~Matthew Taylor~

What a difference a year makes. It was an age-old saying, but in a time of new hope and new beginnings, it held a particular relevance for an older and somewhat wiser Matthew Taylor. It had been a year since he'd left the Cascade PD, a year since he'd handed in his resignation. And while the year had presented him with more challenges to overcome than he'd ever thought possible, it had been year for seeking and receiving forgiveness, and a year to realise that sometimes forgiveness would never be granted.

A year ago to the day, his life had been in turmoil. His childhood dream had been shattered, his career was in ruins and, just when he'd thought life couldn't get any worse, he'd learned that Blair Sandburg had paid the price for his actions. While he would never forget that day, and could still cite each and every one of Blair's injuries as if by rote, everything else was a blur. He'd run – that much he remembered – and for a time his life had been reduced to nothing more than surviving on a full tank of fuel and gas station food. From one town to the next, one state to another, he kept on running until one day, somewhere deep in America's heartland, he finally came to a crashing halt. A pickup truck and an old vet named Harry put a stop to his running – literally. During the next few weeks, while laid flat on his back, 'time on his hands' became his nemesis, forcing him to reflect upon the kind of man he'd become and the type of man he wanted to be.

The path to retribution hadn't been an easy one for Matthew to take, but a shining light, in the form of Harry's daughter, had taken him by the hand and illuminated his way. With Lesley by his side, Matthew had found his strength. He'd found the courage to contact Blair and ask for forgiveness, and found the strength to deal with rejection from a man who he'd once been so desperate to emulate. Jim Ellison's denunciation had taught him, finally, not to see his failings as a curse, but to learn from the lessons they were there to teach.

The kettle whistled, drawing Matthew from his thoughts. He adjusted his collar to help ward against the cold and, with one long, last glance, he looked out over the fields and pastures that stretched across his land from mountain to mountain. Careful not to let the screen door slam, he made his way into the kitchen, flicked off the kettle and poured the water into the pot, leaving the tea to steep. With quiet footsteps, he made his way across to the fire, adding another log and taking the time to give a pat to the world's laziest golden retriever.

A noise from the bedroom hastened his movements and, with tea now in hand, he made his way down the hall. "You're supposed to be sleeping," he said quietly, setting the tea down on the side table. "Harry's coming over this morning to feed the horses and Betty's not bringing Misty in to the clinic until ten, so you don't have to rush."

"But I still have rounds and patients to check on ... even if they are of the four-legged variety," Lesley murmured from under her cocoon of blankets.

"Your dad's one step ahead of you, and Mandy said she'd hold the fort till you made it in."

Lesley stirred, turning onto her back. "Now if we could just get Junior to start behaving."

Matt placed his hand gently on Lesley's pregnant belly. "You listen up here, tadpole," he growled. "You start bein' a good li'l whipper-snapper and give yore mama a break."

Lesley smiled. "You still need to work on that country twang, cowboy."

"Yes, ma'am," he smiled back, bending down to give her a kiss. "I gotta get going. Apparently old Hurley and Tubbs are feuding again."

"Over what this time?" she asked, stifling a yawn.

"Hurley's randy rooster." He kissed her again, pulling the blankets up to cover her shoulders. "I'll see you tonight."

"Hey, Deputy," she said just as Matt reached the door. "I love you."

He smiled and pretended to tip his hat. "Why thank you ma'am. I reckon the same goes right back at'cha."

"Get outta here," she laughed. "And thanks for the tea."

Grabbing his hat and giving the dog another quick pat, Matt headed for the front door. As he glanced back toward the bedroom, he realised finally that partners and best friends come in many different forms. He'd spent most of his life chasing a dream that was always one step ahead of him – one step ahead until the day he slowed down and let the dream catch him.

The End