One week later...

It almost felt...normal.

Henry sighed as he sank into his leather office chair and looked out over the morgue. Lucas was wrapping up the paperwork on a simple drug overdose case that had come in during Henry's absence. Nothing that the younger man hadn't done for him a hundred times before.

Yes, it almost felt normal.

Until a loud THUMP echoed just outside his office window.

Henry pushed open his curtains, then opened the window to see what could have made such an unusual noise. The answer, once he saw it, was sadly obvious: the carcass of a grey pigeon lay on its side on the ledge, warm but motionless. Henry sighed, his heart filling with compassion for the fate of the less than intelligent animal. He pulled on a pair of evidence gloves and gently picked up the lifeless bird. "C'mon," he told the bird, "you may have wanted that to be your final resting place, but I cannot let you stay there." Henry turned around, intending to take the bird out to a place where he could give the beast a proper burial, when a blue light gently flashed around his hands...

...and the pigeon returned to the land of the living. The bird started to fuss and fidget, pushing its wings against Henry's grasp on a desperate, panicked attempt to break free. "All right, all right!" Henry exclaimed with a chuckle, turning back around to face the window once agin, "out you go, then!" He couldn't help but smile as he watched the bird break free of his grasp and fly off to his second chance at life.

Yes, his day almost felt normal.

But, every once in a while, the truth settled in. Life wasn't going to feel normal, again, for a long, long time.

Maybe, he thought, maybe that's a good thing.

"You better be careful where you perform that little trick, Doctor Morgan."

Panic shot through Henry's system. Then again, he thought, maybe not. He sighed, quickly fighting to compose himself even as his nerves were starting to get the better of him. "Lieutenant!" he exclaimed with an overage rated grin and nervous chuckle. "What brings you down to our cold little corner of the room?"

"I had wanted to welcome you back to the precinct," Reece replied with a smirk. "After your...extended vacation."

The knowing look on Reece's face suggested to Henry that Reece knew exactly where he had spent his 'extended vacation'. He sighed again, hoping against hope that the woman in front of him was going to be willing to believe the bald-faced lie he was about to tell her. "Lieutenant," Henry began, "about the bird...I can explain..."

Reece stopped Henry with a raised hand. "Save the explanation, doctor. I know what I saw. And now I think I need to show you something." The lieutenant entered the office and closed the door behind her, then pulled out her cell phone and called up a photograph. "This is a picture of me and my best friend from my academy days." When Henry opened his mouth to protest, Reece gave him an instruction before he could get the words out. "Tap on the screen and read the photo tags."

Henry did as instructed. "Joanna Reece and...Victoria Gates? Why do I know that name?"

"Vicki and I graduated from the academy together. She's now running her own precinct. The 12th."

Where the name sounded only vaguely familiar, Henry immediately recognized the number...and made the connection between the two. "Captain Victoria Gates. The Guardians' old commanding officer."

Reece nodded. "I've been a part of the Network almost as long as she has. And I was told that you were a...guest at the warehouse during your 'extended vacation'?"

Henry was suddenly grateful for the Network's code of secrecy. "I...may have been in the Bronx sometime last week..."

Reece decided to spare Henry the dance. "I was told you should be given the same courtesies as if one of Guardians theselves were under my command." Her teasing smirk shifted slightly into a smile of genuine respect. "So how may I serve you, honored one?"

Henry blushed at the idea of the Guardians' honorific now being directed toward him. "How much do you know, lieutenant?" he asked.

"Besides that little thing with the bird? Only what you want to tell me," Reece replied. "Sir."

Henry found it impossible not to chuckle at Lieutenant Reece calling him 'sir'. "You showed me a photograph from your past earlier," he told her, reaching into an inside pocket in his blazer, "I'd like to show you a picture from my past in return."

Reece accepted the weathered photograph and studied it carefully. While the young woman and infant were unfamiliar faces, the man's face was one that Reece instantly recognized. Particularly since the man in the photograph was standing before her. "How long ago was this photograph taken, Henry?"

"1945," he replied.

"And how old were you when this photograph was taken?"

"I was one hundred and sixty five years old," Henry admitted.

Reece's eyes reflexively widened in shock at the number Henry had given her. She quickly did the remaining math in her head. "You're 235 years old?"

Henry nodded. "I am."

"So you're immortal?" Henry nodded again. Reece slowly started putting together the pieces of the mystery that was Henry Morgan...starting with the oddest piece. "Does this have anything to do with your penchant for skinny dipping in the East River?"

Henry nodded again, blushing. "Before I had more control over my...gifts," he explained, tripping over the words with some hesitation, "I would experience more of a rebirth than a resurrection..."

"When you die?" asked Reece.

"Every time," Henry agreed. "I would disappear and emerge in the nearest major body of water. In New York, that's..."

"The East River." A stray memory popped up in Reece's mind. "The Grand Central gassing case...Detective Martinez initially said that she saw you fall off the roof with the suspect, but then later recanted."

Henry's gaze suddenly shifted from Reece to his desk. "What she saw initially was correct. I also died on that derailed subway train during that same case."

Reece's eyes went wide again. "How many times have you died in the service of protecting Detective Martinez, Doctor?"

"To be honest, lieutenant," Henry admitted, "I've lost count."

"And the bird?"

Henry allowed himself a small smile. "As I've gained more control over my gifts I've been able to care for more than just myself." When Reece's eyes widened further, Henry realized where her mind went and corrected her assumption. "The bird was only injured, not dead. In that way my gift is similar to the Lièrén's."

Reece shared in Henry's smile as the last of the pieces, for her, fell into place. "That explains so much..."

It became Henry's turn to be confused. "Ma'am?"

"The Harbor Unit is a Network precinct," Reece explained. "Let's just say they've been instructed to...look the other way...if they happen to run into you during a patrol. I suppose I can make some calls about the shore patrols as well? If that's still necessary?"

Henry looked relieved. "It would take a great load off my mind, lieutenant. Thank you."

"You're welcome," said Reece. "Detective Martinez...does she know?"

Henry nodded. "As do Lucas and Detective Hanson. It...came up over the course of this case."

It was now Reece's turn to look relieved. "Secrets are a terrible burden to keep, Doctor Morgan, as you know. It's nice to know that I won't be alone in keeping this one." She stood up, effectively bringing the conversation to a close. "Is there anything else you need from me...sir?"

"No, ma'am," Henry replied. He stood up, smiling warmly as he escorted Reece to his office door. "Is there anything you need from me?"

Reece shook her head. "Doctor...Henry, I believe in taking care of my people. And you are one of my people. Thank you for being there for them...and for letting me be there for you."

"Thank you," said Henry.

Reece pressed a small envelope into Henry's had as she left without any further comment. Curious, he closed the door to his office, sat down and opened the envelope. He pulled out a small, gaudy-looking medallion on a simple gold chain, frowning at the unattractive piece of jewelry. Henry then found the piece of paper that came with the necklace and began to read the note written on it:

Dearest Henry,

It was such a great joy and pleasure to finally meet you and work with you. I can see why Michel guarded his friendship with you so jealously.

We do not often get to keep many friends for even the span of a normal human lifetime, let alone longer than that. I hope you know that you are no longer alone in this universe and never have to be again.

Which brings me to the reason for this gift. Even when we have friends to share this journey with, it is not the same as having that true companion...that one person who loves and cares for us as much as we do for them. Michel told me that you had that kind of love once and lost it. I hope that you will find that kind of love again in your life. If you do...give them this coin. The one who wears a Baron Samedi coin cannot be touched by death unless they choose to release their life to his control. So if your beloved never wants to leave your side...they no longer have to.

Be well, Henry. See you soon.

Katya

Henry let the coin dangle from its chain, letting the light reflect off the metal surface as he felt the weight of the coin and the immense power it carried. His heart started to ache with regret. If I had this coin forty years ago, he thought, I would never have had to lose Abigail. His mind then returned to the words he had just read in Katya's note. Is it possible? Could I find another love like that?

A knock on the door shook Henry out of his musings. "Hey Henry," Jo greeted him, "I just caught a new case. Ready to get back to the grind?"

Henry smiled at the question. "I'll be right there." He then stood up, took one last look at the medallion and put it in the top drawer of his desk. I have no idea if this life is worthy of forever, he thought, but for now...I certainly couldn't ask for anything more.

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A/N: That's all, folks! Hope you enjoyed it! Just remember, though! that I can't *know* if you enjoyed it unless you leave me comments!