Open Case File [COMPLETED]

The End (Part 1)

"What happens now?" he asked.

Behind her, Carter heard the shout of SWAT charging through the building, clearing out the scum. And for the first time in two months, Carter smiled as she held O'Malley's eyes.

"I get to go home."

********

Carter walked into a dark apartment. The moon hung low in the sky, sending pale blue light in through the windows. For a moment, she stood in front of the door, taking in the feeling of coming home. Nothing had changed, but somehow all of it had. She could feel the air of sorrow. Able to dispel it finally, she stepped out of her shoes and padded her away to Donovan's and her bedroom.

When she pushed the door open, Donovan didn't stir. Even as she rounded the bed, he didn't move. Carter's heart twisted, knowing that two months before he would have been awake at the sound of the front door opening. But now he slept with no sense of alertness. As if he stopped caring whether someone attacked him or not.

A piece of moonlight fell across his face. In sleep, he should have looked peaceful, but his brow wrinkled in grief and pain. Carter settled onto the edge of the mattress and whispered his name. Slowly, he opened his eyes.

A million reactions to Donovan seeing her had played out in Carter's mind over the previous two months. Except for the one she got.

Donovan did nothing.

"Hi," she said, softly.

"You came back."

Carter wanted to laugh and cry at the emotionless tone in which Donovan said this.

"Of course I came back."

Donovan blinked but still, he didn't seem surprised or excited to see her.

"I always fear that one night you won't show up," he said.

Carter didn't say anything, not sure what he meant. Before she could find words, Donovan went on.

"I don't know what I'll do when one night you won't visit me. I wonder if I'll simply stop being because you will be gone forever."

It hit Carter then what he meant. This wasn't the first time Donovan had seen her. His grief had conjured her for him over and over again. He thought she wasn't real.

Almost choking on her words, she reached out and touched his face.

"I'm real."

Donovan closed his eyes at the caress, losing himself in it.

"You always are," he whispered.

"Donovan, I'm here. It's really me."

Donovan opened his eyes, the blue deepened with grief. "Don't go just yet. Please stay with me."

Tears rolled down Carter's cheeks as the quiet desperation in his voice. She brushed back the hair on his forehead.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm really here. I'm alive. None of the car accident was real. It was fake."

He watched as Donovan swallowed hard, fighting down his own pain. "Don't. Don't play with me. I can't..."

Now Carter felt her own desperation, fearing that somehow she really lost Donovan, that grief took him from her. She moved closer and held his face.

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you. Your life. Kennedy's life was in danger. I had to disappear. But I'm here. I'm back. I'm not leaving you."

Donovan shook his head. "You died. I know you died."

Carter could see him struggling, trying to grasp what she said as it battled with what he'd forced himself to remember every day for two months.

"I'm alive."

Carter kissed his face, feeling the beard scratching against her skin.

"It's me."

Donovan accepted her kisses but didn't return them. "I can't do this. I can't live seeing and feeling you only in my mind."

Staring into his eyes, Carter felt her heart shattering. "You won't. I'm here. I'm not in your mind."

"How do I know anymore?"

The question was a plea, a want to escape the hell in his mind but still keep her with him. Carter stroked his face, running her hand over his scruffy jaw. A weak smile came to her lips.

"Because I will tell you something no imaginary me would know to say." She kissed him gently. "You have to get rid of the beard."

Donovan froze, his gaze locked on her. Slowly, like the rising of the sun, Donovan sat up, never once tearing his eyes from her. With shaking hands, he reached out and touched her cheek, felt the dampness of her skin from her tears. He blinked, his breathing coming in ragged gasps. Carter laid a hand on his chest, his heart thundering under her palm. Donovan covered her hand with one of his.

"Carter?"

"Hi, handsome."

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*hides behind Captain America's shield* Stop throwing stuff at me, someone asked for this, so blame them.

*peeks over shield* You done yet? *gets a tomato to the face*

Now that you have thrown all that you want to throw, why don't you throw me your thoughts on the chapter. 💭🗯💬😭

I have to say when I wrote that first scene all I could think about was that moment in Sherlock. If you watch the show with Benedict Cumberbatch you know what I am talking about.

I didn't add Kennedy into this because I really wasn't sure how old I wanted her to be, so that's why I kept it vague.

Another random note, the whole last scene with Donovan completely surprised me. I thought he would instantly be excited to see Carter. Funny how things turn out... Or maybe depressing.

I hope you don't hate me forever for this chapter. Sorry about the tears.

It's ok, you don't have to vote, comment or follow. Knowing that I've emotionally scarred you is enough to keep me going.