Notes

A/N So it's been a year, and I rewatched the series from season 1-3, and on reflection I can't help but think that Root's death wasn't so bad, she died for a cause, and with Shaw's personality disorder, I'm not sure what kind of future they really would've had. So, with the viewpoint change I've decided to discontinue this series, but I had some notes for future scenes which are included here. If anyone really likes this series and wants me to write some more, just send me a PM and I'll get back to you with ideas.

The episode list was as follows:

Prologue - 7,043
S5E5 - Something Latin
S5E6 - Root really likes weddings
S5E7 - Ctrl-C
S5E8 - Real, or not real?
S5E9 - The voice
S5E10 - XXX XX 5492
S5E11 - PROTUS
S5E12 - Root finale
S5E13 - The day the system broke
Epilogue

The chapter list was as follows:

1. 7,053
2. 0,001
3. People I can't leave
4. 7,000 simulations
5. I missed you, buddy
6. Fairytale ending
7. Zelfmoord
8. 4A
9. Ctrl-V
10. Real, or not real?
11. The voice
12. Sierra. Tango. Bravo.
13. CGE
14. Shapes
15. Operation 'Save the President'
16. Orpheus
17. Ice-9
18. Samantha Groves
19. 050313
20. We all die alone
21. Ex-Samaritan
22. Revenge
23. Epilogue

From S5E5:

"7000 simulations, every time I turned on them. But never you. I always looked at you and could never do it. So I killed myself. 7000 times Root. What does that even mean?"

"That you care Shaw."

"But 7000 times, that must mean something. We had sex almost every time too, does that mean anything?"

"We did?"

"They simulated that?"

"No, I think that was more me, changing things." Shaw shrugs, so doesn't value this information as important. But is expecting Root to jump on it - or her.

"Shaw. I never gave up on you. Never stopped looking. She told me to stop, but I couldn't stop, thinking about you." She pauses. "About the stock exchange."

"Root, about what happened."

"No. Don't do this. Don't tell me it meant nothing. You've been gone for 9 months; I was so scared, I thought I'd lost you." There are tears in her eyes, she takes a step towards Shaw. "7000 simulations how many times did we have this conversation?"

"It wasn't-" Shaw looks down, avoiding Root's eyes. "7053."

Root looks away from her, the machine whispers something in her ear. "She says I should forgive you. But there's nothing to forgive. You them Shaw, you sacrificed yourself for her."

"I sacrificed myself for you."

S5E7:

"So how did this go in the simulations?"

"You'd try to kiss me, I'd dodge it. Then you would leave and I couldn't stand that, so I'd find you." Shaw says.

"Ohh, like this?" Root leans in to kiss her. Shaw swerves, smirking, and stands. Pulling Root with her, she hooks her hands around Root's cheeks and pulls her close. Just as she'd done 7000 times before, she waits for Root to pause before she makes the first move.

S5E7:

"I can't understand that Root." She pauses. "You cry for me and all I feel is that I really want a mustard sandwich right now."

"I don't care."

"I thought all girls cared about this sort of thing?"

Root gives her a look. "I don't care whether you can feel the emotion or not. I know it's there. And anyway - since when was I like any other girl?" Root winks and walks away.

Shaw walks up behind her. "You know, I'm never going to change, I'll be like this forever."

"I know Sam. I told you, I don't care." She turns around, flicking hair behind Shaw's ear. She kisses her softly, breaks, then kisses her hard, passionately. She whispers, "show me it's there. All you have to do, is touch me..."