Time progressed at the Hope to Heal Center and as it got closer to Hannah's discharge date, she got more and more involved in other things going on at the center like meditation and hiking. She knew that the more she spent in the outdoors the better chances she had of recovering. The meditation really helped her center herself and bring her mind and feelings into sharper focus. She still held onto what had happened to her in the park the month before. She knew something in her had changed but she just couldn't put a finger on it.

    She and Caddie were now nearly inseparable. They did everything together; eat, hike, and meditate. The hiking and walks were organized by the center in the surrounding areas. They even had a camp out that became so popular that the center made it into a regular event. They would stay in the parameters of the center and sleep in tents with their roommates and make s'mores by the fire. It reminded a lot of them of their childhoods or other good memories. Even those that had never gone camping before were enjoying themselves. It was a great way to just unwind and concentrate on more universal aspects of recovery then just therapy and the psychological.

    Meanwhile, Hannah learned that Dr. Weller had to retake her full blood panel as her original vials were lost by the lab she had sent them to. There was a major uproar in the medical community because it wasn't the first time that particular lab had lost blood and other specimens from doctors in the area. It was an embarrassment to all of the hospitals and labs in the Dallas/Fort Worth areas. Hannah's tests weren't the only ones that they lost and this time everyone had had it. The lab was now under full investigation and was shut down until further notice.

    Dr. Weller was very upset and unhappy with having to ask Hannah to give another 14 vials of blood to be sent to a different lab that was under federal jurisdiction. But there wasn't any other way; Hannah's blood had to be re-tested. The doctor went to see Hannah and explained everything to her. She understood that it wasn't Dr. Weller's fault and consented to having her blood redrawn, which was done right then and there. This time Hannah was prepared with cookies and orange juice. She didn't feel as weak as the last time; which she was incredibly grateful for. She and Caddie went outside afterwards and sat on the veranda talking.

    Allen came to visit Hannah again--this time announced--and they sat talking for a while but he noticed that she was unusually quiet. At first he thought it had something to do with the lab debacle which pissed him off when he first heard about it on the news and then later through a phone call with Hannah. He called some of his friends at the FBI office and wanted to make sure they kept him in the loop on the investigation. It wasn't fair to Hannah to have gone through so much and now had to do this blood work again because some idiots fucked up and were careless.

    But Hannah had other ideas on her mind. She got up and walked out without saying a word as Allen watched her. She returned about a minute later with a folder in hand. He looked at her with questions in his eyes. She handed him the folder then and made a request that shocked him.

"Can you please go see Chris' parents and tell them everything, including what their son has been up to? I want them to know what has happened but I don't want them to know where I am. You can tell them that I'm in rehab. I doubt that he has told them anything. I'm not ready to see them so that's why I don't want them to know where I am exactly. I also don't want them worrying. I feel that I owe them that much. They had been there for me. They deserve to know the truth."

"Are you sure this is what you want?" He asked her hesitantly.

"Yes it is. It's time. I believe this is part of my recovery." She replied without batting an eye.

    Allen nodded at that point and agreed to go see the Peters' the following day. In the meantime he started to familiarize himself with the contents of the folder which included a copy of the forgiveness letter she wrote to herself that she had asked a counselor to make a copy of while she kept the original.

    The next day, as promised, Allen arrived at the Peters' mansion in Fort Worth which was about 3 miles away from the rehab center due north. He was welcomed inside when he showed his badge and said he was a friend of Hannah's. Ralph and Courtney were surprised to hear that. How could their daughter-in-law know a DEA agent? What was going on here? They offered him some refreshments which he declined in place of a glass of water. He knew he had a lot to tell them and therefore the water would come in handy. He kept the folder at his side as he began his story.

"Hannah asked me to come here today and speak with you. She's safe but she felt that she owed you the truth about what has been happening for the last two years. For starters, she's in rehab for a meth addiction that her illness drove her to. She hasn't seen Chris in nearly a year."

    Ralph and Courtney sat very still as Allen proceeded to tell the story of how after Sister Grace's passing, Hannah spiraled out of control which didn't help much with Chris' cheating. He then put the folder on the table and explained Hannah's research into Scarlett's background after speaking to the neighbor. All of the sordid details were right there for them to see. Courtney knew then just how low her son had fallen; looking at the evidence that Hannah had gathered was mind boggling.

"She had tried meth once on the advice of a friend who was only trying to help but after everything happened with Sister Grace, Hannah left home and moved into a warehouse where she could get drugs from a drug dealer named Randall. If you watch the news, you'd know him better as Scorpio. That's how I became involved. I met Hannah at one of the raids that my department and I did, she was in a drug house but didn't have anything on her so we let her go. I drove her back to her house with Chris. I wished that that would be the end of her addiction but sadly your son's actions drove her to distraction."

    Courtney made a choked sound when Allen eventually got to the part of the last raid on the warehouse where Shanel had tried to inject Hannah with the supposed HIV-filled syringe and how Hannah protected herself and Shanel was under the influence of a triple combo of drugs that she ultimately OD'd on. Allen explained everything in great detail so he didn't leave anything out. There was a lot to tell. He told them how he took Hannah under his wing after the warehouse raid and after being with him for a number of months, she decided to go to rehab and that's where she'd been ever since. She wasn't ready to see them yet but she wanted to tell them the truth.

    As he finished the story, he reached out into the folder again and took out the forgiveness letter that Hannah wanted her in laws to have. They sat there like statues and then tears streamed down their faces as they read the letter. Allen waited patiently for them to finish. It was a lot to take in but Hannah was right, they needed to know what was going on. They weren't her parents but Chris was their only son and they deserved to know his antics. Especially when his life was in danger from some unknown possible disease that Scarlett carried.

"Why didn't we pay more attention? We should have tried harder." Ralph stood up then and railed at the world. His voice was thick with emotion as Courtney continued to sob and wipe away tears with a tissue as she clutched the letter.

"It's not your fault, sir. Both Chris and Hannah are adults and made their own decisions. For better or for worse. At least Hannah is on the right track now but your son is still in danger and that's something that as his parents, you have to figure out. Hannah has requested that Chris not know anything about her whereabouts." They nodded. Chris didn't deserve to know, not after everything he had done and put her through.

    Allen than decided that the parents needed time to let all of that sink in. He got up and started toward the door when Courtney stopped him with a question:

"Are you in love with Hannah, Agent Roberts?" There was a long pause as Allen looked back at her.

"Does it matter?" He replied softly.

    She stood up then and walked over to where he was standing and reached up to place her hand on his cheek as she gazed into his eyes with the utmost sincerity.

"Of course it does. Anyone who cares so much about a complete stranger to take her into their home and give them such affection means something. We're just glad that someone was there for her when she felt like everyone else deserted her."

    There wasn't any animosity whatsoever from either of the Peters'. If Allen loved their daughter-in-law and it was very obvious that he did, then they were very grateful for it. As far as they were concerned, their son didn't deserve her. He dropped the ball big time. They thanked Allen again for coming by and telling them everything.

"Please tell Hannah we send our love and support and anything she ever needs, we will always be there 100%." Ralph said as he and Courtney shook hands with Allen as they let him out of their house.

"I will. Thank you for listening and caring about Hannah."

    He left the house than as Courtney and Ralph watched him get into his car. They had a lot to process and figure out what to do next. Allen was very satisfied and knew this was just another part of Hannah's recovery for the future. He smiled peacefully to himself as he drove away.