She smiled. I remember. I was there. Youd come home every night jazzed up and excited about what youd learned and who youd helped.

When was the last time you saw me like that? He remembered those days, too. Theyd been amazing. Hed loved what he did.

She shook her head. Im not sure.

Exactly. When was the last time? Hed felt a glimmer of it working with Lexa, when theyd stopped Ayres from operating on Vincenzo Rohr. But before that? He didnt remember. It had been weeks. Maybe months. Could it have been years? Look. I screwed up. I knew what I was doing. I felt the risks were worth the reward so I did it.

And were they? Were the risks worth the reward? Ashley asked.

Hed caught a killer. Just thinking the words to himself made his heart soar. Hed used everything he hadhis intellect, his powers of observation, his bodyand hed help bring about a small modicum of justice in the world. Yeah. Totally worth it. No matter what happens next.

That was the big question, wasnt it? What would happen next? To figure that out, hed need to come to terms with some of the things in the past. It was too late for it to fix anything, but he needed to say it. Ashley?

Yes, Morgan.

Im sorry.

She waved his words away. You dont need to apologize. Ill be fine. No ones blaming me for what you did.

I dont mean that, he said. He looked down at his hands that hed twisted together in his lap. Im sorry that I wasnt a better husband. You were always there for me and I was always there for my patients.

Oh, Morgan. Her voice wobbled like she might be about to cry. Youre a good man.

But I wasnt a great partner. I look back now at all the things you did that made my life better and how little I appreciated the kind of person you are. It might be too late now, but he needed to say it to her. He needed her to understand that he got it, finally. Im sorry and I want you to know that Im going to try to do better.

Thank you, she said, her voice small. She sniffed and then blew out a breath, regaining her composure. What will you do if they take away your license, Morgan?

A weight lifted off his shoulders. They can take my license, but they cant take away what I know. I can find ways to put that to good use. He could think of dozens of ways to do that, but there was one that stood out. What was it that Danielle had said? That they should do that again someday?

Maybe someday would come sooner than expected.

Tomorrow, hed call Danielle.

And find out just what hed have to do to take on a permanent position with the FBI.

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