A/N: well, it's been a fun ride but it's time to put this story to rest. Rest assured, Savannah will pop up again, as there is a bit of a clue in this chapter as to where that will be, but for now I'm going to concentrate on my other stories, as well as introduce another new one. Thanks to all who read and reviewed this and keep your eye open for more adventures in the future.

Chapter 12

Banner Behavioral Health Hospital, Phoenix City, Alabama:

A nurse bustled into Mary Abbot's room holding a letter with a Miami-Dade return address. "Hey Mrs. Abbot, you got a letter!" the nurse said cheerfully. Mary didn't respond but that was no surprise to the nurse. Mary had not spoken a word in almost five years and her doctors seriously doubted she ever would. Nothing and no one seemed to be able to reach the place she had mentally locked herself in to.

The nurse sat down beside Mary and pulled out a letter with tidy handwriting on the cream-colored sheets of stationary. She began to read out loud.

"Dear Momma:

I know it's been some time since I last saw you but I wanted to let you know I'm doing okay.

My decision to go to Florida and find Horatio Caine was one of the best decisions I've ever made. He, his friends, and his brother-in-law's family, the Delko's, have accepted me unconditionally and shown me so much love and friendship that I feel truly blessed.

About a month ago, Dad adopted me and I officially became a Caine. In fact, my full name is now Savannah Jacqueline Caine. To top that off, I'm working on my four-year Bachelor of Science while serving as the youngest forensic artist to ever work with the MDPD and Crime Lab. When I'm not doing that, I'm doing commissioned artwork for people around the city. Pete and Andrew used to try and tell me that my artistic talent would never amount to anything. Guess they were wrong, weren't they?

Speaking of Pete, I heard from Sheriff Donaling recently. He said Pete had been killed in an accident involving alcohol. When I asked him why he was telling me about a man who wasn't my father, that Horatio Caine was my father, he went silent for a moment. Then he apologized for bothering me and wished me good-bye and good luck. I haven't heard from him since.

You would really like Dad, Momma. He's more stubborn than Mr. Weckle's old horse, Prince, sharp with the mouth when he's mad, and has a mind that goes ninety miles an hour some days, but he's also patient, caring, and his heart is in the right place. He's also a wonderful father to me and I have absolutely no regrets getting on the plane and flying to Florida to find someone I'd only talked to on-line.

I think Dad said there was a conference coming up in Las Vegas in the near future for CSIs and cops and he's invited me to go along with him. I think it would be a lot of fun and I'm really looking forward to it.

I promise you, Momma, I'm going to be okay. I'm happier than I've ever been, I'm safe, and I'm with people who really care about me. Nobody's hit me like Andrew and Peter used to and Dad promises me nobody ever will again. And when Dad says, Dad means.

In the mean time, Momma, take care and know that I love you.

Love always,

Savannah Caine."

Underneath, in a different, bolder handwriting and ink, the letter continued with a postscript.

"Mary:

Although we have never met and there is a chance we probably never will, I wanted to let you know how proud I am of Savannah, our daughter. It took a lot of courage on her part to come to Miami to try and find someone she'd only met on-line and to try and start a new life somewhere else. It also took just as much courage for her to walk away from Peter and Andrew.

The day Savannah legally became my daughter was one of the most special days of my life. She's smart, beautiful, artistically talented, a joy to be around, and I am very, very proud to call her my daughter. I'm certain you would be as well, for she has come along way since the day I first saw her in Reception at the Crime Lab.

I promise you this, from one parent to another, I will do my best to protect and love her as much as any father can, and, as Savannah knows, when I make a promise, I do my damndest to keep it.

Horatio Caine."

The nurse looked inside the envelope and found a picture of Savannah next to a smiling man with red hair against a lovely backdrop of an ocean.

"She looks lovely, Mary, absolutely lovely and so happy," the nurse breathed. She placed the photo beside the bedside table, along with the letter and patted her patient on the shoulder before leaving to attend to other duties.

After along moment, something caught the light, and a single tear slowly made it's way down Mary's still face.

Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami, Florida:

In an interrogation room, a young teenage girl sat waiting. She bore the bruises of someone who had recently been viciously beaten and the scared look of someone who had recently been raped. The door opened and she looked up automatically. A woman with short blonde hair stepped in to the room, wearing a nice light wine-colored suit and stripped cream-colored shirt, a friendly smile, and carrying an artist bag.

"Are you Megan Biblos?" the woman asked gently, a southern accent in her voice. The girl nodded and the woman smiled warmly as she handed Megan a can of pop and put her bag down on the table. She pulled out a large drawing pad and a case of charcoals, arranged them neatly on the table and sat down next to the girl.

"I'm Savannah Caine, forensic artist for the MDPD, and I'm going to be working with you to help you try and recreate your attacker. Feel up to it?"

The End, for now.