Author's Notes: There will be a bit more angst, but then there will be a happy ending. Everyone who has reviewed, I really appreciate and hope to hear more from you. Reviews are appreciated and encourage me to update.
Part 47
Age: 34 Years 7 Months
The sun was setting by the time Jack and Samantha left cemetery. For more than an hour they cried in each other's arms as they mourned the loss of their Son and all that they had lost. When at last they rose from their Son's grave, they walked hand in hand to the car. Sadly and silently they left the cemetery, each struggling with their feelings of guilt. Although both of them were blaming themselves, neither blamed the other and they had agreed to remain together.
Jack doesn't blame you, Samantha thought as she looked over at him. Even after you told him everything, he doesn't hold you accountable for Jack Konstantine.
Maybe not, but I do, her heart argued.
Could they still be happy together? Was it wrong to take comfort in Jack's love? If they hadn't been separated and their child had lived, he would be graduating from college soon. Would finding happiness be possible and if they could would it be wrong of them?
At a traffic light, Jack stopped and took Samantha's hand, he gave it a reassuring squeeze and she slowly slid over closer to him. When the light changed he drove ahead and wrapped his arm around her. Leaning against him, Samantha took comfort in the warmth of his body and the scent of tobacco and roses which mingled with his cologne. The tobacco was a newer scent but the sandalwood of his cologne and hint of roses was the same as she remembered from when they were younger.
Jack didn't drive in the direction of the warehouse, he took a different route and when he crossed the bridge over the Ohio River, Samantha asked, "Are we going somewhere?"
"Memphis," Jack replied. "We're going to make our marriage legal the moment we can get a license in the morning. After everything that's happened, I'm not leaving anything up to chance when it comes to us."
"Are you sure you want to so soon after-" Samantha paused uncertain how to put it.
"Yes my Samantha. Am I torn up knowing we had a Son and he lies in the ground? Yes, but it's time we start putting the past to rights. First we get married."
"Then what?" she inquired curiously.
"Then we see about revenge. My Mother may be insane, but she will suffer none the less."
Samantha found herself imagining making Miriam scream and a slight smile curved her mouth as she asked, "And my Father?"
Hesitantly, Jack countered, "What do you want to do about your Father?"
"I want him to die screaming. I want to kill him myself and I want to do something that makes what we each did to Billy Watkins look like a friendly hello," Samantha replied.
"That can be arranged," Jack offered, a ghost of a smile forming.
Jack drove throughout the night and they arrived early in the morning in Memphis before the courthouse opened. The irony of the time of their arrival and parking in the exact same space gave them a much needed laugh. Despite their grief and the informality of their impromptu ceremony, both of them were glad to be together and making their marriage officially valid once and for all.
The first time they came to the courthouse for their marriage license they had been so happy and excited, the entire time they held hands and whispered and giggled. This time, they stood holding each other quietly, occasionally offering a slight smile to one another. When they got their license, they left and drove to the first chapel they saw that was open. Impulsively, Jack told Samantha to wait and dashed across the street. With a large amount of money he secured a bit of tulle and a quickly made up circlet of roses in addition to a bouquet of roses.
Although he'd paid more for those tidbits than the average floral budget for a full formal wedding's flowers, the look on Samantha's face was well worth it. As Jack placed the bouquet in her hand and arranged a pseudo veil on her head. When she blushed slightly and smiled at him, time stopped and he remembered the expression on her face on their first wedding day. Taking her in his arms, Jack kissed he with abandon, pushing all grief aside for a moment and allowing himself to just feel love.
"I love you, Samantha. We can't take back the past or bring Jack Konstantine back to life, but I can promise to love and protect you for the rest of our lives."
"Until my last breath, I'll love you Jack."
Although they walked into the chapel and went through the traditional vows, both of them felt they had been renewed before they ever entered the church. The hardest part of getting married was having to remove their rings and wait until they placed them on each other's fingers again. Both of them were glad when their rings were back in place and swore they would never be removed again.
Exchanging a kiss, they headed back to the car and Samantha asked, "Are we going to go and see Konstantine and Sofia now?"
"Later, first we need to return to Atlanta and deal with the consequences of your absence," Jack replied.
"Jack, what did happen to Bailey?"
Shooting her a sharp look, Jack studied her face. Finding that her question was more curiosity than concern, he answered, "He had a small car accident."
Samantha asked him to elaborate further and laughed when he told her about making it appear Malone had been driving under the influence. For a while they drove in silence, when Jack stopped at a small town and pulled up to a large storage unit. When he got out and opened the unit up and brought out another car, Samantha got out of the Lexus and waited for Jack to put it into the unit.
As he opened the door of the hunter green Jaguar, Jack apologized, "Afraid frequent vehicle changes are part of the territory."
"That's okay," she assured him as he got in and they pulled back onto the road. "It's smart to do it that way. You didn't elude capture by taking foolish chances."
"True," Jack agreed and switched on the radio. "Sorry but I want to check and see how big the search for you has gotten."
Suddenly concerned, Samantha demanded, "Jack what are we going to do? There is no way I'm losing you to a bullet or letting you rot in jail!"
"Never fear love, they convicted Donald Lucas as being Jack. You had every right to run off and marry me. Since we're now legally joined, they cannot force you to testify against me. There will be some hassle, but nothing more," Jack reassured her.
Samantha had drifted off when they were nearing Atlanta and Jack heard over the radio:
The search continues for Dr. Samantha Waters, who is believed to have been abducted. A nationwide search is on for the FBI profiler who's name has been integrally linked with the Jack-Of-All-Trades case. Earlier yesterday, convicted
killer, Donald Lucas took his life before a definitive link could be established as
to whether he had knowledge of the alleged abduction. The VCTF has called in profiler, Rachel Burke to assist in uncovering the mystery of Dr. Samantha
Waters. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Dr. Waters, contact authorities immediately.
Jack knew they would pursue Samantha's whereabouts and wouldn't let the matter go. While he wished they could simply disappear without returning to Atlanta, there wasn't much choice. In time everything would be all right, but Jack had downplayed what would happen, so Samantha wouldn't worry. Pulling into Atlanta, he picked up his cell phone and dialed his attorney's office.
Samantha roused as Jack spoke into the phone, "Branton, it's Newquay. The day you thought would never arrive has, get the documents ready to transfer the assets. Yes indeed, I have her with me. After the assets are changed over then I'll take care of this mess. Uh-huh. No, not Waters, Newquay, we just got married officially and legally. Be there in five."
As Jack hung up, Samantha asked, "What's that about?"
"We're going to stop at my lawyer's and sign some papers. Although I have all the money spread into dummy corporations and overseas, I need to sign you as a legal executor for my assets."
"Why?" Samantha demanded worriedly.
"Just a precaution," Jack lied.
"Jack?"
"Yes?"
"Do you promise that we'll be together when everything is over?"
"I promise my Samantha," Jack vowed solemnly.
Pulling up in front of his lawyer's, Jack lead Samantha inside and the both signed a large stack of papers. As she signed, Samantha knew he was signing all his assets so she would have access if he were in jail. She hated facing the possibility for even a day. Jack had just come back to her and Samantha didn't want to lose one moment with him. As he lead her out of his lawyer's, Jack kissed her and held her, murmuring reassuringly.
"How are we going to do this?" Samantha asked Jack.
"Well we could just walk into the VCTF," Jack suggested. "I've always wanted to do that."
Reluctantly, Samantha agreed, at least if she were with him they wouldn't shoot at him. Jack drove to the VCTF and handed Samantha the keys to the car. After she got out of the car, they kissed one last time before she got out her ID and they walked in. Stealthily they maneuvered to the command center where the team was assembled. For one moment, they froze in shock seeing Sam, then all hell broke loose...
