Epilogue: For Good

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good."

Wicked

"Madame foreperson, have you reached your verdict?"

"We have, your honor."

"What say you?"

"In the first charge of murder in the first degree, we find the defendant...guilty. In the second charge of murder in the first degree, we find the defendant...guilty. In the third charge of rape in the first degree, we find the defendant...guilty. In the fourth charge of murder in the first degree, we find the defendant..."

Ed clasped his hands together before him and closed his eyes. It had been a long couple months, and he had waited a long time for this final word. He held his breath, if only to help him hear the words better. Every muscle in his body tensed up and the air grew thick as the final word...

"Guilty."

Ed let out a sigh of relief that he had been holding in since day one. He opened his eyes and grasped onto the short wall standing between himself and the prosecutors table. Jack McCoy spun around and gave Ed an accomplished smile. Ed grabbed Jacks hands and shook them fervently. Jack patted Ed on the back. Ed glanced over and watched as Johnson was pulled out of the courtroom. Their eyes met briefly. Ed then let his eyes scan the courtroom. He saw the other detectives all lined up in one of the back rows. He smiled to all of them and nodded to them, looking each one in the eye separately. Although when his eyes reached Olivia, he smiled a little bigger and held a gaze a little longer. He felt someone grasping onto his side. He turned around and saw Tate's wife and hugged her, then hugged Nate Foster's parents. Justice. It was good.

Ed didn't waste much time socializing. He stepped outside onto the courtroom steps and breathed in the fresh air. He glanced up at the sky and smiled.

"I told you, girl. I told you I'd take care of you." He said.

"Congratulations, Ed." Came a voice from behind.

He turned around to face Olivia. "Hey." He said.

"Hi."

"It's a good day."

"Yes it is," she agreed. "What I'm curious about is where you've been these past couple months. The only time I ever see you is during this trial."

"I know. Between work and attending the trials as much as I can, and testifying...it's been crazy."

"I understand. What now? Are you going to see the sentencing tomorrow?"

"Yes. It's gonna be in the morning. Actually, I'm taking some more time off starting tomorrow. Ever since I started back I've been too busy to think. I need to get away for awhile and be on my own."

"Really? How long will you be gone?"

"Two months."

"Wow. Where you going?"

"Anywhere. Everywhere. Starting off with Europe and going from there." He said.

"Hunh. Well I hope you enjoy yourself."

"I think I will. Other than Van Buren and Fontana, not one really knows. So if people start wondering where I am, tell them I'm fine."

"I will."

They stood there quietly for a few minutes. "Are you gonna make it to the sentencing tomorrow?" He asked.

"No I won't be able to. But we'll all have our ears open for the verdict." She said.

"Good...good...in that case, before I go I have something to say."

"What's that?"

"Well I know we have that deal of me not thanking you or apologizing...which, by the way, you're the only woman I've ever met who doesn't need a man to constantly apologize." She laughed. "But, I was thinking that I should be allowed one more of each. What do you say? One more apology and one more thank you."

"By all means." She nodded. "This one time."

"Thank you for everything you've done since all of this started..and for being here for me when you didn't even have to. I really don't know what I would have done without your friendship. And I'm so glad we've become friends. So...thank you."

"You're welcome, Ed."

"And I'd like to apologize for the night I came over and...well for what I did before I left."

"Now, I already told you-"

"That's exactly my point. I dismissed it as me being a little out of it that night. We both did. And I am sorry I did that. I'm sorry because...well I could have done a hell of a lot better." He said. And he placed his hand under her chin and gently pushed her behind the stone column, tipped her head up, and kissed her properly. When he pulled away, he smiled down at her, and she still looked slightly shocked. "Now see, I already got my one apology. I don't have to apologize for that...and I don't want to." She nodded slowly, still trying to form words. He stood quietly, waiting for some sort of response.

Finally she spoke. "I hope you're planning on calling me when you come home."

"If you want me to, I will."

"Call me when you get home."

"Okay."

Ed settled in his seat on the airplane, and slipped his photo booth picture strip into the seat back in front of him. "Alright, Mish. Let's go see the world...better late than never."

the end