By the time Dexter reached his cabin there was beginning to be a hint of light in the East. He got out of the pickup and stood looking at the cabin.

"You're going to have to leave," Harry said.

"I know," Dexter said, "at least for a while. My identity won't stand up to an FBI forensic team."

"If they even look at you," Debra said. "You're the fucking hero."

"I can't take that risk." Dexter said. "Besides, I'm not a hero, I'm a serial killer."

"Today, big brother, you are a fucking hero," Debra said. "You caught the bad guy and saved the girl. A fucking angel from God, no less."

"That's not who I am, Deb," Dexter said. "I don't think God sent me."

"Well whoever did, you were what Darlene needed last night." Debra said. "She's alive today because of you. A lot of good people are alive today because of you. It isn't just about who you've killed but how many you've saved."

"I'm still a monster," Dexter said.

"That's only a part of what you are," Debra said. "There's a lot of good in you too, you need to embrace it. Tell me the truth, didn't you feel good about how the night ended? Bad guy in cuffs, pretty girl in your arms?"

There had been a moment when I could see defeat in his eyes. That was almost as good as when the knife went into a victim's heart. Maybe better because it lasted. Death was such a quick release. His defeat would go on and on. And the clean-up was easier.

"Maybe, Deb." Dexter said. "I have to get packed. I want to get on the road. I don't want to sleep here; the FBI would be in town by the time I woke up. I can drive a couple of hours get a room and wake up a hundred miles away."

Dexter went into his cabin and started packing his things.

"Don't take everything," Harry said. "You don't want it to look like you fled."

"Just the things I don't want to lose and enough clothes for a two week vacation," Dexter agreed. "If I don't come back, I can abandon the rest. I don't really have much."

"It won't be safe to come back," Harry said. "You'll have to relocate."

"I'll monitor the story in the news and see what develops," Dexter said. "I might be able to come back safely in a couple of weeks."

In all, it was just a couple of boxes. He put them in the back of his pickup and then went back in for the "bug out" bag that he had brought from Miami. He checked it and he still had quite a bit of cash, some passports and other id's. He stopped at his kitchen table and left a note saying "Gone Fishing, back in two weeks."

That will give me a head start if someone comes looking for me.

He locked the cabin door behind him and walked out to the truck. The dawn was coming and the sky was grey.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked. "Seattle, San Francisco? Las Vegas would be a good place to lose yourself. There are probably some good candidates for your table there."

Dexter heard the honking of geese and looked up to see another V shape heading south toward the mountains where the first glint of morning sun was touching the snow cap.

"I think Dexter should go a lot farther," Debra said, "about seven thousand miles. It's summer down there, Dex. You could take Harrison to the beach."

"Dexter can't lead a normal life and be a serial killer," Harry said. "He tried to do both before and it didn't work out well."

"Then he should just work on having a life," Debra said, "and give up the killing."

"I still have the darkness, Deb." Dexter said. "It will never go away."

"It doesn't have to, Dex," Debra said. "But it's only a part of you. There is a hell of a lot more than darkness to you. You have light as well. Fucking embrace it."

"I don't know if I can," Dexter said. "I'd like to."

He watched the geese as they were vanishing out of sight to the south, then sighed and opened the door of his truck, tossing the "bug out" bag behind the seat. He looked over at Debra sitting next to him.

"Seven thousand miles is a long drive," Dexter said.

"I'd love a road trip with my big brother," Debra said.

"I don't think I can do it without your help, Deb. You're my moral compass." Dexter said. "Will you help me?"

"I'll always be here to help you Dex, I'm a part of you now," Debra said.

Dexter smiled at her and started the engine.

Half asleep I hear a voice.

Is it only in my mind?

Or is it someone calling me, someone I failed and left behind?

To work it out I let them in.

All the good guys and the bad guys that I've been

All the devils that disturbed me and the angels that defeated them somehow

Come together in me now.

(Phantom's Theme – Paul Williams)