Disclaimer: Don't own Silverstone, Jett Jackson, or any of that. I'm not making any money off of this fic.

Author's Note: I'm so sorry for suddenly changing the way I'm writing this, but I decided I'm really sick of staying with a script format. Besides, I've suddenly decided that I don't hate my regular writing half as much as I thought I had.so.I changed the format. Sorry. I'll fix up the rest of it to match when I get a chance. Oh, btw, someone had emailed me and asked if they could put my story up on their site.I lost your email address, so if you could re-send the message, I'd really appreciate it. Also.um.I think I might have repeated myself during the heart-to-heart.but I couldn't remember if I had ever fully explained Sabine's life story.I don't think so, however, so I'm going to do it. If I have, well, bear with me, please. It's been a long school year, and I can't remember what I've written.

It was early morning when Sabine awoke from her troubled slumber. She sat up and stretched out. The door opened, and a familiar person walked in.

"Good morning," Maggie Rose greeted quietly.

"Morning, Maggie," Sabine replied curiously, looking around. "I'm back at MOM?"

Maggie nodded. "Artemus brought you in. He insisted you get top care."

Sabine forced down a smile. "How long have I been out?"

Maggie hesitated. "Three days."

The other turned slightly, eyebrows raised. "Three days?"

The doctor nodded. "You had severe trauma.mental as well as physical, I'm assuming."

Sabine froze, remembering for the first time the torture she had gone through. She squeezed her eyes shut against the memory and nearly screamed when a hand fell on her shoulder. She looked up at Maggie and sighed. "If you think I'm okay," she began hesitantly, "I'd like to be on my way." She gazed up at her old friend, who still looked mildly worried.

"Of course. I would recommend that you spend a few extra days recovering completely, but you should be fine."

Sabine smiled tentatively. "Thanks, Mags. I really appreciate it." She was surprised by the sincerity rippling through her voice.

"We put your stuff in one of the rooms.You're welcome to get it."

Sabine nodded, then followed the doctor from the room. Her few belongings- cloak and a few garments of clothing that she owned, as well as a few photographs- had been placed in a luxurious room deep in the center of Mission Omega Matrix Headquarters. She knew the room well; she had been in it many times as a young child. It was the room of Henry, her close friend and the late Head of MOM. It hadn't changed a bit from what she remembered; she assumed the new Head wanted it kept the same to honor Henry's memory. Sabine picked up her belongings and shoved them into a bag that had been left lying on the bed. She stopped once to pick up a picture of herself and Henry. She had given it as a gift to him when she was a child, and he had kept it by his bedside. She touched it and sighed.

"A heavy sigh for a heavy heart."

Sabine turned. "Artemus," she said, tensing slightly. He had saved her life, and obviously still loved her, and she had no way of knowing how this conversation would end.

"I'm glad that you're alright. I was terribly worried about you for a while there."

Sabine turned her back to him. "I'm sorry to hear that."

There was an uneasy silence. "Packing, I see."

She chuckled softly. "Yeah. I figured I should head out before I get kicked out."

Artemus set a hand on her shoulder. "We weren't going to kick you out, Sabine. You're welcome to stay here."

She shook her head. "I'd never be truly welcome here, Artemus."

He slipped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. "You don't know that."

She tried to pull away, but he held tight. "I do know, Artemus. It would never work, me being here. Too many people hate me and what I've tried to do." She sighed. "Face it, Artemus, even the people I once loved thought I was trying to murder them."

The sting of the comment drew Artemus back. "All the evidence pointed to you. I didn't want to believe it."

"But it was better than thinking I was still good?" she demanded bitterly. When Artemus didn't respond, she sighed, then groped behind her for his hand. "I never stopped caring about you, Artemus. And I would never betray you or MOM. That's not how I am."

"I know, Sabine. And.I'm sorry that I ever doubted you."

She squeezed his hand and smiled faintly. "I know, Artemus. I know you're sorry, and I knew all along that you would be. That's the only thing that kept me going throughout." She leaned back against his chest and sighed happily, glad to be in his arms once more. He sensed this, and drew her closer to him. She leaned back in his arms for a few seconds, relishing in the pleasure it caused her, then began to cry softly. Artemus turned her around and brushed her tears away.

"It's alright, Sabine. Everything will be fine." He hesitated. "You can stay, Sabine. You're welcome here."

She bent over and picked up her bag. "I wish I could, Artemus, but." She broke off. "I just need some time. What happened.with Dad."

Artemus stroked her cheek. "It was your father, then? I wondered." She turned away again, fighting off tears.

"Yes, Artemus. It was my father." Her jaw trembled slightly, but she forced herself to continue. "When I was little. my dad was horrible." She turned slightly. "He used to beat me and my brother all the time.and my mom." A tear slid slowly down her cheek. "He murdered them one night, and I ran away.Henry investigated their murder and discovered that Dad had a daughter, so he scoured the town looking for me. When he found me, he brought me here." Sabine swallowed. "The night all this happened, I found out that Dad was the one who killed Henry when we were younger." She sighed. "I just.I need some time to myself, Arty." He nodded, then smiled faintly.

"You'll be back, won't you?"

"Wild horses couldn't keep me away for too long." She touched his cheek. "I'm really going to miss you, but.I don't think you need to deal with an overly emotional woman right now."

Artemus chuckled, then became serious. "If you're going to leave, at least let me give you a going away present."

Sabine shook her head. "I don't want whatever you have to give me-"

He cut her off but leaning forward and planting his lips firmly against hers and kissing her softly. She froze in surprise, then eased into the kiss, returning it. When they finally parted, both were flushed. She grinned like a child. "If that's not enough to bring me back eventually, well, I don't know what is." Her grin softened into a smile. "I love you, Artemus."

He froze, startled, then smiled back. "I.love you too, Sabine." She set something down on the bed, then calmly strode from the room. Artemus stared after her for several seconds, wanting to rush after her but too frightened by what had happened. Finally, he bent over and picked up the article she had left. It was a photograph of the two of them at age sixteen, surrounded by a heart. He slid it into his sleeve, then returned to his quarters.

~*~

The next day, Artemus sat in his lair, thinking things over. Silverstone and Hawk strode in.

"Well, another world crisis diverted," Silverstone said.

Hawk grinned. "Yeah, the world would have been horribly upset if your head had been chopped off and brought on a silver platter to that nut."

Artemus turned, ignoring their banter. "I know I would have been. Thank you, both, for your help on this mission."

"So, is she staying, or what?" Silverstone demanded.

"She has decided to leave again. However, this time she promises to return once she feels that she is able to."

Silverstone rolled his eyes, but Hawk took a hard look at Artemus, then smiled. "I see."

"What do you see?" Silverstone asked blankly.

Hawk grinned. "Arty fell in love."

Artemus turned away. "Arty was already in love," he replied softly, thinking of the photograph Sabine had given him. He smiled, knowing she would one day fulfill her promise and return to him.

Finis

Author's Note: Yipie, I'm finally done. How long did it take me? Too long, that much is for sure. So, what did you think? Like the ending, hate the ending? I'm planning on going through and making the rest of the story into an actual story (i.e.: like the last chapter). That *shouldn't* take too long, I hope, since it's stuff I've already written. So don't be surprised by the changes, I'll alert you when I do that. Also, at some point, I'm going to write the Jett portion of this fic. It'll star Cubby and an old friend of his (whom I haven't named), but Jett, Kayla, JB, Holly, Riley, and even Nigel and Maury (Artemus and Rat) will make some appearances. Oh, and Miz Coretta will probably show up at some point with her invaluable advice. So look forward to that.