Title: Stumbles and Seeds

Premise and Author's Notes

Disclaimers: My sincere and profound apologies to Diana Gabaldon! I simply can't bear that my favourite Outlander series character was killed off, much less the when and how! Right after we got to know a different side of him in how he cared for his brother. No, no, no, no, I can't take that. But that's what fanfiction is for, right? When I am writing, it's mainly for my own pleasure. It's what I'd like to see happen so when I reread in a few months, years later, thus I find a story that is completely to my taste. ;)

Genre: G, redemption, sickfic, romance, it may be many things.

Rating: T with adult themes

Set: Booksverse. A few weeks after Alex's death, with the difference that the Frasers didn't have to immediately leave Edinburgh. As such, AU from that moment, with some elements of the later Outlander universe storylines referenced and thereby assumed as true.

Summary: It seems like it is becoming a nasty little habit of Jack Randall to resort to Claire Fraser's help in his times of need. A story arc that will see them all the way through to where the Frasers land in America as per canon, at which point, it will completely take on the shape of my own imagination. (A long term project one might say!)

Main Characters: Jack Randall and Claire Fraser

Notes: Read the following exempt from Diana Gabaldon's Dragonfly in Amber and tell me that Jack is not redeemable.

"'I'm here, Alex. Oh, Alex, I'm here!' She bent close to him, murmuring in his ear.

The movement forced Jonathan Randall back a bit, so that he stepped away from the bed. He stood, staring expressionlessly down. The heavy, domed lids lifted once more, only halfway this time, seeking a face and finding it.

'Johnny. So . . . good to me. Always, Johnny.' Mary bent over him, the shadow of her fallen hair hiding his face.

Jonathan Randall stood, still as one of the stones in a henge, watching his brother and his wife. There was no sound in the room but the whisper of the fire and the soft sobbing of Mary Randall.

I felt a touch on my shoulder, and looked up at Jamie. He nodded in Mary's direction. 'Stay with her,' he said quietly. 'It wilna be long, will it?'

'No.'

He nodded. Then he took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and crossed the room to Jonathan Randall. He took the frozen figure by one arm and turned him gently toward the door. 'Come, man,' he said quietly. 'I'll see ye safe to your quarters.'

The crooked door creaked to as he left, assisting Jack Randall to the place where he would spend his wedding night, alone."

Gabaldon, Diana (2011-08-31). Dragonfly In Amber: (Outlander 2) (p. 148). Random House. Kindle Edition.

And before attacking me for promoting rape culture, please consider the following as the motto of my story:

"A good act does not wash out the bad, nor a bad act the good. Each should have its own reward." George RR Martin

Further note to reader: I am assuming that you have read Dragonfly in Amber. My story will not make much sense to you otherwise. But you don't need knowledge of any later books to enjoy the story.