A/N: Thank you all for your wonderful comments. This chapter is kind of short compared to some of the others but I think it hits home. We're almost to the end.

Obeying, Cody unloaded his clip spilling the bullets on the floor before tossing the gun in Newland's direction. Raising his hands, he slowly started to move toward the vindictive killer.

"I'm unarmed. Now, let her go."

Newland tossed his head back and let out an ominous laugh. "I said I'd give you the chance the part of the hero. I never said anything about letting her go."

Newland ran his hand down the length of Megan's body for effect, making her shudder. "Do you know why I do what I do?"

Cody lowered his hands, placing them on his hips. "I've done my research but why don't you tell me?"

Newland waited an appropriate amount of time. "They're all broken."

"Broken?" Cody repeated, though he already had a good idea of what Newland was going to say.

"Take Megan here," Newland said coolly. "Beautiful girl isn't she?"

Cody felt a twinge beginning deep in his gut. He wasn't sure how to play this. If he agreed Newland would use it against him by hurting Megan. In her still fragile state it wouldn't take much to send her back to the brink. Cody had to hand it to her though, throughout this whole thing she had yet to make a peep. He was proud of her for putting on tough front.

"You want the truth," he said boldly hoping his response wouldn't have an adverse affect. "She's too pretty for her own good, an East Coast snob, typical New Yorker. No one at the station likes her that much. I tried asking her out once but she turned me down flat, insinuated that I didn't make enough money."

For a second Cody saw Megan's amber eyes flicker with disdain as Newland started to think and then let out a sadistic laugh. Lowering the knife, Newland circled around so that was now standing in front of Megan.

"You cannot lie to me, Hawkes. I've seen the way you look at her. The way you stayed at her side like a loyal dog in the hospital. The way you reacted when you thought I killed her." Newland paused for a moment watching the blaze begin to kindle in Cody's eyes.

Yes, Newland had struck a chord and now he would go in for the kill.

"Why do you think I killed your precious Wendy? It was so Meg here could have a fighting chance!"

That was it. Something inside Cody snapped and without really thinking he rushed at Newland, tackling him to the ground. Both men struggled for control as they rolled over one another until Newland found the opening he needed and pinned the young inspector. He raised the knife intent on driving in to Cody's chest.

Not willing to give in, Cody grabbed at Newland's wrist and the two began a power struggle. For several seconds, Cody held steadfast keeping Newland's arm at bay. But Newland was strong, stronger than Cody had imagined and eventually won; driving the knife into the younger man's lower abdomen.

Megan screamed for all that it was worth when she heard her partner wither in pain. She could only watch in horror as Newland rose to his feet and Cody curled in on himself.

"Don't worry, Meg." Newland sneered. "If I would have wanted to kill him I would have." Newland looked back at Cody for a moment. "I plan on keeping him around so that he can watch the rest of the festivities between you and me."

Clawing at the dirt floor, Cody let out a snarl, "Newland, if you-"

Newland spun back around and marched over to the withering detective and kicked him in back making Cody groan.

"You're threatening me?" Newland hissed. "Well, let me tell you how this is going to play out. First, you're going to watch as Megan and I have some fun. I'm going to show her what it's like to be with a real man. Then after I end her pain, I'll let you have her fingernails as a memento. Perhaps, you can put them next to Wendy's."

Turning on one heel, Newland crossed back over to Megan and retrieved a key from his pocket.

Cody could only watch as Newland released Megan from her bonds causing her to crumple on the ground like a rag doll.

"Newland!" Cody shouted as the killer grabbed her by the front of her sweatshirt and pulled her roughly to her feet. He then pulled off the gag and kissed her for all that it was worth.

Megan tried to tear her lips away but he was too strong so she did the next best thing and bit down hard on his tongue. Unfortunately, for her she only succeeded in earning a crushing hand wrapped around her throat.

He was choking her. She couldn't breathe.

Fear coursed through her and again she attempted to fight back. Balling her fists she flung them into her chest trying to force his body away from hers. The fear in her eyes was palpable she knew what was going to happen to her as he threw her down onto a table and reached for his belt.

Unable to watch his partner struggle, Cody turned his head away and that's when he saw his opportunity. His gun was lying just a few feet away. If he could only get to it he could save them.

Clawing the dirt, Cody pulled his body in the white gravel slowly inching his way toward his weapon.

Cody tried hard not to listen to the sound of clothing being ripped as he fumbled with two of the bullets.

Hang on, Megan he pleaded silently, just hang on!

He just about had the weapon loaded when he heard his partner scream. Just one more second he begged, just hang on for one more…

Whipping around, Cody blindly fired two shots hitting Newland in the back. Wide eyed Cody watched as the killer stumbled away from his partner and then fell to the ground face first.

For several moments Cody and Megan just stared at Newland's still body waiting for the shock to wear off. When she had recovered Megan slipped off the table and pressed two fingers to his carotid artery.

"It was good." She said after several seconds. "He's dead."

Relieved, Cody flopped to the ground looking heavenward. "Thank you."

He lay there for several seconds until Megan crawled her way over to him and gathered his head into her lap.

"Are you ok?" he asked brushing a fallen hair from her face. Her clothing was torn, a clear hand print colored her throat from where Newland had tried to squeeze the life out of her.

"I really have to pee," she returned in raspy voice as Cody forced himself back to a seated position, slinging his arms around her.

"I think I just did."

Their embrace was short-lived as the sound of gunshots being fired into the lock echoed from outside. The mammoth steel door opened to reveal Jesse, Matt and Mead. In the distance the sound of approaching sirens could be heard.

"Where's Newland?" Mead asked as Jesse and Matt made their way over to Cody.

"Over there."

Two uniformed officers followed Mead, each wanting to confirm that Newland had met his end.

Jesse knelt at Cody's side inspecting his wound. "What the hell were you thinking walking into this without back-up?"

Cody rolled his ocean eyes up to his father, his face sporting his famous know it all grin. "I was thinking like you."