Kermit and Savannah walked into Chandler's arm in arm, just as they had for weeks. She gave him a little pat and headed over to sit with Jody, Mary Margaret, and Caine.

Savannah felt comfortable in Caine's presence. Sometimes, her manner and sub-Mason/Dixon accent made her a conversation piece in public. Sort of a spectacle. Caine seemed as foreign to these people as she did. Somehow, that made her feel a less exotic.

"Hi, everybody." Savannah said sat down beside Jody.

"True love... how depressing," Jody groaned then broke into a smile.

"What are you fussin' about, Jody?" Savannah laughed. "As hard as the ya'll worked to get us together, I'd think you'd be congratulating each other on your matchmakin' skills," she added gesturing to Mary Margaret.

"Yes. It would seem that their...partnership...has been a successful one," said Caine with a slight smile and a nod.

Savannah rewarded him with the brilliant look of a woman in love and replied, "You're absolutely correct, Caine, for the most part, anyway." With that, she glanced over to Kermit who was leaning again the bar trading smart remarks with Peter. He pulled his glasses down and winked at her, signaling that he would join her soon.

Caine excused himself and kissing Mary Margaret's hand, he left. "Now that looks like a little 'ole project in the making, doesn't it?" Savannah said, teasing Mary Margaret.

Mary Margaret looked after Caine and said, "Not quite yet," and left it at that. Now, it was Jody's turn. "I'll bite. What did you mean by 'for the most part'? Prince Charming turning back into a frog?"

Savannah looked down and smiled. Tapping a finger nail nervously on the table, she began, "No. Kermit is a wonderful man. He's the proverbial white knight in every woman's dreams. Although I'm sure that's not the color he would choose. We can be sitting there, just talking, and suddenly I can't think because he's so close. I've never known anyone as tender and gentle as Kermit."
She suddenly blushed at the way she'd spilled out her heart to her two friends. "That last part is the problem."

Mary Margaret broke in, "He's too sweet! Kermit? You've got to be kidding? I was afraid he wanted to tie you up. Make you wear a Catholic school girls outfit." Jody giggled.

Savannah did too.
"No. But he treats me like I'm made out of glass or somethin'. Like he might break me or scare me. Things have been progressing, if you get my drift, but not all the way...understand? We're so close but when things start to get..uh.. passionate. He pulls away and goes home. I'm not sure what to do about it. It's not in my nature to be..forward.. and he might not like that anyway. I just don't know...." she finished as she looked over and smiled at the object of their conversation.

Jody patted her hand. She knew that she and Mary Margaret were the only close girlfriends that Savannah had made here and it was difficult for her to talk about something so intimate even with them. Savannah was a few years younger and obviously less experienced. "Maybe it's time to take the 'bull by the horns', so to speak," said Jody.

"Or the 'frog by the legs,'" added Mary Margaret with a knowing smile.

"Mary Margaret!" scolded Jody. Looking back to Savannah, "You love him, right?" She nodded. "Then just tell him how you feel and that you're ready to ...move ahead. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how he feels about you. It's in every step he takes. Hell, he threatened to cut off Counselor Schneider's ..uh..manhood and feed it to him if he ever came near you again."

"He did what?" Savannah said, with a shocked expression.

"Another story for another time," said Mary Margaret. "Just give him the go ahead, doll. That's all he's waiting for."

"Here's the second problem," continued Savannah, as she blushed even harder, "I've ...uh... never given anyone...the...uh... go ahead before." There. It was out.

"You're kidding!"

"No. I'm not. It was never right with anyone else," now she had really opened up all the way.

"Honey," Jody joined in, "The two of you are very special together. Everyone can see that. Just follow your heart, corny as it sounds, and things will be exactly the way you want them to be. The rest of us should be so lucky."

They all stopped talking when Kermit sat down beside Savannah. "Talking about me, ladies? A fascinating subject, no doubt."

"Always. Would you mind if we went on home?" asked Savannah.

"Anything you say, Scarlettt. Let's go," he said, offering his hand and they left.

"Race you to her office for the morning report," giggled Mary Margaret. Jody just rolled her eyes and shook her head.

******

Kermit flipped on the lights as they walked into Savannah's living room. She had teased him about the paranoia which made him insist on entering first whenever they came home. Home. Funny how her house, full of overstuffed furniture, quilts, and photographs had started to feel like home. It was soft and welcoming. Just like her. Except for that echoing voice inside him that kept whispering "you're not clean enough," he left his tension outside when he was here. He didn't even need to hide behind the glasses. Not here with her.

Savannah had dropped her keys on the table beside his shades and kicked off her shoes. She's so dainty and proper yet she can kick those heels all they way from the living room into her bedroom without a blink. Hits the closet every time. Perfect aim, he thought.
She tapped a CD into the stereo and headed to the kitchen. Bonnie Raitt. Kermit grinned every time she played it because it reminded him of the big *set up* that Mary Margaret and Jody had pulled off for them the first week they'd met. He was actually beginning to like the blues. Savannah had started his education with B.B. King and suggested he call it "the greens".

She returned carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses. "What are we celebrating?" he asked.

"Monday." she replied giving him a little kiss on the cheek.

Kermit shrugged off his jacket, loosened his tie, and pulled her over beside him on the sofa. They sat there quietly just enjoying the wine and music. Not speaking. Just soaking up each others company. Savannah turned to face him and circled her arms around his neck. She touched her lips to his and slid into his lap. Kermit returned her kiss gently parting her lips. Tasting her. Stroking her back feeling her chest melt into his.

Savannah returned his kiss with a sudden surge of passion that surprised both of them. She began to unbutton his shirt. Slowly kissing each new inch of skin as she revealed in his hard, muscular body. Catching his breath, he gently pulled her face up to meet his own. "Savannah...baby...I afraid that we are crossing into some uncharted territory for us."

Batting her eyelashes and speaking in a whisper, she said, "I want to cross that line. With you. Tonight."

They both paused. Both holding on to the moment. Savannah laid her head on his chest and continued, "But, before we go on, I have something…personal…to tell you."

Whatever it was, it was definitely personal. He could feel the heat of her blush on his skin. She didn't want to look at him. " Anything," he answered and kissed the top of her head.

"I love you. Think you know that already. And I want to make love with you more than anything. Right now. Right here. But...I…uh...I've never..."

He didn't get it at first. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. "You've never been with a man before," Kermit finished wrapping his arms tighter around her.

"No, I haven't." she gave a small laugh, "Not all Southern girls give up their virtue in the front seat of a pickup truck." She paused, then whispered, "I don't want to be a disappointment."

Kermit gently moved her out of his lap, stood up, and pulled her up to stand before him. *God, I've got to be careful here.* Looking down into those huge green eyes, he said quietly, "I would die before I'd hurt you. Body or Soul. Making love to you will be a rare and precious gift. Never a disappointment." He lowered his mouth onto hers and held he close. Feeling her heart beat against his chest. Then he whispered, "Anytime tonight, if you want to stop or wait, you just tell me. We've got all the time in the world. And...I love you, too."

The words all said, he scooped her into his arms and carried her into her bedroom. Easing her down then stretching out beside her. Trembling with desire, they began to explore each others body. Each button lightly unfastened. Clothing peeling easily onto the floor. Skin flushed with passion. With burning lips and tongues they made their love a physical reality. He worshipped her body. Caressing her breasts. Feeling the curve of her back. Pressing her abdomen into his. She stroked the tight muscles of his back. Covered his neck and chest with desperate kisses. Yielding to every awakening desire. Savannah guided him on top of her and opened herself to him. Kermit stepped off into the sweetness of her body. Wrapping himself in the warmth of her legs. Moving slowly and easily until they both were consumed by oblivion.

When he could think again, Kermit lay beside her holding on to her like his life depended on it. Maybe it did. In the moonlight, he looked down into her beautiful face and realized that she was crying. "God, Savannah. Did I hurt you?" he asked stroking her hair.

"No, it's not that," she said, her voice breaking. "It's just so much more than I ever hoped for. I love you so much, I can't think."

And he couldn't speak. Kermit Griffin. The man who always knew exactly what to say. How to control any situation. Couldn't speak. This was it. What he'd been waiting for and pretending he didn't want his whole life. This gentle woman was in love with him though for the life of him he couldn't figure out why. All he had to do was love her. That's all she wanted and it was easy to give. He enveloped her in his embrace and held her until they both fell asleep.

******

"SOMEBODY GET IN HERE, NOW!" yelled Ericson's attorney.

When the guards burst into the cell, they found Ericson on the floor unconscious.

"This man needs help, you idiots," chided the attorney. "Get him to the infirmary."

The guards, unnerved as they had been by this man who had gleefully murdered hundreds of people, were cautious. One of them moved to touch him. He was cold and if he had a pulse, they couldn't find it. Not wanting to be the one responsible for letting the most high profile prisoner in a three state area die on their shift, they quickly moved him to the medical wing.

The prison doctor pronounced the prisoner dead. Probably a heart attack, he concluded. The appropriate protocol for situations like this was to transport the prisoner to the local hospital. Under the direction of the warden, a team was summoned to the prison.

"Serves the bastard right," thought the warden who had long since stopped caring about Ericson's civil rights in the face of the death he left outside the prison walls.

******

Sunshine pouring in through the window woke him from a sound sleep. Kermit rolled over to find Savannah already out of bed. He could hear her in the kitchen. Breakfast cooking. Radio playing. She was singing along with something loud and happy. He loved to catch her doing that. Grabbing his trousers, he headed for the shower. When he was finished, he searched for his shirt. No doubt it was wrapped up in the bed somewhere with his sanity.

He followed Savannah's singing into the kitchen. There she was. The most breathtaking woman in the world. Without compare. Long, blonde hair still tousled from the night before, standing there wearing nothing but a pair of white socks and his shirt. Which, he noted, looked a lot better on her.

"Now what am I supposed to wear to work?" he said as he stood there drinking her in.

"Nothing. Don't go," she said, never looking up from the stove. Kermit walked up behind her wrapping his arms around her waist. "You have no idea how hard it is to concentrate on this omelette with you sexually harassing me," she giggled.

He kissed her cheek and threw up his hands. "Ok. Ok. Just don't punch me. I don't have dental." Then, he sat down at the table.

"I was gonna' make grits for you but I was afraid it might send you into 'Yankee Shock'," she said as she sat a plate in front of him.

Kermit ate every bite, which was considerably difficult with Savannah straddling his lap. Things were rapidly heading in the opposite direction of the precinct.

"I mean it. Let's play hooky," she begged while running her fingers through his hair.

"I've created a monster," he replied. He was getting more than a bit dizzy with his face in that glorious hair falling around him. Kermit began kissing her neck and losing himself in the softness of her skin.

Savannah pulled back and said, "Definitely. So?"

Choosing between the lady and the precinct took only seconds. He ran through some lists in his head and decided that the 101st could survive at least through the morning without him. "Ok. But we'd better call in."

"I've already made my phone call, thank you. Oh," she dramatized, raising her hand to her forehead, "I have a terrible bug. I'm such a liar. Shame on me." With a little kiss she jumped off his lap and headed to the shower.

From the bedroom, now his favorite room in the house, Kermit called the precinct. As Savannah exited the shower, she caught his conversation.

"Yes. I'm sure I'll be fine. Ok. I will."

He sat the phone back down on the night table and leaned his elbows on the bed, laughing out loud. Standing there, wrapped in a towel, hair still dripping, she said, "Well, Green Man, what's so bloomin' funny?"

"That was Peter. He said I should stay in bed until I feel better."

"Well, you heard the man." she giggled and tackled him.

******

After lunch, Kermit and Savannah managed to "heal" themselves and go in to the precinct for a few hours. Although they drove in together, they made a special effort to enter the building through different doors then go straight to their respective offices. The gossip mill could wait for more fodder.

Savannah hadn't been in for ten minutes when in burst Mary Margaret and Jody. Grinning madly and making themselves at home. "Well?" pried Jody.

"I don't kiss and tell," replied Savannah stifling a grin.

"It's not the kissing were interested in, dear," said Mary Margaret.

"I don't do that other thing and tell, either. Don't you two have some crook to chase?"

At that point in the standoff, a delivery boy appeared at the door. "Are you Miss March?" he asked.

He was holding all the evidence that the two matchmakers needed. Not daisies. Not roses. But one dozen orchids! All they could do is stare as Savannah thanked the boy and handed him a tip. She pulled the card and read the note Kermit had written. She bit her lip then slid the note into her purse.

"Oh come on, now!" Mary Margaret claimed, almost frantic. "What did he say?"

"Mary Margaret, if you were a cat, you'd be long dead by now," said Savannah as she lightly traced the petals of an orchid.

Suddenly, Kermit was at the door. Glasses and persona in place. He walked straight over to Savannah. Ignoring her nosy guests altogether. Leaning over her, inches from her face, he said, "Hello."

"Love the flowers. You shouldn't have."

"Yes, I should."

"Feeling better?"

"Oh yeah. And you?"

"Completely recovered."

"See you at 5:00."

He never actually touched her. He didn't have to. Their exchange complete, Kermit stood up and turned to leave. Politely glancing over his glasses at his stunned colleagues, he said, "Good afternoon, ladies." and left.

******

Kermit walked up the steps to the Blaisdell home and rang the doorbell. Annie answered the door and he said, "Hello, Annie. Sorry to just show up like this."

"You know I'm always glad for a visit from you, Kermit. Come in."

She and Kermit sat down in the living room and went through a few minutes of basic small talk then Annie said, "Ok. Spill it. Why are you really here? And stop squirming or you'll wear a hole in my new sofa."

"Can't keep any secrets from you, lady." replied Kermit. He was struggling for a way to start.

"Let me help you. It's about that lovely Miss March, isn't it?"

She had met Savannah a couple of weeks ago when she and Kermit had come for dinner. The two of them had hit it off immediately. Savannah and Annie were two of those people that everybody liked. No wonder they liked each other right away. Annie wasn't exactly sure how much Savannah knew about Kermit's life but she had shared a couple of funny stories about Paul and Kermit as they cleared the table. Kermit had spent that time sitting nervously in the den with Kelly.

Annie knew that Kermit had probably had many relationships with women but this was the first one she'd ever met. This was big and she knew it. "Before you start," Annie began, "I think she's absolutely fabulous. You have good taste after all. Who would have thought?"

"Thanks. She is and I do. Annie, I need some information from you. You and Paul. Your life together. I need to know how it works."

Annie smiled. "I see where this is going. Paul had the same doubts you are having now when we met. He had done things. Seen things. He'd been affected and wasn't sure if I could, how do I say this, take it. He wasn't sure that he could build a family and make it work. There was just one thing he didn't count on. I loved him more than life. And that was enough. I accepted him for who and what he was. Past and present. Good and bad. When you let go and do that, the rest just falls into place, my dear friend."

"Annie," he began, "you know that I was married a few times, long ago. My first wife and I married when we were eighteen. I was going to war and I think we were both desperate to connect before I left. It didn't last six months. My other two wives worked for the agency. I don't know if we were really in love or just wanting to have someone who understood the way we lived back then. I had feelings for them. Maybe love. I'm not sure. This is different. It just grabbed me by the throat and won't let go."

Kermit just sat there trying to figure out what he wanted to say. Annie already knew.
"There is only one thing left for you to do, Kermit. You have to sit down with this lovely woman and pour out your life to her. Now, don't acted so shocked. Before Paul and I decided to walk down this path, we made a deal. No secrets. I know everything that he does. He never endangered anyone's safety with the things he told me but I know him and his life. All the battles and pain," Annie paused and touched his arm. "Open yourself up to this woman. Once you get over that hurdle, the two of you will be free to start a life together. The life you both deserve."

You don't know what you're asking, Annie, he thought. "Ok, Annie. So lets say I can actually bring myself to open up this sewer of a life to her. And by some miracle, she doesn't run. I'm still a cop."

"Kermit, she'll deal. She loves you," reassured Annie.

"I'm a lot older than she is," countered Kermit.

"Almost the same age difference between Paul and me." Annie paused, then the light came on. "I see what this is now! You want me to talk you out of it, don't you? Well, you are way out of luck," Annie said, laughing. "For such a smart guy, you are being your own worst enemy. You found it, Kermit. That thing people search and search their entire lives hoping to find. It dropped right into your lap. Just pick it up and be happy."

"Paul has good taste, too," Kermit said as he patted her hand.

"Yes. Who would have thought."

******

When the medical team arrived the attorney was ranting at the warden for inadequate medical care and promised to sue everyone in sight on behalf of Ericson's nonexistant family. Natalie, wearing the forged identification of an emergency room physician, entered the medical ward accompanied by two accomplices. She made preparations to remove the body.

Due to the unknown causes of the prisoner's illness, she suggested that the body be removed to the superior facilities of the hospital for an autopsy before the body was released to the next of kin. The warden, anxious to be rid of the corpse, agreed.
Ericson's attorney would accompany them to the hospital to "comfort his family" once they arrived.

Once the ambulance cleared the prison gates, Natalie reanimated Ericson with one quick injection. He moaned and stretched, then like his favored Lazarus, arose from the dead. Natalie provided him with new clothes and id.

The attorney was breathing easier. The nightmare would soon be over. He'd have his money and be free of these monsters for good. There was one question he had. "Ericson, won't they know you've escaped when the hospital never receives a body? The warden was on the phone when we left?"

"Oh, they'll have a body alright." Laughing out loud, Ericson shot the attorney and they stuffed him into the bag. "I knew he wouldn't be completely useless."

Natalie delivered the body bag to the morgue. She instructed them to keep the bag sealed until the infectious diseases specialist arrived. Given the history of the late prisoner and the questionable cause of death, caution was warranted.

Leaving the hospital, it was time to begin phase two.

******

Thunderstorms were always a favorite of Kermit's. Strange as it was, he often liked to get in his car and just ride out in the lightning and rain. Tonight he wasn't enjoying it. He was hiding in it. The Covair had been riding around in circles avoiding its ultimate destination.
Kermit had been weighing his options ever since his discussion with Annie. She had a way of cutting right to the chase. Annie had pointed out what had to be done. He just didn't know if he had the guts to do it.

He had to think things through. Ok, boy. Time to lay the cards on the table. You love this woman. Oh,yeah. She loves you. You want a life with her. Oh yeah, again. Then you owe it to her to be honest.

The thought of spreading himself open on her living room floor made him nauseous. If he was to do what Annie suggested, he would be telling her things he'd never spoken out loud. Some things he didn't even let himself remember. Things that would shock and disgust her.

Deep inside he knew the choice was between telling her and building a life or not telling and giving her up. He had no right to ask her to share his life without giving Savannah all the relevant information.

The car pulled into the driveway. Kermit got out of the car and just stood there in the rain watching her through her front window. He had warned her that she should keep her blinds pulled. She just won't listen, thought Kermit.

Savannah was wearing a white bathrobe and her favorite white socks. Hair in a ponytail. She was flopped across an easy chair holding the remote. Savannah was in incurable channel surfer. She was sitting there, remote pointed at the television.

"Probably watching four shows at once," Kermit laughed to himself.

Right there, standing in the rain in Savannah's driveway, he made a decision. Behind him he had a nightmare. In front of him he had a dream. If he had to walk through the fire of truth to get to her, he could do it. He walked up to her door and rang the bell.

"Kermit! You're soaking wet. Get in here," she said pulling him in through the door. Savannah got him a towel muttering that men "didn't have sense enough to come in out of the rain."

She took his jacket and after he dried himself, they both sat down on the couch. Before he lost his nerve, he said, "Scarlettt, I've got some things to tell you." He pulled off his glasses and took a deep breath before he waded into the story.

This was going to be bad. She knew it by the tortured look in his eyes. Savannah took his hand and kissed it. Whatever it was that he had to unload, she was damn sure going to take it for him. "Anything."

Kermit began, "I don't think that I can ask you to go on with this relationship until you have all of the relevant information about me and my past. I want you to listen to what I have to tell you, baby, then if you don't want to continue, I'll understand."

Savannah started to speak, but he touched his finger to her lips and stopped her. Kermit began spilling all of his darkness into the light.

Kermit Griffin started his tale with his father's death and Blaisdell's recruitment of him into the agency. He talked about the wars and battles. Death and destruction. He confessed his failures and mistakes. Some that had killed.

Savannah watched him bare his very soul to her. He couldn't look at her. Only at her hand in his. The stories of his time as a prisoner broke her heart. She realized that the pain and lights had driven him behind those dark glasses.

These were things he'd never told another living soul. Good and bad. Some things he had forgotten until he opened the floodgates. With every new horror he exposed, that voice in his head yelled SHUT UP! at maximum volume. For once in his life, he didn't listen. Just kept on talking.

He talked nonstop for three hours. By the time he reached the point in his life when he joined the police department and came to work for Paul again, he stopped. His voice and strength were gone. Kermit wasn't sure that confession was good for the soul. His hurt. Hurt like hell.

Savannah had huge, quiet tears running down her face. Kermit looked into those green eyes then looked away. No wonder she's crying after this nightmare I just dumped into her lap, he thought.

As if she could read his mind, she said, "You don't understand. I'm crying and because you can't, Kermit." She touched his face and forced him to look at her. "I love you. For the person you are now. A good man who's had the life of a warrior but has the soul of a poet. Whether you want to believe it or not."

Searching for the right words, she continued, "You used the rage and anger in yourself to fight the evil you found over the years. It's following you like a dark cloud. Well, dear man," she said, placing his hand on her heart and her hand on his, "here is your silver lining."

Still holding his hand, Savannah lead him to her bed and made love to him with all the lights on. Kermit needed her healing touch. She kissed every wound, every scar, and poured her comfort out all over him.

******

"Greetings, Detective Griffin," said George, the first jewelry store clerk to notice Kermit's entrance into the store. George loved to wait on Kermit because he always spent lots of money on presents for his sister. He might be able to met his quota for the day if the detective was birthday shopping. "What can I do for you today?"

"George, today is your lucky day. I want an engagement ring. Something big, George. Big and beautiful and expensive," announced Kermit.

George was wrong. He was about to make his quota for the next three months.
When Kermit returned to the precinct, he went to Savannah's office but she was downtown at a meeting. Probably reading some suit the riot act for questioning some of her flawless paperwork, he thought. He left a note on her desk that read, "Pick you up at 7:00." He patted the little box in his pocket and went back to work.

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