Chapter Twenty-Six: The End...or just the Beginning

Author Note: Well, what can I say other than this is the final chapter of Second Chances. Thanks for reading and I hope you have all enjoyed the story. Dinkyboo, I know you have because you've told me so through your reviews. Thank you again for taking the time to let me know that I've entertained you. I have another story planned, but it's for Falling Skies. I hope to see some of you guys checking it out once I start posting.

And I promise I won't change my pen name anymore. I'm working on an original novel and if I ever get lucky enough to get it published it'll be under either Cassandra Alexis Carter or C.A. Carter.

Thanks again, and now the final chapter of Second Chances

Carter Pov

I open my eyes to find I'm tied to a wooden chair. My head is throbbing, and my hands are tingling. It appeared like I was in some abandoned warehouse. And I had a very impatient kidnapper waiting for me to wake up.

"Did you really think you could get away with it, John?"

"Get away with what? I don't know what you're talking about."

"You and Benton thought you were so smart, but I knew all along."

"Benton...what does Peter have to do with this?"

"Everything, John! The two of you are the reason my brother is dead! Oh, everyone said it was an accident that my brother didn't jump, but I know better. My brother killed himself because of you and Benton."

"Gant... Gant was your brother." The pieces of the puzzle finally clicking into place. Looking up I saw Dennis as well as his father in the cop.

"Yes, Dennis Gant was my brother. Don't you remember meeting me when my father and I came for Dennis's body?"

"No, I'm sorry."

My mind is spinning with this new information. I never met this man before in my life. I remember meeting Dennis's father but no one else. As far as I was aware Dennis didn't have any siblings. He was the Gant's only child. It appeared in this reality Gant in fact had a brother.

"You don't remember? You are some piece of work. It's taken me twelve years to finally bring about justice for my brother's murder."

"It was an accident. The Chicago police department ruled it as such."

"With pressure from Anspaugh! No, he didn't want a scene or one of his top surgeons arrested for this crime."

"If you thought there was foul play why didn't you say something?"

"That was my parents doing. They didn't want to believe their oldest boy committed suicide. They wanted to believe the lie. And I was still a minor at the time...only seventeen. But now I'm older and can make you pay for what you did."

"I didn't do anything to Dennis. I was his friend."

"His friend... Does a friend turn his back when he knows that his friend is in trouble? Or does said friend ignore the signs so he can...well, I'll let you fill in the blank Dr. John Carter. You weren't a very good friend to my brother. You had other things on your mind...a girl perhaps."

"What do you want from me?"

"I want justice!"

"Then you'll have to kill me, because there's no other justice I can give you. Dennis is dead and there's nothing either of us can do to bring him back."

"Oh, you'll die when I say. I was actually surprised to see you last night. I had heard that you died getting a kidney transplant, and I thought I missed my chance. But here you are alive and well."

"I aim to please," I say sarcastically. The next thing I know Alex punched me in the face. My throbbing head exploded with new pain. And I took several deep breaths to keep from vomiting.

"Don't be cocky, John. Did you know I was going to follow in my brother's footsteps? I was going to be a doctor too. But after Dennis's death I changed my mind. I went to the police academy instead. I had to work my way up, but I finally got to the point where I could look into Dennis's death for myself."

"And what did you find?" I had to keep him talking. The more he talked the looser I made the bindings. It wouldn't be much longer and I'd be free.

"The truth...that Dennis didn't lose his balance and slip. He jumped. My brother wasn't the type to do that unless he was pushed. And you as well as Benton pushed him. Now it's my turn to push you."

"What are you talking about?" Almost free.

"It's time for you to catch a train, John."

Alex turned away from me, and I knew it was now or never. I yanked my hands free and stood up taking the chair with me. I hit him as hard as I could with it knocking him to the ground. He hit the ground with a thud, and I checked him for a pulse. Feeling a strong one under my fingers, I take his car keys and head outside. The car is close by, and it isn't long before I'm on my way back to Lucy.

I had no idea how much time I had or what I would find once I got there. I prayed I wouldn't find them dead. I didn't put anything past Alex at this point. I arrive at the apartment building and find it quiet. I pull the car around the building out of sight. I climb out heading for the front of the building but duck when I see a man carrying a rolled up rug step outside.

I recognized him as Alex's partner Dave. The rug I knew came from Lucy's apartment. I watch him carry it to a truck parked across the street. I needed to get to Lucy, but Dave was in my way. Even seeing the rolled rug, I knew in my heart it wasn't her or Noah. Rising to my feet, I make my way quietly over to the truck and tap Dave on the shoulder.

The moment he turned around I deck him. The movement pulls my stitches and I wince in pain. Dave not expecting to be punched hits the ground out cold. I wrap my arm around my stomach and head inside the building. I stop outside Lucy's apartment hearing Lucy's voice then a man's voice. Just how many people was I going to be forced to go through to get back to my family?

I open the door and calmly step inside. I look right at Lucy and shake my head. The last thing I needed was to alert this new guy sitting in a chair with his back to me that I wasn't Dave. I step up behind him ignoring his comment about it taking me long enough to put the body in the truck, and grab him in a sleeper hold. He immediately grabs at my arms and head trying to dislodge me. I wasn't one for wrestling but being a doctor I knew it was possible to knock the guy out.

I just had to hold on long enough. Time tucks by slowly for me, but it's not long before the new guy slumps in his chair. I check quickly making sure he had a pulse, then I untied Lucy. She wraps her arms around me and I smile returning the hug.

"Okay, we have got to go. You grab the kids and I'll go untie Katrina."

"All right," she said leaving my side to get the kids.

"Katrina, are you all right?"

"Yes, I just want to get out of here. They killed Paul."

"What?"

"They killed Paul, and I think they want to kill us too."

I untie the binds holding her nodding my head. "Then you have to leave Chicago. Get as far away from this town as you can and never come back."

"What about you and Lucy?"

"We're leaving too. Now go...get out if here."

"John..."

"Yeah, Lucy, lets go."

We get back outside and thankfully Dave is still out cold. If Lady Luck was on our side he and his partners would stay that way long enough for us to leave this reality behind. I load everyone into the squad car and head to County. I didn't know if the tear was still active. If it wasn't then we were in big trouble. We make it to the hospital in record time. We unload ourselves and head inside.

"John, Lucy, you got the twins back I see."

"Yeah, Morris, but we can't talk about it now."

"What's going on, Boss?"

"We've got some people after us, Tony."

"Well, lets call the police, Lucy."

"NO!" Lucy and I yell. "Gates, the police are the ones after us.," I continue.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing, Gates...they're dirty cops out to deliver their brand of justice."

"What do you need, John?"

I smile at Morris. Apparently he didn't trust the cops in this reality any more than in mine. "Time, Morris...we need time to get out of this reality and back to mine."

"Huh..."

"Never mind Gates, you wouldn't understand. John, you have it. Jerry, County is officially closed to all traumas."

"You got it, Morris."

"Thanks," I say leading the way to curtain three.

I step inside the room and feel the energy all around me. It felt stronger than before. Could that mean the tear was growing as well? Would it close behind us preventing anyone else from following us? I didn't know, but I could only hope it would. It was time to leave this place far behind. I take Lucy and Noah's hand and move farther into the room as it began spinning around us.

"Hold on tight, Noah. Don't let go."

"I won't, Daddy."

I close my eyes as the spinning increases. The second everything stops my eyes snap open. I hear Lucy gasp and I shield my eyes against the bright light in the center of the room. I could see Lucy's reality through a perfect tear, and it was closing. A few seconds later nothing remained of the tear. The energy was gone as well.

"John, where have you been? We've been worried sick since you disappeared a few days ago."

I glance over my shoulder at Archie Morris and smile. "I'm sorry Morris, but I had to get my family back."

The last few months have been a blur of activity for both Lucy and myself. Come to find out Lucy was in fact pregnant. And while the prospect of that didn't appeal to her with the added weight and mood swings, I on the other hand couldn't be happier. We were officially married a week after we found out the news. Peter was my Best Man and Elizabeth was Lucy's Maid of Honor.

They say in life we get second chances, but we have to be willing to spot them. Lucy was my second chance at happiness, and I'm never letting her go.

The End