I must say, I am quite surprised.

Dear, lovely, readers, have I ever let you down? (Don't answer that)

I am a 100 percent shipper of Jack and Elizabeth, but that does not mean that there won't be some bumps along the road.

As for reality vs my writing - yes, I'm taking liberties. This is a story entirely made up.

Is there miscommunication? Of course there is.

Will there be hurt? Um, you know the answer to that.

Will there be suspense? That's my delight.

BUT. Just in case you had any doubt - which some of you very well may - there will still be a HEA. (Happily Ever After) And if there wasn't, I'd let you know.

As for the turns in the road, just sit back and enjoy the ride.

However, if you dislike this formula, or WCTH in general, I do support not reading this story, or if you do, please refrain from abuse that will ruin it for other people.

That being said, I sincerely hope I don't have to repeat this.

Haines Junction is a real place! The hospital and community outside are not. I just need a landmark to base it on!

Disclaimer: Janette Oke and Hallmark own When Calls The Heart, but I do own a Taco Cat shirt.

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The Negotiator: Chapter 26 - Of Planes and Farewells

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The look on Bill Avery was comical when he raised his head at a commotion and saw Jack Thornton standing in his office, looking like he had just been tossed in by a whirlwind.

"Permission to follow up on a suspect," Jack asked breathlessly.

Bill blinked up at him. "Jack, you were taking a leave of absence because of Elizabeth."

Jack shook his head, his eyes wild. "Sir, this is about the kidnapping."

Bill stood up from his chair in interest. "What have you found out?"

Jack slapped a file down on his desk. "I think it's Peter Davies, sir."

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It was finally time for her to go. Elizabeth stood with Mary, Abigail and Jon at the security line-up at the airport, waiting until the last moment possible before she had to leave.

Mary gripped Elizabeth in her arms, squeezing her sister-in-law tight. "I am going to miss you so much," she whispered as Elizabeth smiled through her tears.

"You are the best sister anyone could ask for," Elizabeth choked back, "Thank you so much for taking me in as you did."

"LIke we could do anything else."

With a sniffle, Elizabeth moved on to Abigail. "Thank you so much for your friendship. It's something I'll always cherish."

"Promise me you'll write?" Abigail whispered, holding her close. "Jon tells me you write a mean letter," she teased.

"Of course I will," Elizabeth promised, and with more tears and laughter, she finally moved onto Jon. "Brother."

Jon's arms wrapped around her and Elizabeth let herself sink into them, weeping. "I'm so sorry he's not here, Bethie."

Elizabeth shook her head. "No, we broke up. I never expected him to be here. I just miss him," she whimpered, and Jon squeezed her tightly.

"He cares about you, Bethie. It would be too hard to watch you leave. It's even hard to watch you leave for me, even though I knew you would at some point."

"Do you think this is a mistake?" she whispered, her face in his chest.

"I think you need to follow your heart," Jon whispered back, and brushed a tender kiss on the top of her head.

Elizabeth released him with a sigh, giving him a soft smile. "I love you, Jon."

"You take care, Squirt. I'll try to visit often." Jon's voice was soft and wavering.

"You better," she sniffed, and with another last hug all around, it was time to go.

Elizabeth made her way through the security line, showed her passport and ticket, and got through with no problems.

She had to wait an hour, but her flight was only two hours long, so she didn't mind so much.

Elizabeth had just settled down with a book and had determined not to think of Jack, when she could feel someone standing in front of her, looking down.

"Is this seat taken?"

She raised her head, tilting it up to look at the man standing beside her. "No, it's yours if you want it."

The man was tall with dark blonde hair and blue eyes that twinkled kindly down at her along with a charming smile.

"I would very much," he said sincerely, and in spite of everything, Elizabeth found herself smiling back at him. He took a seat and extended a hand. "I'm Carson Shepard."

"Elizabeth," Elizabeth replied, shaking his hand in return. "Pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise. What's taking you to the Yukon, Elizabeth, if I may be so bold?"

Elizabeth hid a laugh. No one spoke like that anymore.

Except for Jack.

Every hint of laughter faded.

"Work, actually. What about you?" The words came out sharper than she intended, and she inwardly winced.

Carson, to his credit, didn't seem to react at all, just pleasantly answered her question. "Work as well. I'm a new paediatrician operating out of the new hospital just outside of Haines Junction. How about you?"

The familiar name gave Elizabeth a slight jolt. "I'm the new teacher in that community," she admitted with a smile. How nice it would be to know a friendly face there!

"What a small world," Carson allowed with a delighted chuckle, and Elizabeth had to agree. "I suppose I'll see you on the other side?" he asked as they both stood to wait in line to get on the plane.

"I suppose," Elizabeth replied with a slight laugh and took her place in line.

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Ten minutes later and Elizabeth was settled into her seat, ready to watch the flight attendants tell her which direction each exit was, when Carson suddenly popped his head over her seat. In Elizabeth's haste to get out of the way and find her correct aisle, she had failed to notice that Carson had ended up in the seat directly in front of her.

"So we meet again," Carson joked, and Elizabeth gave him a half-smile. She had planned to spend the next two hours crying into some booze and thinking about Jack and Derek, and she hadn't counted on actually being talked to or relied upon for entertainment.

"Tell me, where are you originally from?" Carson asked curiously, and Elizabeth shrugged.

"Ontario." This was the first stranger she had talked to since her ordeal and it had made her wary of revealing too much information. Carson, again, didn't seem to mind, rather he took this information she gave him and nodded.

"I'm from British Columbia originally, myself," he mentioned, and sat back down in his seat when the flight attendant told him to.

With an occasional comment by Carson designed to make her laugh, and a delightful meal, the flight passed quickly and before Elizabeth knew it, they had arrived in the Yukon.

As Carson and Elizabeth disembarked together, Elizabeth briefly wondered what she would be expected to do now. Without much more thought other than getting away as fast as possible, she realized now that she should have thought the rest of it through.

Luckily, there was someone there to meet them.

"Dr. Shepard! Miss Thatcher!"

Carson smiled over at Elizabeth and offered a hand to her. Elizabeth smiled back but refused his help, gripping onto her satchel instead.

"Hello! My name is Henry Gowan." The man smiled benignly at them, holding out his hand, first to Elizabeth, then to Carson to shake.

"Pleasure to meet you Henry," Carson greeted, just as nicely as he had greeted Elizabeth.

Hmm. Maybe he was just nice.

Henry beamed at both of them and ushered them to the car. "Fortunately, you're both going to the same place! It's about a two hour drive, so I'll fill you in on your living situations as we go."

Elizabeth politely deferred the passenger seat that Carson so kindly offered, choosing instead to sit in the back - forcing herself into the back of the car where the last time she had been in such a position she had been taken captive. She swallowed the rising panic and quickly slid over to sit behind the driver's side. To her relief, the panic subsided, and as she rested her head against the back of the headrest, se jumped in surprise when another body slid in beside hers.

"I hope you don't mind," Carson apologized, "But I get easily carsick if I'm in the passenger seat."

Elizabeth offered him a timid smile and gripped onto her seatbelt. "No problem."

Elizabeth rested her head against the glass of the window for the entire journey, staring out at the road as the vehicle left the city to head to Haines Junction, her mind drifting to a well-loved pair of blue eyes.

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