Anderhalden ... finally spoke. "I've tried to manipulate your DNA ... to unlock that code hidden inside it, but ... it just won't let me."

Henry's heart plummeted to the bottom of his feet ... Okay, he thought to himself. I leave, do it my way. The sooner the better.

vvvv

Henry stood outside the vacation cabin in Spring Valley, that he and Abigail had bought back in the late 1950's. It was a village about an hour and a half north of New York City, and had been much more secluded and less populated back then. Now, there were vacation homes everywhere you looked. It was a good thing, he realized, that he hadn't planned his self-demise for quick healing here, after all. Most of these vacation homes were occupied on a year-round basis, thanks to several online rental sites. It most likely would have been impossible for him to have escaped detection emerging naked from the frigid lake.

He took his luggage from the rental car - provided free of charge, courtesy of Anderhalden's efforts - and carried it up onto the porch. It had been years, decades, since he'd been there. It was a good thing that Abe had retreated there more often than he had because it was clean and still in good shape. 'Thank you, Abe.' Once inside, he put the luggage onto the bed in the small bedroom nearest the livingroom and small kitchenette. He then returned to the livingroom and made a fire, remembering to check and open the flue. Thankfully, there was enough chopped wood in the woodpile outside for that. 'Thank you again, Abe.'

He searched the cabinets for where he remembered the tea kettle and tea bags were kept and smiled when he found them. Not the best way to have tea, he lamented, but at least it was Earl Grey. He put the kettle on to boil, washed and prepared a cup and utensils, and sat down to relax on the couch to warm himself before the fire. It had been a long flight home, but this time he'd made it as a passenger with a healed body instead of a damaged one. He leaned back and looked admiringly at his healed hands and flexed them several times (fingers extended, then closed into tight fists, then again and again). He wiggled his fingers vigorously as if he were a pianist masterfully executing a difficult but beautiful concerto. He stopped when a sound halfway between a sob and a laugh escaped his throat. Then, he closed his eyes and rolled the events of the past few months over in his mind. Just as his thoughts led him to the moment when he'd finally managed to kill himself, the kettle whistled. He quickly went and removed the kettle from the fire and prepared his cup. As he stirred milk and sugar into his tea, he walked back to the couch and sat back down. After a few sips, he picked up his thought trail where he'd left off.

vvvv

Four days prior ...

Given the popularity of naturist camps and nude lake swimming in Switzerland, Henry had realized it would be easier for him to carry out his plan and avoid detection at the same time. A naked man emerging from a lake would be less of a spectacle there than it would be (had been) in New York. And, with Anderhalden's help, he had managed to secure a return flight to New York, the afternoon of Anderhalden's admission that his method of burn treatment could not be used on Henry since his DNA had resisted against manipulation.

Two days later, he was on a flight back to New York. However, shortly before leaving the clinic for the airport, he'd taken a walk in the woods and found a spot near the edge of the babbling brook at it's widest point, where it actually became a good-sized lake. It felt strange, not needing to hide. He'd relieved himself of all clothing, folded and rolled them and placed them neatly into the small satchel he'd brought along. Shoes, socks, everything. He'd patted the towel inside the satchel to reassure himself that he hadn't forgotten it, then zipped it close. Next, he'd retrieved the plastic letter opener with the serrated edges he'd been using to open Abe's and Jo's letters to him. He'd managed to file the serrations down and sharpen the edge to a razor-like finish. If he was going to do this, it had to be quick and clean. Now or never, he'd told himself as he'd walked into the frigid waters. It had briefly crossed his mind that hypothermia might be the end of him before he could slit his throat. Stick to the plan, he'd reminded himself. And, once submerged deeply enough, he'd done the deed.

He'd bobbed up like a cork as he'd broken through the waters. Immediately, his left hand had flown up to examine his left ear. Healed! Through his shivering swim back to shore, he'd noticed his hands and arms. Healed! The exhiliration he'd felt from the lake's chilly waters were enhanced by his feelings of unadulterated joy. Morgan was back! He could return home and hide for another month or so in the cabin. Then, back to his life in New York. Back to his friends and loved ones. And no one would be the wiser. He'd obtained a miracle treatment, that's all anyone would have to know.

He'd quickly dried off and redressed himself. In order to hide his new physical condition from anyone at the clinic, he'd placed a large bandage over his ear and explained it away as helping him to not be so self-conscious during his return flight. And he'd made sure that his specially-designed gloves covered his hands, the ones with the side opening and velcro closing. As he'd returned to the clinic from his "walk", he'd breathed a sigh of relief when no one had questioned his appearance.

vvvv

Back at the cabin ...

He smiled as he recalled his memories of his time at the burn clinic. Especially, when he recalled how Virginia Bateman had melted into her husband's arms when he made a surprise visit to the clinic on the day of her release. All her talk about how she would make him pay for having hurt her when he'd served her with divorce papers shortly after her injuries, proved to be just that: talk. It warmed his heart to picture them, happy once again with their children and their married life. He envied them for that and imagined himself down on one knee, proposing to Jo, who, naturally, would accept. At least, in his imaginings.

His stomach growled a bit and he wondered if there was even anything to eat in the cabin. Just then, a knock at the door startled him. Was it Abe? He was the only one who might guess that he was here, even though he hadn't told him. The authorities? A neighbor? Game Warden? He opened the door and was pleasantly surprised to see Jo. By the look on her face, she was just as pleasantly surprised to see him.

"Henry!" She reached out and felt over his face and ear. She turned his face sideways so that his ear faced her straight on. "Wow. It's, it's ... you're all ... back." She shook her head, elated. "Oh, I'm so happy for you!" She released his face and flung her arms around his neck, then gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I told you that Dr. Anderhalden had some kind of miracle treatment. Nobody has to be suspicious of your miraculous recovery."

His pursed lips gave way to a weak smile of embarrassment, laced with guilt. "Yes, well, he does seem to have the magic touch." He stepped aside and she walked into the cabin.

"Nice little hideaway." she said, nodding and looking around. She held up a bag of takeout and asked, "Thought you might like some Won Ton soup."

He thanked her and they moved near the couch and she placed the bag on the small end table. She began to remove her coat and he quickly stepped behind her to help. "Thanks." she said and sat down.

"Could I offer you some tea, Jo?" His voice carried from the back of the short hallway and became louder as he entered the livingroom again.

"No, thanks, I also brought a six-pack of beer." she replied. "I know it's not your favorite, but ... "

"Oh, no, it's fine. Fine." He racked his brain trying to figure out how she knew that he would be there at the cabin. He had never even told her about it - Abraham. He sighed to himself and then frowned. How did Abraham know that he would be there instead of still at the clinic half a world away?

"Jo, um, how did you know to find me here?"

"Yummm, you should taste this soup, it's delicious." She took another bite and motioned him over with her spoon.

He slowly walked over and sat down next to her, but waited silently for her answer.

"Ummm, ummm, okay." She wiped her mouth and chewed quickly and swallowed. Her words came out in a rush. "Abe and I had planned to visit you, but we wanted it to be a surprise. So we called the clinic and spoke with Dr. Anderhalden. He told us that you had left already because his method of treatment - "

Her rush of words alarmed him and he put a hand on her shoulder. "Jo. Jo."

" - wouldn't work, something about your DNA being stubborn or uncooperative, - "

"Jo. Calm down, calm down." He patted her shoulder and stroked the back of her hair.

" - I don't know. Anyway ... " She halted her word avalanche and abandoned her cheery facade. She sighed and her shoulders drooped. In a less animated fashion and in a quieter tone, she explained that she and Abe had figured out that he had gone through with his self-demise plan, his Plan B. "Abe told me about the cabin and how to find it, so ... here I am." She smiled at him now, a sweet sorrow in her eyes.

He took her hand in both of his and rubbed and squeezed it. He laughed a little and said, "My son has always been just a little smarter than I. And you - ," he lifted her hand up and kissed the back of it, "nothing gets past you." His lop-sided smile flattenend out. "I just didn't want either of you to worry about me. And I can't go back to New York like this. At least, not yet, anyway. Can't take the risk of people questioning my too-soon recovery."

"How much longer, then?"

"Another four to five weeks, at least." He guesstimated that since his injuries had not been as extensive as Robbie's or Virginia's, that his proposed recovery time would be a couple weeks less than theirs had been.

She chuckled softly. "You're probably wondering why I just barreled in here like it was just another normal day, not questioning you, well ... " she paused and he could tell that she was fighting back tears. It broke his heart to see her this way.

"Jo, I'm fine now. Really." He bent his head down and gently lifted her chin to face him, and he gave her the happiest smile he could muster.

'I'm just trying to deal with all of this, you know? It's been kind of weird learning about your immortality, then seeing you suffer after you were attacked and hearing you plan your own death to get ... healed again ... " her voice trailed off. "It, it's just that ... "

He braced himself for the rejection that he felt might be coming. "Yes, Jo, I know, everything about my condition is weird, my conversation is weird, my life is weird because of it. I know." He swallowed and struggled to keep his emotions in check. "And I can totally understand if you're not ready for any of this - "

"What? Who said - Henry, I was just going to say that I wish I had been there with you, to, to help you ... so you didn't have to go through that all alone." She swiped at a few tears on her moist cheeks and muttered something about not wanting to be a crybaby. "You are not alone anymore, Henry Morgan." she said more forcefully. "Whatever it is that you're planning, thinking, going through, we do this together now. Understand me?"

He chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. What had he ever done right so that he deserved this beautiful, wonderful woman? "I totally understand." he laughingly replied and kissed her fully and longingly on the lips. He pulled back slightly and looked at her with a mockingly serious expression. "Alright. I am thinking and planning right now - "

"Oh, you are, are you?"

"Yes, that I am about to make a mess of your hair and clothing. Mine, too, I warrant."

"And why is that?" she playfully countered.

"Well, once we start doing this (he kissed her again and slid his fingers up the back of her head and into her hair), and this (his hand then slid down and roamed and caressed the warm, tender parts of her body), there's no telling what damage will be done to our clothing." He planted kisses from one side of her neck to the other and smiled at her soft moans of delight.

They became aware of an incessant buzzing sound. Jo reluctantly pulled away. "My phone."

"Ummm, don't answer it." he groaned and pulled her closer.

She was panting with her eyes closed but she fought to clear her head of her desire for him. "No. Henry, I have to answer it." She'd placed her phone on the end table next to the takeout and she now reached over and grabbed it and answered it. "Martinez." Henry's hands on her, his kisses, were making her feel drunk with pleasure. Her heart was racing and she rested her head against his. "Ummm, yeah, yeah, I'm fine."

Henry pulled her onto his lap and he nestled his face into her bosom. Her struggle to hold him at bay, to calm him down for a few minutes so she could converse intelligently with the caller, Mike Hanson, was admittedly a losing battle.

She jumped and had a sharp intake of breath when he began to graze his teeth then his tongue lightly over her skin from her bosom back up along the side of her neck. "Ummm, no, I'm fine. Nothing's wrong." She pushed a little more forcefully against him but he only smiled at her and resumed nuzzling her much to her chagrin, much to her delight, Oh! Henry! Ohhh!

"Yes. On my way." Thankfully, she ended the call. "That was my partner, Mike." she whined. "Never been so embarrassed. He probably knew what was going on, I can see his silly grin on the other end of the line. Oh! You!" She shook him harder and forced him to look at her again. When he did and showed her only a smug smile, she broke out into giggles. "What am I going to do with you? Are you always so playful?"

He breathed in deeply and appeared thoughtful. "No." He stared into her eyes. "Sometimes I am very serious." His voice tremored softly and deeply.

"Like now?" she whispered. Her eyes fell onto his lips, then back up to his amazing chocolate-brown eyes.

"Like now." he whispered, drinking her in, then, sighed into her lips with another passionate kiss.

"Ummm. Ummm." She managed to pull herself away from him. "Henry. Henry. I have to go."

"Noooo." he moaned and wrapped his arms around her waist even tighter.

"There's a body. They need me." She sighed as he begged her with those irresistible eyes of his.

He groaned again. "There's a body here, too, that needs you."

She somehow found the strength to ply his arms from around her and stand up. When she did, he gripped the backs of her thighs with one large hand each. He snuggled his face in against her belly button and sent warm, delightful glows up along her spine and to other parts of her body. The urge to give in to him and run her fingers through his soft curls was hard to resist, but she did, and managed to stifle a moan. When her legs threatened to buckle, she found the strength to finally extricate herself from his embrace.

She stepped away from him and softly repeated, "Gotta go." He hesitated a second or two, then nodded and went to go get her coat from the back bedroom. She closed her eyes and took in a few deep breaths in order to compose herself. She opened her eyes when she felt him behind her and she let him help her on with her coat. She smiled at him and quickly walked around him and to the door. He beat her to the door and opened it for her. Ever the gentleman. As she walked off the porch and stood by her car, she turned and waved to him.

He walked to the edge of the porch with his hands shoved down into his pockets. "Will you be coming back soon?" he asked.

She opened the car door and nodded. "Just try to keep me away, Mister."

vvvv

Epilogue:

Jo visited Henry a few more times over the next several weeks. He eventually returned to New York, and resumed his life and career there, and he and Jo married a year later. He also kept in touch with Dr. Anderhalden and eventually revealed his secret to him. In return, Henry learned and perfected Anderhalden's miracle method of burn treatments. Twelve years later, his son, Abe, died at age 85; his ashes were spread into the East River, from the same spot where they'd spread Abigail's years earlier. When Henry could no longer hide his non-aging, he retired from the OCME the next year. He and Jo moved to Zurich, after her retirement four years after that. After Anderhalden grew old and fell into ill health, he passed the gauntlet to Henry, who took over and ran the clinic until Jo's death at age 87, in the year 2072. That same year, he left the clinic in the hands of a talented and dedicated protegee, and returned to New York, to spread Jo's ashes into the East River, as well. New York City reclaimed his heart and he remained there for several more years before moving on.