Page 55 of When You're Gone

Amelia laughed. “As long as itisn’t a time machine.”

EPILOGUE

The sun was just beginning to crestover the London skyline as Finn Wright and Amelia Winters emerged from thepolice station, their faces etched with a mixture of exhaustion and relief. Thepast 24 hours had been a whirlwind of chaos and danger, a desperate raceagainst time to stop a madman and save countless lives. But now, as the citybegan to stir and the first rays of dawn painted the streets in a soft, goldenlight, they could finally allow themselves a moment to breathe.

They walked in silence for a while,their footsteps echoing off the cobblestones, each lost in their own thoughts.Finn couldn't quite believe that it was over, that the nightmare that hadconsumed his every waking moment for the past few weeks had finally come to anend. He felt a strange sense of emptiness as if a part of him had been hollowedout by the experience. But he also felt a newfound sense of purpose, a claritythat had eluded him for so long.

Beside him, Amelia seemed to begrappling with her own emotions. She had been a rock throughout the entireordeal, a constant source of strength and support, but Finn could see the tollit had taken on her. There were shadows under her eyes and a weariness in herstep that hadn't been there before. But there was also a fire in her gaze, adetermination that had only grown stronger with each passing day.

As they turned a corner and foundthemselves in a quiet, secluded square, Finn finally broke the silence.

"I can't believe it's reallyover," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I keepexpecting to wake up and find out Vilne is still alive."

Amelia let out a small, tiredlaugh. "I know what you mean," she said, shaking her head. "Itdoesn't feel real. But we did it, Finn. We stopped him."

Finn nodded, a lump forming in histhroat. "We did," he said, his voice rough with emotion."Usually I’d joke about my handsomeness getting us through it… But I thinkthat only counted for 47% of it."

Amelia's eyes widened, her breathcatching in her throat. For a moment, she seemed to struggle for words, herlips moving soundlessly. Then, with a sudden, fierce intensity, she pulled Finninto a searing kiss.

Time seemed to stand still as theylost themselves in each other, the rest of the world falling away until therewas nothing but the two of them, the warmth of their bodies pressed together,the pounding of their hearts. When they finally broke apart, breathless andflushed, Finn could see the same love and desire mirrored in Amelia's eyes thathe felt in his own heart.

"I love you, FinnWright," Amelia said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I think I'veloved you from the moment we first met. I was just too stubborn to admitit."

Finn felt a wave of joy and reliefwash over him, a sense of rightness that he had never experienced before."I love you too, Amelia Winters," he said, his voice cracking withthe weight of his feelings. "And I promise, from this moment on, I willnever let you go."

“No jokes this time?” Ameliasmiled.

“I can be serious, youknow.”

They stood there for a long time,wrapped in each other's arms, savoring the moment of peace and connection. Buteventually, the outside world began to intrude once more, the sounds of thecity growing louder as the morning rush began.

Just as they were about to headback to the station, Finn's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out,surprised to see the name of his old FBI boss, Director Seward, flashing on thescreen.

With a puzzled frown, he answeredthe call. "Director Seward," he said, his voice cautious. "Whatcan I do for you?"

There was a moment of silence onthe other end of the line, then a gruff, familiar voice spoke."Finn," Seward said, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. "Thatlive stream went viral. I just got a full report about what happened in London.About Vilne, and the case you've been working on. It’s all over the press inthe US."

Finn felt a flicker ofapprehension, wondering if this was the moment when his past would finallycatch up with him. But Seward's next words put those fears to rest.

"I wanted to let you know thatthe Bureau is dropping the investigation into your actions," Seward said,his voice firm and decisive. "And… An independent insurance investigationhas found that the hotel was a fire trap, so the damage wasn’t all your faultduring the the hostage situation a year ago.

"In light of Vilne's escapefrom US custody and the role you played in bringing him to justice in the UK,and from stopping that virus from… Well, it doesn't bear thinking. It's clearthat you acted in the best interests of the public and the Bureau. You're adamn fine agent, Finn, and we're lucky to have you. I'm just sorry it took allof this to make that clear, those fools above me."

Finn felt a rush of emotions -relief, gratitude, and a strange sense of closure. He had spent so long runningfrom his past, from the mistakes he had made and the bridges he had burned. Butnow, it seemed, he could finally put those ghosts to rest.

"Thank you, sir," hesaid, his voice thick with emotion. "That means a lot, coming fromyou."

Seward cleared his throat, a hintof awkwardness creeping into his voice. "Yes, well," he said gruffly."I know things haven't always been easy between us, Finn. But I want youto know that I've always respected your talent and your dedication. Your job issafe here at the Bureau."

Finn felt a smile tugging at hislips, a sense of warmth and appreciation flooding through him. But even as hesavored the moment, he knew in his heart that his path lay elsewhere.

"I appreciate that, sir,"he said, his voice steady and sure. "But I'm afraid I won't be coming backto the Bureau. I've found a new home here in London, a new purpose. And I havepeople here who need me, who I can't leave behind."

He glanced over at Amelia, who waswatching him with a curious, expectant expression. "I have a partner herewho means the world to me," he said softly, his eyes never leaving hers."And I have friends who have become like family. I can't imagine leavingthem now, not after everything we've been through together."

There was a long, thoughtful pauseon the other end of the line. Then, to Finn's surprise, Seward let out a low,rumbling chuckle.

"I had a feeling you might saythat," he said, a note of amusement in his voice. "And I can't say Iblame you. From what I've heard, you've built quite a life for yourself overthere. And if there's one thing I've learned in this job, it's that family isthe most important thing there is."

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