It had been a while since Kate had dreamed of Michael. The last one shed had was more of a memory than anything elsea memory of how he had nearly cut his fingers off while trying to repair the very first lawn mower they had owned, six months into their marriage.

But the one she had several hours after leaving the bar with DeMarco was nothing of that sort. In this dream, she was standing in the tiny interrogation room in the Deton PD. Michael was sitting on the other side of the little desk, looking up to her expectantly.

You know, Michelle looks like you, he told her. Poor Melissa…that kid got her looks from me. But our granddaughter…she looks just like you.

I know, Kate said. I wish you could meet her.

Same here, he said. But dead is dead. Its not so bad, though. If our parents were right in all that stuff they believed, I will get to see her one day.

Why are you in Deton? she asked him.

Because you are. Im never too far away from where you are, you know?

You cant be here…while Im working. My job created too much stress between us.

It did. But the determination in it was sexy.

He smiled and stood up from the table. It was the first time she had seen the bullet hole in the back of his headthe very bullet hole that had resulted in his death. It was not gory or gruesome; it was just there, part of him.

Kate, is this really where you want to be? he asked.

Deton?

No…back at work. Youre a grandmother now. Arent you over all of this?

He took her hands. They were cold and clammy. As she looked into his eyes, she saw only the whites.

Michael…

Arent you done with all of this yet?

I cant…

And then he started squeezing her hands, pulling her to him so that she could feel the coldness of him, smell the graveyard stench of him.

That was when she screamed and pulled herself out of the nightmare.

She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, feeling the vibrations of the scream in her throat, the sound of it echoing slightly in the small motel room.

Is this really where you want to be?

Arent you done with this yet?

They were fair questionsquestions she had asked herself multiple times since coming back to the bureau. But she knew the answer to both questions…and she was fairly certain Michael would understand if he was still here.

Yes, she felt like she was supposed to be back. Even from that first call nearly a year ago, she had not felt out of touch or uncomfortable. It had been like slipping on an old glove and finding that it still fit perfectly.