and get his emotions under control he went in only to find that he was not alone. Lily stood toward the front by the alter as if she had been waiting for him. She held up a hand before he could say anything "I know George, you have many questions. I'll try to answer as much as I can but first you need to quiet your spirit." She motioned to one of the benches "Sit George, and calm yourself."

George did as he was told and sat. He worked on his breathing and tried to calm his mind. After a few minutes he asked his first question "Lily who are you and why does everyone around here act as if they'd never heard of you? Everyone I've talked to seems not to know anything about you. Yet I've seen you interacting with almost everyone on the ICU ward every day Matt was here." she sat down beside him and taking his hand she answered him truthfully "It's not important that they remember me."

George tensed, "I don't understand..." her hand squeeze his in a much firmer grip than he would have thought possible for an older human female. "Lily, I ask again who are you?"

"I am a messenger, George. I was sent this time to tell Matt that it was safe to give up his secret. It was something he should have done long ago." She sat still squeezing his hand. They sat side by side neither one looking at the other.

"This time? So you were there when that monster held him as a boy?" George was almost afraid to hear what he knew she would say.

"Yes. That time I was sent to encourage him, to let him know that he was not alone." before George could say anything she added "I also have a message for you."

Incredulous he turned to look at her "You have a message for me?"

"Yes George," she said turning toward him. "Dearly beloved," and she smiled a small comforting smile "avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

George jerked his hand from her grasp as if it had been burned. He shot to his feet and glared at her. "What are you trying to pull? I am no human so don't try to use their religion on me. You know who did this to Matt! Are you trying to protect him?"

"No as I said, I was sent to give you a message but that was only part of it." Lily sat quietly her hands now folded in her lap her eyes glittering almost supernaturally in the low light of the chapel. Then before his eyes she began to change and now instead of the kind grandmotherly human he faced an older Tenctonese male no longer dressed in scrubs but the drab uniform of a slave.

"Stangya, did Celine not teach that vengeance is empty and hollow? Did she not teach that hatred leads to bitterness and that bitterness will devour? I know that you seek justice for what was done to Matthew. But that is not your place. Vengeance is best served by he who created all."

George was speechless as he stood staring.

"How do you know…who are you?" George asked again speaking in Tenctonese as well.

"I told you who I am. I and others like me have walked among the peoples of the Creator for eons in time. We do as we are bidden. We are messengers and soldiers fighting a warfare you have never seen. We are known as angels, guardians, spirits of comfort and even guides to the next life. It was others such as I who met your parents and Ruhtra and even Uncle Moodri at their passings and embraced them into the light of the Creators presence."

"You will be given what you need to find the lost soul who has harmed your human brother, but remember Stangya, what you have been told, vengeance is not yours."

George stood by the window staring out not necessarily looking at anything. He hardly saw the cars passing below nor had he noticed if the sky was fair or cloudy. His world had been turned upside down again. He really wasn't sure how much more he could take. Suddenly he was brought out of his revere by a light tap at his door "Come in" he called without looking to see who might be there.

"Captain Francisco?" an older human mail was standing in the doorway with a large overstuffed envelope in his hands.

Startled George turned to welcome the man "Yes, I'm Captain Francisco, may I help you?"

The man moved into the office clearly unsure of his next move.

George hoping to put the man at ease motioned toward a chair "Please, won't you have a seat ah, Mr.…?"

"Sure thanks, name's Wayne Taylor. Used to be a cop once, seems like a hundred years ago. I'm just Wayne now." He grinned "I've been retired a little over ten years."

Wayne Taylor was a stocky man somewhere in his late 70's. His full head of hair gone completely white, his hands swollen and gnarled with arthritis. He sat with a groan feeling the strain on his tired bones.

"Thank you Captain, I know that this may seem unusual but I have something I think you need to see." He leaned toward the desk sliding the heavy envelope toward George.

Curious, George unfastened the clasp and emptied the envelope of its contents. He felt his hands begin to tremble as he held the file of one Dietrich Von Richter. "I don't understand. What is this?"

Taylor snorted, "That right there is something I think you been waitin on."

George felt something cold grip his insides. Wayne, where did you get this?"

Taylor grinned giving George an idea of the formidable man he had once been, probably still could be. "That Captain Francisco is the case file of one low down sorry pervert who had a thing for little boys, if you get my drift. I had him dead to rights and they let him go. 'Diplomatic Immunity' they called it. They put him on his little toy plane and sent him home. Then they tried to get rid of all the evidence. Hell, I should have listened to my gut and put a bullet between his eyes when I had the chance."

George's fingers itched to open the file "Go ahead, Captain. As far as anyone else knows that file was destroyed 30 years ago. I wasn't in time to save the evidence but I had that file hidden in my desk. I knew that there would come a day when this little son-of-a-bitch would get what was coming to him. I just hoped that I'd live long enough to see it."

George knew what he would find inside. He knew he was a step closer to the monster. Attached to the top page in the file was a studio wallet photo. The face that looked back at him was that of a young man in his early to mid 20's. The face was almost beautiful in its perfection, but his handsome features were marred by an arrogance that only wealth and privilege knows.

"You worked this case?" George asked.

The old man simply nodded.

George felt sick at his stomach as he read Taylor's precise hand printed case notes. He had been very detailed in his descriptions of the victims and the crime scene.

Taylor sat watching the Newcomer captain as he looked at the crime scene photos. He might not be human but Wayne could see that he was shaken by what he was seeing. He noticed the trembling hands ball into fists and with no small satisfaction he knew that this time the truth wouldn't be swept under the rug. "Captain as much as I'd love to be the one to take the little SOB down I know that this one's not for me to finish. I'm too old and worn-out. Maybe you can do what I couldn't. The bastard needs to be stopped."

George looked up "Wayne, why did you bring this to me, and why now? How did you know that he was back in Los Angelus?"

Taylor smiled a little sheepishly, "Well I didn't know exactly until last night. You might think I'm nuts but…well you see, my doc says that I don't have a lot of time left. You know, he told me pretty much that it was time to go home and get my house in order."

George looked confused "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

Taylor chuckled again, "He told me to go home and get ready to die, captain. My old heart is worn out and then the years of whisky and cigarettes didn't help much. I can't say that I'm not ready to go but this case has haunted me and everything I've ever done since. I really wanted to wrap this up. I guess you could say that it's my dying wish." He looked George dead in the eye then "This is where you're gonna think I'm crazy I know but…I swear on my mother's grave…" he seemed unsure of what to say next "…well let's just say that I got a message that told me to turn it all over to you."

Kirby tightened her grip on Buck's arm when she got her first glimpse of Matt. He seemed more changed than she expected. His hair was streaked now with silver and there were deep lines etched around his eyes. Knowing what he had been through she cautiously hung back a little. But then Matt caught sight of her and his face lit up. Suddenly she was a little girl again. She broke away from Buck and ran to her father. She hugged him tightly "Hi Daddy." She was able to get out in spite of the tears.

"Daddy?" He grinned in mock confusion "You haven't called me Daddy in a long time." Kirby kissed him on the cheek then "You know who you are." The old game seemed to make his eyes twinkle as he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. "You look good." He told her. I think the jungle suits you."

"Thanks, I wish I could say the same for you" she motioned toward the brace. "How are you doing?" she really wanted to know.

"It was rough for a while but I'm doing good." He nodded actually believing it himself. "I'm gonna be okay."

She lost her fight with the tears letting them fall, "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, I…"

"Shhh..." he pulled her to his chest holding her tightly. "There's nothing you could have done and…well I'm not too proud of my behavior in the last few weeks. I found a side of myself I never knew existed I'm glad you didn't have to see that."

She sniffed, "I'm just glad you had family with you." She sniffed again.

Matt smiled in agreement laying his cheek on the top of her head, "Yeah kiddo, me too."

Matt and Marcie had another session latter that afternoon. Matt had asked George to go along because he had begun to remember. It was still just bits and pieces but it was so much more than he had before.

He could remember the man's face now. When George showed him the photo from Von Richter's file Matt had turned four shades of pale. "Where did you get that?" his voice was strained.

"Wayne Taylor LAPD, retired came to see me this morning. He worked your case all those years ago and he's kept the file hidden. He said that he knew there'd come a day when this man would be brought to justice."

Matt sat staring at the picture, memories flooding his mind. Marcie worriedly took his hand. "Matt? Can you hear me?"

He jerked his eyes away "Yeah, um…yeah. I just…" he swallowed and rubbed his free hand up and down his thigh.

"It's ok. He's not here. It's just memories." Her voice soothed. He grinned a little shakily "I know, but it's all coming back so fast now." He turned toward George, "Who is this piece of shit anyway?"

"His name is Dietrich Von Richter. He was the son of a West German diplomat and somehow connected to European royalty. His mother was able to pull enough strings to get him out of the country and have all the evidence destroyed but she didn't count on detective Wayne Taylor holding on to his file." George grinned appreciatively then sobered "Taylor told me that this monster has left a trail of broken children from LA to New York to London, Paris and Berlin. I don't know why he was quiet for so long but I would guess the death of his father a few months ago set him off to relive his past." He took a deep breath and finished "We have a line on him now, my friend. I promise you that we will have him soon. Every officer in the city is after him. He will not get away this time, I swear to you."

Matt sat taking it all in "I'm coming with you."

"No Matthew." George tried to argue.

"I've got to see him, George. I've got to know that this thing is over. Look you don't have to give me a gun." Then he knocked against the metal brace with his knuckles "and you know I'm not going to run after him. I just need to see the end of this. George, Please, when you find out where he is, I'm coming with you." He was adamant.

George looked toward Dr. Wright. She sat watching Matt and then nodded her assent. George exhaled in defeat. "Okay, but you will do as I say."

"Don't I always?"

"Hmph!" was his partner's reply.

It was not until the next morning that George got the news, Beatrice called him before he left for work. The suspect had been arrested and was on his way downtown. Matt beat him out to the car. George slammed the transmission into reverse, hit the lights and siren and off they went. Almost immediately Matt's cell began to ring.

"Matt! Are you insane?" Cathy was incredulous when Matt told her about his decision to go with George. "This is the craziest thing I've ever heard. You Come home right now!"

"Cathy, I have to do this. I'm sorry. I wish I could explain but I can't, you're just gonna to have to trust me." He answered.

"Of course I trust you Matt but, please let me talk to George!" she demanded.

"Sorry, no can do. Cathy listen, I promise I'll be fine. Please don't fight me on this, I've got to see him, this is something I need to do." He finished ending the call.

George took his eyes off the road long enough to see the pinched expression on his partner's face "I take it she wasn't very happy?"

"You could say that." Matt looked straight ahead not wanting to talk about it.

"You're right you know." George offered

Matt turned to stare at him "about what?"

"You're going to be just fine my friend. Over the years I've watched you face unimaginable situations, not only on the job but in your personal life as well."

"Well George, I had good back up." Matt grinned.

George smiled back "Alright, I'll let it drop but you know what I mean."

Cathy was angry, worried and oddly relieved all at the same time. This is exactly something Matt, the old Matt would do.

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Kirby worried.

Cathy moved to sit close to her step daughter. She took the young woman's cold hands in both of her own. "Your father is a strong man. Willful sometimes, hard headed most of the time but he's no fool. And George is with him. He should be okay, but I can't help but worry. I guess I'll always worry." She grinned a watery grin.

Kirby reached for her and they hugged in mutual need of comfort. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you out some during all this."

Cathy laughed "don't be sorry, I've had more help than I've known what to do with. It's just that none of us knew what to do. You're here now and you don't know how much that means to your father and to me as well. I'm so glad you came." She gave her another hug.

They sat and talked for a long time after that. Sharing fears, hopes and tears. They laughed cried and shared memories about the man they both loved and learned that they genuinely liked one another.

Cathy knew a great deal about the younger woman but realized she didn't really know her. She would soon take care of that

Beatrice met them at the front desk angry and with fire in her eyes. "I'm so sorry guys, they cut him loose."

George was stunned, "What! I don't understand."

"His lawyer was here before we even got him to the station. He had a writ providing diplomatic immunity."

"The commissioner, does he know about this?" George could feel his own anger rising.

"Oh yeah, I just left Grazier on the phone with the State Department." Her anger still coloring her voice.

Matt who had been oddly quiet till now simply turned and started out of the building and toward George's car as fast as his crutch and brace would let him. "Come on George, we might be able to catch him!"

"Whoa! Hey guys!" Beatrice called after them "You can't go after him." she may as well have been talking to thin air.

George felt himself overtaken by rage. He was so close and the monster was about to get away. He couldn't let that happen. He gripped the wheel even tighter vowing that he would stop Von Richter. George wouldn't allow that scum, that torturer of children to hurt any one else.

Matt didn't know what he felt. He only knew that he had to see the monster in his nightmare. He wanted to look him in the eye.

"George? You know where we're goin?" he finally broke the silence.

"Yes Matthew, I believe I do. Wayne told me that after the arrest 'They put him on his little toy plane and sent him home.' It would be my guess that if he owned an airplane then he'd still have one today. What would you do if you were in a hurry? Would you take the time to go home and pack knowing that every officer in the city would love nothing better than to rip your head off? No my friend I think he is planning to get on his little toy plane"

"And get the hell out of Dodge." Matt finished for him.

"Right, and there is a private air strip owned by a subsidiary of one of Von Richter's companies. What would you wager that that's where he's headed." George asked with a grim smile.

"George, you really have your moments. You know that?"

"Thank you, now hold on we aren't' far now" he warned as he turned a corner on two wheels.

They could see the hanger up ahead and just as George had guessed, there sat a beautiful little Leer jet. A car was parked close by and standing in the little planes doorway was Von Richter himself. He held the arm of an elderly woman helping her into the plane. He looked up just in time to see the car racing toward them and motioned to several men standing on the runway. They fanned out forming a barrier between the car and jet each leveling an automatic weapon at the car.

George screeched to a halt only a few feet away leaving skid marks and burnt rubber. He fumbled with the door struggling with the seat belt in his hurry to get out of the car.

Von Richter smiled in his arrogant self important way "Ah, Captain Francisco how nice of you to come and wish me off."

George was furious and would have lunged at the arrogant bastard if his thugs hadn't got in the way. "Ah, ah now captain, can we not act like civilized individuals?"

"You dare to call yourself civilized?" George grit through his teeth.

"Captain, I don't know what you could be referring to" that same oily voice from the tape crawled up and down George's spine.

Matt using the passenger side door levered himself out of the car. It was then that Von Richter's amour began to fail. Before him stood no powerless boy but a full grown man, a man who knew him for what he was. He fled into the safety of the plane. The old woman spoke then. "Please leave us alone. My grandson is ill. You have no right to torment him so!"

George couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Your grandson is a murderer and molester of innocent children!" George raged at her.

"Lies! Always lies from you people. My grandson would never do these things you say. He is a good boy. But always you try to hurt him with such…such…filth." She spat! "Go away!" and then she too disappeared into the protection of the plane.

George struggled to break free cursing and shouting, rage blinding him to the law he served. Finally it was Matt who got through that blind rage "George! Listen to me. Let it go. Let him go. There's nothing you can do right now. Just let it go."

George starred at him "Matthew I can't just let him get a way."

"Yes you can, you have to. Come on George let's go." And with that he turned from his friend and climbed back into the car.

George was shaking with emotion. He shook off those men who were holding him and against everything he wanted to do he also climbed back into the car. Without waiting to see the plane take off he sped back down the way they had come.

"Diplomatic Immunity! This is unbelievable! It's an abomination!" George gripped the wheel so hard Matt thought it might break in his hands. "I'm sorry Matthew, I promised I would get this monster and I failed."

"No you didn't fail, George. It's the system."

The rest of the ride back was quiet neither one feeling the need for conversation. George took Matt back to the house where Cathy had been packing for their move back to their own home.

They sat in the car neither one making a move to get out finally Matt broke the silence "George, come on you have to let this go or it will just keep eating at you."

George had sat staring out through the windshield while Matt had been talking. Now Matt sat watching him, finally he turned and with a sigh of resignation "I just…I thought I had him. I thought this nightmare was over. I'm so sorry." Matt reached out to grip his arm. "Look, you did everything you could. I don't know how I know but somehow I know that he's finished. "

George laughed, a harsh sound "Someone told me just this morning that it wasn't for me to exact vengeance. I wanted it though, I still do. I want it so bad that I can taste the bitterness of it in my mouth. When I realized the extent of your injuries, when I knew what he had done to you…I wanted to kill him. Revenge was all that mattered, I wanted to be the one to pull the trigger and end his useless pathetic life. I've never been so slow in drawing my gun but today…I don't know what happened. I have no doubt that I would have killed him had I been able to draw my gun. "

"You know I wanted revenge too. I wanted to hurt him. I wanted to see him bleed…but then I looked into his eyes and…I don't know how to explain it. When he saw me…I swear George he almost pissed in his pants. He was afraid of me. Today I saw him for what he is, not for what he wanted me to see. He's nothing but a coward. All this time I've let him terrify me like some creature in the mist…but not anymore. He might have gotten away but he didn't win. I'm still here and I'm still me and by God he won't get away with everything he's done. What do you bet that there's missing kids where ever he's been not just here in the States."

George eyed him speculatively "I think I understand what you're saying but without some sort of proof…"

"I know, I know but I just don't believe this whole thing is over, not yet." He finished.

Several hours later they were all sitting around the dinner table, a sort of farewell dinner for Matt and Kathy before they were to go back to their own place. The talk had been oddly festive considering the outcome of earlier events of the day.

The phone began to ring and Buck still laughing over some funny story Kirby had been regaling them all with went to answer. He was gone for only a few minutes but when he returned the laughter gone.

Susan noticed and worriedly asked, "Buck? What is it? Is something wrong?"

"No, Mom. I guess you could say it was good news in a way. Um…that was the commissioner. He called to let you know that Von Richter is dead."

"What!" George and Matt chorused in astonishment.

Buck shook his head as if in shock, "Yeah, he said that when Von Richter's plane touched down in London he was in such a hurry to leave for his other flight that he didn't wait for the little jet to depressurize. He grabbed the door handle and the door opened with such force that he was flung from the plan to land on the tarmac. He landed awkwardly breaking his neck, killing him instantly. They're calling it a freak accident." Buck finished still dazed.

"Or perhaps divine intervention" George added remembering his conversation with the angel.

Matt pushed himself up to stand and lifted his glass of wine "Accident or divine intervention I don't care. I say we drink to justice." he raised his glass as a chorus or "Justice went around the room and they all drank.

ONE YEAR LATER

The nervous teenager lay warily listening to the grandmotherly old nurse, "Lieutenant Sikes will be here soon to talk to you about what happened."

"No, I don't want to talk about it." The girl curled up eyes filling with tears.

"Can't they send a woman? How can a man know anything about how she feels? He'll only scare her more than she already is." her mother worried reaching for her daughter's hand.

"Oh, don't you worry a bit dear, he's very easy to talk to, you'll see." She smiled.

There was a light tap at the door before Lieutenant Matthew Sikes entered. "Melissa? I'm Matt Sikes. I'd like to ask you a few questions."

She sat up pulling her knees to her chest eyeing him warily. You're not what I expected, are you sure you're a cop? She said as she took in his faded jeans and leather jacket. He had an easy smile and soft brown eyes that went a long way to ease her fear. He didn't try to touch her or move too close. He pulled one of the chairs to the side of the bed and sat waiting for her to talk first.

She sighed hugging her legs more closely to her. "I don't want to talk about it."

He watched her sadly, "Melissa, I know how frightened you are right now. I know that you think that if you don't talk or think about it, it will all go away. I know that you feel helpless and no longer in control. And I know that all you really want to do right now is to curl up and die. But if you do that you let the bastard win. Please help me stop him from hurting anyone else."

She stared at him angrily and asked "How could you possibly know how I feel?"

If possible his eyes softened even more "Because I was eleven when it first happened to me."

Lily smiled and pulled the door shut. She knew the wee girl would be fine now. And she was proud of Matt now head of his own special victims unit. Good had come from bad and evil had been conquered again. Satisfied she faded into the wall on her way to her next case.

THE END (finally)