A/N Thank you for your feedback – I'm flattered that not only has someone read this story they actually enjoyed it as well. There was really no intention to go beyond where it was originally left and leave it to the imagination of the reader if he pulled the trigger or not, however here is the next and final instalment. I have followed the lead of the actual show a little and was so pleased with the way the script writers handled Ben's departure. After all that happened to him during his time in Mt Thomas I had my doubts as to what would actually happen. So for better or worse here is the rest.

Recap: Ben is ready to end is misery, can anyone or anything stop him from following through on this final desperate act?

I swallow hard and gaze at the gun which blurs because of my tears. God help me I want to do this thing and yet something is stopping me. No make that someone, no make that three of them and I press the picture of my three wonderful children to my heart and know that I can't do this thing.

'Ben!' I look up and see PJ and Susie come running towards me. 'Don't do it Benny boy,' PJ is by my side now. 'We can work this out. It's not your fault, what happened isn't your fault buddy,' his hand is stretched out and I wipe my eyes and press the gun into his palm and allow him to help me to my feet.

'Ben,' he puts a hand on my shoulder and once more repeats that it isn't my fault, I smile sadly at him Yes it is Peej, I sigh and I've come to a very important decision. Now I have to talk to the boss.

As I walk back to the car I have a feeling that neither PJ nor Susie realise exactly what decision I have come to, oh I think they realise that I'm leaving Mount Thomas but I'm also going to leave the police force. I do blame myself for what happened today, if I had taken the correct action previously then the outcome would have been oh so different but I didn't and now a woman is dead and my lack of good judgement is never going to hurt anyone in that way again.

Two weeks later

I think that they were all stunned by my decision but it was something that I had to do and now as I collect my luggage at Perth airport I wonder if they will be here to greet me. Well even not at least I am now closer to my family. It seems like a dream that I was sitting there under a tree in country Victoria ready to end it all until I realised that I'm not a failure. How can a man be a failure when he's fathered three wonderful kids? How can a man be a failure when he has an amazing strength of character that he had forgotten he possessed? I guess it was the love of my children that stopped me that day. The love for them and the fact that tomorrow is another day and, that by leaving Mount Thomas, by leaving the police force, I could and will turn my life around.'

'Dad!' I hear Josh my son call out and I turn and there they are, my three children waving madly and then Josh is running to me and we are hugging, soon the four of us are hugging while my ex wife stands at a distance and simply watches.

'Dad are you really here to stay? For good and forever.'

Yes I'm here to stay forever. I tell him as I continue to hug them all. They will never know about my darkest moment and that they were the bright and shining beacon that saved me and made me realise that there is hope for me after all.

'Dad what are you going to do?' Maddy asks me. 'I mean now that you've left the police.'

I have a few job opportunities that I am considering and I tell them this, even the ex nods in approval not that I'm concerned about what she thinks, not really. All I care about is that I am still alive, I'm here with my kids and suddenly my life and the future is looking pretty damn good.

End