Danny desperately wanted to just take Kathryn home just like she asked him to, but they had to go to the hospital and complete their statements about what happened. After they finished up at the hospital, they went to the FBI office to make their statements. Jack and Samantha greeted them as they entered Jack's office.
"What did the doctor say?" Samantha asked Danny as he and Kathryn sat down on the sofa.
"Just a couple of cracked ribs and a busted lip. I'll be good as new in a couple of weeks."
"He'll be good as new if he takes it easy for a couple of weeks," Kathryn corrected.
"Well, that can be arranged. I think Danny's earned a nice, long vacation," Jack replied.
"You get no arguments from me. I don't want to let you out of my sight anytime in the near future," Danny said as he looked at Kathryn and smiled.
"I know you two want to get home. But first, Danny, you and I need to go over what happened in the car ride and in the cabin. Kathryn, Samantha is going to take your statement."
"Is there a reason we can't stay together?" Kathryn asked meekly as she looked from Jack to Danny.
"It's just procedure. You know how this works, Kathryn...in case we have to testify in court."
"Of course," Kathryn replied shaking her head. "My mind isn't...I was an ADA for four years...you would think I could remember that."
"You've been through a lot. We'll take it slow. You'll be fine," Samantha said as she walked toward the door.
Kathryn rose from the sofa, and looked at Danny as he stood with her. She smiled slightly as he gently squeezed her arm and kissed her forehead. "It's almost over, and then we'll go home. I'll be right here," he whispered reassuringly.
Kathryn just turned and walked out with Samantha.
"Can I get you water or coffee?" Samantha asked as they walked out to the conference table in the bullpen.
"No, I'm fine," Kathryn answered. "Do you know how the baby is? Is she OK?"
"They EMTs checked her out at the scene. Mara was fine. You took very good care of her. A social worker brought her to Meryl's parents."
"I've gotten so caught up in what happened to me...and Danny...that I didn't think about her. That poor woman...I can't imagine what she must have gone through. And then he just killed her...I don't understand," Kathryn said as her eyes filled with tears.
"Her parents said she was pretty unhappy with him...with Kendall. Her mother tried to get her to leave him, especially after he made her change her appearance, but then she got pregnant. So she stayed. It was a tragic situation," Samantha responded.
"I feel so responsible. If I wouldn't have been so naive...if I would have been more aware...then maybe I could have stopped this. I...just..."
"Kathryn...Kendall is...he's evil. And none of this is your fault because all of this is unfathomable. You couldn't have known," Samantha said as she touched Kathryn's arm. "Now I know this is hard, but you're going to have to walk me through what happened between the time you left your father's office until we found you in the cabin."
Kathryn nodded. "I...uh...I was really upset after I saw Evan in the elevator. So I was kind of frazzled, you know. I wasn't focused on where I was going. And then I ran into him...into Richard. And it seemed like some crazy coincidence. He talked about his daughter and wife. I hadn't seen him in years. I didn't really think it was strange. But then he asked if I needed a lift instead of getting a cab to my mother's. And for a moment, I thought...I thought...God, I barely know this man anymore. I hesitated to go with him, but instead of listening to that voice inside my head, I said yes...because I didn't want to seem rude. Isn't that ridiculous?"
"You'd be surprised how many women don't listen to their intuition so they won't seem rude. It's not that ridiculous. What happened once you got in the car?"
"He pulled out some pictures of the baby. And I started to look at them. And then...he must of injected me with something...because I don't remember anything after that...until he woke me up on the bed in the cabin."
"What did he say?"
"I was pretty disoriented, but I remember he said that he wouldn't hurt me if I cooperated. And that he needed me to take care of Mara. When I started to question him about why he took me, he said that we were destined to be together and that I shouldn't fight it. He told me that he watched me from the time I was fifteen. He told me that he had watched me ever since that moment...and that he was always with me even after I left him. And then he pulled out the cell phone, and told me that I had to call Danny and tell him that I wasn't coming back," she said weakly as she cried.
"You're doing fine, Kathryn. Keep going."
"I didn't want to make the call, but he told me that he had a partner watching Danny and Michael. And that if I didn't call Danny at this exact time, that his partner would kill Michael. I didn't know what else to do. I had to make the call, and I had to say exactly what he told me to say."
"Of course you did. You didn't have a choice."
"After I made the call, he left me alone in the cabin with Mara. He told me that as long as I took good care of her, that I would stay alive as would Danny and Michael. So that's what I did. I didn't see him again until he came back with Danny."
"I know you told the EMTs that you weren't hurt, but I need to make sure that nothing happened, Kathryn. Did he do anything to you in that cabin?"
Kathryn shook her head. "No...he...uh...left me alone. When he came back with Danny, I had to...I let him kiss me. I had to make him think that I was OK with leaving. I had to help Danny...so I let him touch me," Kathryn said as she held her head and rubbed her eyes. "And Danny was right there...he had to watch. I didn't know what else to do. I had to find some way to get the key to him to so he could unlock the cuffs."
"You are very brave, Kathryn. And Danny loves you very much. You two will get through this."
Kathryn nodded and then continued. "I slipped Danny the key, and then as soon as I distracted Richard...Danny overtook him. I got the baby and ran out, but I didn't leave. I put the baby in the closet, and then I went back to the room. Richard was kicking Danny. So, I got the gun and told him to stop. Then I fired the gun. You know what happened after that."
"Right. OK. You did well. I think I have what..."
"Samantha...can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"How did you know? How did you find out it was Richard?"
"Danny didn't tell you?"
"No...he...uh...told me that I shouldn't worry about because it's over now. But I need to know. I need to know what happened."
Samantha understood that Danny wanted to protect his wife, but she also agreed with Kathryn. She did need to know so she could move on with her life. "Mrs. Kopeckie, your next door neighbor, worked with a sketch artist. We identified Kendall using the sketch."
"My neighbor? How did she know him?"
Samantha hesitated but then continued. "He gained access to your apartment through her closet. He pretended to be an exterminator."
"He was in our home? Oh god...did he...did he watch me...us?"
"We don't think so. We think he was only there when you were gone. He took things of yours as...as...trophies. And then after he took you, he took a suitcase and some of your clothes to make it look like you left. He did have a private investigator take pictures of you and Danny. We found an apartment where he kept them."
"He told me that. He told me that he watched me," Kathryn said as she rubbed her eyes.
Just then Danny approached them. "How are we doing?"
Kathryn looked up as she wiped tears from her eyes. "Fine. Are we done, Samantha? I really want to see Michael," she said as she stood.
"We're done. Thank you, Kathryn."
Kathryn just nodded and looked to Danny to lead her out of the office. He gave Samantha a worried nod before he walked out.
Kathryn took at deep breath as she and Danny got into the cab to go home. "You OK?" Danny asked as he noticed that Kathryn was preoccupied.
"I'm just anxious to see Michael. I…I really thought I would never see him or you again," she replied quietly.
"He'll be crazy happy to see you. He had no idea what was going on, but he missed you terribly."
Kathryn smiled as Danny took her hand. But then her smiled turned to tears once again.
"What is it, baby? What's wrong?"
"This is all my fault, Danny. How could I have been so stupid? I mean I never felt right about my relationship with Richard. But I stayed with him. He was my first…. How could have let him touch me?"
"He manipulated you from the moment he met you. He found out everything he could about you, and then used it to get closer to you. You were just a kid, Kathryn. You were just trying to do what you thought your parents wanted. But you didn't marry him. You realized it was mistake. And as far as sleeping with him…Kathryn…he got you drunk. He told me…he told me that you didn't want to do it. You wanted to wait until you got married.You just don't remember how it happened. He…heforced you," Danny said hesitantly not sure if this was what she needed to hear or not.
Kathryn put her head in her hands as Danny gently rubbed her back. "I knew something was wrong. I knew that time and every time after that. But I always thought it was me…that I was doing something wrong. Part of the reason why I stayed with him was because he wasmy first. So stupid…," she said as she shook her head.
The cab pulled up to their building and they stepped out of it. "Listen…all of this…is going to take time to process. What you've been through…what we've been through…it's been a nightmare. But it's over, and we'll be OK. I love you so much, Kathryn," he said as he put his arms around her.
She let herself collapse into his warmembrace and realized that she never felt safer that she did at that moment. "I love you, too."
Danny finally pulled away. "Let's go see Michael. Your parents are probably watching us right now literally dying to see you."
Kathryn smiled as took Danny's hand as they walked up the stairs.
Danny opened the door to the apartment and let the Kathryn in. As soon as she stepped in the door, Michael looked up from his coloring book on the floor. "Mommy!" he said as he stood and ran towards her. Kathryn opened her arms and then engulfed him in a hug as soon as she could.
Maggie started to cry as soon as she saw Kathryn, but she gave her daughter a few moments to be with her son. "How is she?" she whispered to Danny as he approached Maggie and John.
"She's gonna be fine. She's been through an ordeal, but she'll be fine. Thank you both...for being so amazing through all of this. Knowing that Michael was with you made it easier for me to focus on finding her," Danny said sincerely.
"Are you OK, Danny? You've been hurt...," John inquired with concern.
"It's not serious. Just a few bruises. I'll heal."
"What's going to happened to that evil bastard?" John asked.
Danny shook his head. "Hopefully, he goes away for long time. We have him on kidnapping and murder charges. But right now, I think we should just focus on helping Kathryn."
"Of course. We can definitely do that," Maggie said as she gave Danny a hug. "Thank you...thank you for finding our girl."
Danny just smiled and then looked at Kathryn as she seemed determined not to let Michael go. And then Maggie approached Kathryn. Kathryn smiled at her as tears streamed downboth theirfaces. Maggie and John put their arms around Kathryn and Michael. "Darling...we were so scared. I'm so sorry...," Maggie started.
"Mom...don't...it's OK," Kathryn interrupted knowing that her mother felt guilty about her role in bringing Richard into her life. "The important thing is that you took such good care of Michael through all of this. We can't thank you enough for that."
"We know you both must be exhausted. You probably just want to sleep. Michael is fed and ready for bed. So we'll just leave you two...," John said.
"We can't leave yet...we just saw her...," Maggie said.
"Maggie...we can come back in the morning. Kathryn and Danny need some time alone with their son," John said as he gave Kathryn another hug and then shook Danny's hand.
"Can I just have one moment alone with my daughter before we leave?" Maggie pleaded.
"Sure," Danny said. "Come on, John. I'll walk you down."
As Danny and Kathryn's father walked out, Maggie turned to Kathryn. "I just wanted to tell you..."
"Mom...I know you feel bad about Richard...but you couldn't have known," Kathryn said as she continued to hold Michael.
"You're right. I do feel incredibly reponsible. I pushed you into that relationship with him, and I don't know if I can ever forgive myself for that. But that's not what I wanted to say."
"What is it?" Kathryn asked wearily.
"A few months ago, you told me that one day I would see that you made the right choice. And I just want you to know that I see that now. The love Danny has for you...it's breathtaking. I shouldn't have doubted the love you have for each other. He's a good man, sweetheart. I know you've know that all along. I'm just sorry it took this for me to see it."
"Thank you for saying that, Mom. It means a lot."
"I don't know what I would have done if I would have lost you. I don't know what any of us would have done. I love you, sweetheart," Maggie said as she hugged Kathryn tightly.
"I love you, too."
"OK...I'll go. But, I'm coming back in the morning."
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you again," Kathryn said as she opened the door and her mother walked out.
And then Kathryn walked over to the couch and sat down with Michael snuggled in her arms. She never thought she would feel this again. A few moments later, Danny came back in and sat down next to her. "Are you hungry? Do you want me to fix you something?" he asked as he put his arm around her and put his other hand on Michael's back.
"No. I just want to take a very hot shower, and then I want to sleep for about hundred years right next to you and Michael."
"That sounds just about perfect," Danny answered.
After they both took showers, they found themselves laying in bed with Michael asleep snuggled between them. They just layed there staring into each others' eyes as Danny played with her hair. "Do you remember where we were before all this started?" Kathryn whispered.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean we were starting over again. We were working through things. All of that anger and pettiness...mostly on my part...seems so silly now."
"So...what? You don't want go to the marriage counselor again?" Danny asked.
"I don't know. All I know is that I've never loved you more than I do at this moment. And I don't think anything could change that. When I saw you walk through that door today...I've never felt that way before in my life. And I think about all the stuff that I let bother me before...and it all seems so ridiculous now."
"It wasn't so ridiculous, baby. I think we need to continue the counseling not only for old stuff, but especially after everything that's happened. We shouldn't try to deal with this on our own. It won't work. And I don't want to lose you ever again...for any reason."
"Agreed," she replied as they leaned into to each other for a kiss. Then they both smiled as they looked down at Michael taking took slow, steady breaths with a slight grin on his face..
Finally, Danny watched as Kathryn slowly drifted off to sleep. He didn't want to take his eyes off of her, but exhaustion started to take its toll. Before he allowed himself to sleep, he thought about all of the hard times in his life and how nothing ever came easy to him. He had always resented that in the past, but now, he realized that everything that happened made him appreciate this moment even more. He hoped that this was the happy ending that he dreamed of his whole life.