"Do you really think this will work?" Rachel asked, as Stark ushered her into the Lumina Lab.

"If your desire for Carl is strong enough," said Stark, "But you must understand that even if we succeed tonight, it will only be for a moment. You may catch a glimpse of Carl, but anything more will take better equipment."

"How much will that cost?"

Stark named a figure. "As much as that?" said Rachel, "Before I committ that much money to a project, I want to see some proof."

"Then - let us begin." said Stark.

****

Meanwhile, Josie received a phonecall from the Forensics Lab.

"We've finished typing all the blood samples we took at Grant Harrison's suite." the technician told her, "Most of them are Type O - Harrison's type - but we found Type AB on a wad of bloody kleenex. I'd say the killer injured his hand - probably when he knocked Harrison's front teeth out."

****

Jordan Stark had prepared the Lumina Lab as though he was going to shoot a rock video there: the lights were a dim, greenish glow; eerily sweet Andean flute music played very softly. As Rachel sat back in the chair, he turned on the machinery.

"Just relax." he said, sure that, once Rachel was soothed into a state of semi-hypnosis, she would accept a disguised Zack as Carl.

"He's using subliminals on you, Rachel," Frohike warned, through the receiver in her ear, "You're supposed to be going into a trance."

Rachel raised her thumb, briefly, to show that she understood.

"The camera's working fine." Matthew assured her, "It's all on tape."

****

Nick had turned to his sister for sympathy.

"Sofia seems to think we can just forget the last year, and pick up where we left off!" he complained.

"Once upon a time," said Vicky, "I did something so stupid that I thought Ryan would never be able to forgive me: I slept with Grant. Ryan was so furious that I panicked, and did something even stupider: I married Grant! But Ryan and I found our way back to each other, in the end."

"That was different."

"When two people love each other the way Ryan and I did, there's nothing they can't forgive. Do you and Sofia have that kind of love?"

"I used to think so."

"I loved Ryan so much, and yet I could hurt him like that." said Vicky, "Maybe Sofia and I are alike."

"So you're saying I should forgive her."

"I'm saying, don't let your hurt pride keep you from doing what you really want to do, deep down inside."

****

Whenever Rachel felt herself beginning to relax, she surreptitiously pinched her arm; the pain was enough to distract her. ('My arm will be black and blue tomorrow.' she thought.)

Finally, Stark said, "Rachel?"

"Yes?" Rachel made her voice dreamy, as though she was barely awake.

"Speak to Carl, Tell him how much you want him. Let your love make a bridge across time!"

****

There came a knock at the back door of the van. Matthew opened it , making sure that his body blocked the view of the policeman he found standing there.

"Can I help you, Officer - Tibbs, isn't it?"

"Mr Cory!" said Tibbs, surprised to see him there, "We got a report about a suspicious van parked here."

"Suspicious?" said Matthew, "I'm just - waiting for my Mom. She's across the street."

"Oh." said Tibbs, "There's nothing illegal about that."

Tibbs' radio began to squawk. It was incomprehensible to Matthew, but Tibbs understood it. "Right away!" he said, and trotted off.

****

"Carl," Rachel said, "Since I lost you, my life has been agony. In my heart, I've never really believed that you're dead. That's why I never held any sort of funeral or memorial service for you. If it weren't for Elizabeth and Cory needing me so much, I think I would have taken my life, so that I could be with you."

"Mom!" It had never really penetrated Matthew's selfishness before, just how much pain his mother was feeling.

"How does that song go? 'I'd sacrifice anything, come what may, for the joy of holding you near' - and I would. Anything except the lives of my children. I'd give every penny I have - what use is money, if you're alone?"

(Note: The song is 'I've got you under my skin')

While she spoke, the Lab had gradually darkened, until the only light was a single spotlight. To Stark's surprise, into it walked - not Zack in disguise, but the Lama Tensing Norgay! (:-D)

"I think it's time for the full monty." said a familiar voice. Off came the peculiar hat, then the long, whispy white beard -

"Ohmigod!" said Rachel, "CARL!"

"Rach -" The rest of the word was lost in a grunt, as Rachel flung herself upon him.

"He's alive?" said Matthew.

"I can't see a thing!" Frohike complained - not surprising, since the camera was being squashed between Carl and Rachel's bodies.

"Mom, after all the pain he caused you, how can you -?"

Rachel reached under her hair, dug the receiver out of her ear, and tossed it over her shoulder.

"Oh Carl! I've prayed for this! I prayed - and my prayers have been answered!"

"Rachel, my Love!"

"Where have you been? Why didn't you let me know you were alive? I've been in such agony!"

"So have I! Forgive me!"

"You're supposed to be dead." said Stark, or rather, Scott.

"You're a fine one to talk!" said Carl, "Clearly, the reports of our deaths were exaggerated."

He raised his voice: "Come in, please!"

Zack Wilder entered, followed by Joe and half of the BCPD.

"Jordan Stark, you're under arrest." said Joe.''

"Actually, his name is Scott Hutchins." said Carl, "He is supposed to be the son of my father, although I find it hard to believe, since he is totally lacking in the family traits of patience and subtlety."

"Zack - what is this?" said Stark/Scott, as he was put into handcuffs.

"When you told me you wanted me to help you cheat Rachel out of a fortune, I went to the police." Zack explained, "I've been wearing a wire. Every conversation we have had since then has been taped, to use in evidence."

"We got enough to put you away for a long time." said Joe, "Read him his rights, Tibbs."

"You have the right to remain silent -" Tibbs began, as they headed for the elevator.

"Thank you, Zack." said Rachel, "That can't have been easy for you."

"The worst thing is, now everyone will think the Lumina Foundation is some kind of con game - and it's not!" said Zack.

"That can be your task in life." said Carl. "To take control of Lumina, and turn it back to the legitimate study of psychic phenomena."

"I'll do that." said Zack, "Thanks, Tensing."

"Tensing?" said Rachel, as Zack exited.

"I've been lurking around Lumina in the persona of a Tibetan holy man." Carl explained.

"Carl - where have you been? Why did you leave me and our children?"

"I had a brain tumour, Love." said Carl, "I was told that it was inoperable - that nothing lay ahead for me but a slow descent into madness and death. I wanted to spare you."

"Oh Carl, however short the time you've got left to live, I want to share it with you!" said Rachel, "Don't you know that every second we have together is precious?"

"Thank you, Rachel," said Carl, "I hope we will have many years together. I found a brain surgeon who was willing to try an experimental operation."

"How experimental?"

"They said I had one chance in ten thousand of surviving it with my wits intact."

"But - you did?"

"The prognosis could not be better."

"Oh Darling!" Rachel flung herself into his arms again.

When at last they broke their kiss, Rachel said, "Let's go home, Carl."

****

When Scott/Stark was brought into Police Headquarters, Ned choked on the donut he was eating, and yelled: "That's him! That's the guy I saw!"

"You didn't tell me he was scarred." said Josie.

"Not the guy with the scars! The one in the leather jacket!" He pointed straight at Joe.

"Tell me, Joe - what's your blood type?" said Josie.

****

"MOM!" Matthew watched the tail-lights of Rachel's car diminish in the distance.

"I need a lift home, quick!" he told the Lone Gunmen.

"We've got a paper to put out." Byers said.

Matthew pulled out his wallet: "How much?"

The Lone Gunmen looked at one another. "We can always use a contribution." said Frohike.

"Get in!" said Langley, and burned rubber.

****

"Welcome home!" said Rachel, "You've been away far too long!"

"East, west, home is best." said Carl.

"How about 'home is the place that, when you go there, they have to let you in'?" said Rachel.

"I'm sure your brood will be delighted to see me." said Carl.

"Paulina will." said Rachel, "And Cory and Elizabeth."

Hearing voices, Lila came into the foyer.

"Carl?" she said, "Yo' alive?"

"Indeed I am. Rachel tells me that you're now my daughter-on-law."

Just then, Matthew burst through the front door.

"Where's the Cory money, Carl?" were his first words.

"In the Queen's Bank of Georgetown, Cayman Islands." said Carl, "I hid it there so that Scott couldn't steal it."

(No one was looking at Lila, or they might have wondered about her guilty blush at hearing the name of the bank. Thanks to Cindy, she had an account there herself.)

"When do we get it back?" said Matthew.

"That can wait until morning." said Rachel, "Right now, let's go wake the Twins and tell them the good news : Daddy's home!"

Carl and Rachel ran upstairs, hand in hand, leaving Matthew alone with his wife.

"So - Carl is back." she said, "How do you feel 'bout that?"

"As long as he makes Mom happy, I'll learn to live with it." he said, "Lila - remember I said that maybe you and I could learn to love one another, and Mom said 'and maybe Carl is alive'? Well, Carl is alive."

"Does that mean they's hope fo' us?" said Lila, "Than, Ah thank we should staht actin' laik husband and waff."

Matthew offered her his arm: "My room or yours?'

"Ours!" said Lila, as they started up the staircase.

The End

Notes:

1. Vicky decides not to contest the will. She'd really prefer that Kirkland not have anything that was Grant's - and besides, having been married to him, she knows that Cindy deserves some sort of reward for surviving life with Grant. So Cindy becomes a rich, happy widow.

2. Sofia refuses to give up on Nick , and eventually they do get back together and live happily ever after.

3. In view of the extenuating circumstances, the jury recommends mercy for Joe, so he gets parolled after a mere fifteen years in prison. By then, Dante has grown up thinking of his stepfather Jake as his dad, which serves The Jerk right.:-D