Finally, the long-awaited conclusion...It's not much, just a little epilogue...Enjoy, please review...

It was a week before the pain had gotten to the point that it could be controlled with Ibuprofen and allow Pete to return to active duty. Desk duty had been out, as sitting for long periods of time were very painful due to the positioning of the sprained joints. But today, he thought he was ready to return to Adam-12. He had stayed with Jim and Jean the first night and then Jim took him home the next evening. It had been a battle between pain and boredom as to which would kill him first, but now he was ready to be back. More than ready. Light-years past ready…

Walking down the corridor, he was suddenly nervous. He was sure Jim hadn't told him everything that he had said. Jim couldn't lie very well, and he wouldn't look him in the eye when he told him he hadn't done anything embarrassing. Oh, well… Even whatever Wells and the others would put him through would be an improvement over being home alone, bored, and in pain. Steeling himself, he walked into the locker room.

Everyone stopped talking at once, and Woods was the first to speak. "Hey, Pete. How's the back? You okay?"

The concern in his voice wasn't quite what he was expecting. Reed wasn't there yet, and he had expected nothing but ribbing from the ones that were there. "I…uh…I'm okay. Still a little sore, but I'm okay."

Just then, Reed hurried into the locker room. He had meant to get there before Pete, to run interference if any of the guys should feel the need to give him any crap. So, of course, this was the day that Little Jimmy had chosen to spit up all over him on as he was saying goodbye. He just hoped the guys hadn't messed with him too much. Never send an officer into a hostile situation without backup, right? Maybe Wells and the others would respect that…

As he burst in, ready to take on the first one to say the wrong thing, he was surprised to hear Wells say "You sure you're up to this, Malloy? I mean, we don't want you to hurt yourself again. Especially, you know, if you're still healing up."

Jim met Pete's eyes, and the looks of mutual confusion were comical in themselves. The silent communication between them that made it so much easier to work tough situations between them working a little overtime. What's up with them?

I don't know…this isn't normal…

They're up to something…

I know, but what…?

We'll just wait and see, I guess.

Stay alert…

You, too…

"I'm fine, Wells. Really. Thanks for your concern though."

"Hey, why do you sounds so surprised? We were really concerned about you!"

Malloy was, of course, thoroughly surprised. It wasn't like he had gotten himself shot or something life-threatening. And perhaps a bit guilty for instantly thinking the worst of his co-workers and friends. "Thanks. Sorry if I offended you."

Wells grinned broadly. "No problem. You just get back to a hundred percent." He turned and headed out the door. "What would Gotham City be without Batman?"

Everyone laughed, and a very confused Pete Malloy turned to look at a very red –faced Jim Reed. As the younger man turned to go after Wells, Pete caught him by the shoulder. "I thought I didn't do anything embarrassing?"

Jim shrugged, anger turning to embarrassment and contrition in a split-second. "I believe my exact words were 'nothing much'. I'm going to go kill Wells now."

Pete still had a grip on his arm with his left hand, and has opened his locker with his right. "Let it go, Jim," he said. "If you get suspended, who's going to explain this to me?"

Reed looked over into his friend's open locker. There were dozens of paper bats that fluttered out into the floor as the door opened. Malloy looked at his friend expectantly, and Reed finally broke into a grin as he realized Pete thought it was funny as well. "Well, it's a funny story, really…"