A/N: Well, my little fluff story is coming to an end. I'm posting the last two chapters together. I'm not much on constant angst...I get enough of that in real life; so, I'm a die hard fan of the happy ending.

I've had a blast doing this and again, really appreciate Mariel; AgentSpade; JBird; Pealee; Makemyday; Carbyfan, Tiatian Wang, and Serataja for hanging with me to the end. Can't say as I'll ever try it again...but maybe Season 4 will inspire me! Thanks again and enjoy life. JoS

Chapter 12 – Reality Comes Back Around

Sunday evening found him back in New York City in his apartment. He mixed a drink, then sat down to phone Van Doren. Grateful to get her answering machine, he said, "Hey Paula, this is Jack. I…umm I guess I need to see you tomorrow. I will…umm…I will bring you my badge, credentials, weapon, keys, and whatever accountable items I have and…umm well, I guess HR will take care of the rest. Oh, yeah…Agent Spade is fine and will be at work tomorrow. Listen, Paula, I know I'm not in any position to ask for favors, but go easy on her…please. She's a damned good agent and you know it. Don't let her feelings for me taint your decision on what you do to her. Thanks, Paula. Call me if you need anything. I'm at home. See you tomorrow."

Next he dialed Samantha to wish her sweet dreams, tell her he loved her and that he would try and see her sometime tomorrow, but couldn't promise anything. He hung up, rubbed his hand through his hair, sighed and thought how tomorrow was going to be the day from hell.

Jack walked through the front doors at 7 am, thinking it would be the last time. He rode the elevator up to Van Doren's floor and found his pace slowing as he got closer to her office. He leaned into her doorway, knocking as he did. She looked up from her computer, looking at him like he was a stranger, then her eyes sparked and she said, "Oh my God, Jack! Geez! What is that on your face?" He instantly rubbed his jaw, forgetting that he had adjusted to the beard while it was quite a change for everyone else. He smiled now, remembering the strange look he got from Willy at the security desk.

Walking into the office and taking a seat, he answered solemnly, "Well, many things are changing with me Paula." With that, he placed all his accountable items on her desk, met her eyes and said, "I don't see any reason to make this nasty for anyone. Just please go easy on Agent Spade…..as one last favor before I finally get out of your hair."

Van Doren's face was impassive as she watched his. Finally she said, "Jaaack. You have built a brilliant career; yes, you have had some screw ups, but your solve record is impeccable and the Bureau needs you as Supervisory Agent. Don't throw it all away."

He was shocked at her response but rolled his shoulders and said, "If I stay, Agent Spade will always be under a microscope and Farrell will always be breathing down my neck. Life is too short for that, Paula. But she doesn't need to know about this conversation." Nodding her head she said, "So let me get this straight, Jack. Are you telling me you would end your career to save Agent Spade's?" He looked her straight in the eye, nodded and said, "In a heartbeat, yes, I would do that for her." Puffing air into her hair, she shook her head and pressed her fingertips together. "Tell you what, Jack. Take the morning off and go for a walk or something and think about this. Be back here around noon and we will talk some more."

After he left, Van Doren shook her head and lamented to herself that she needed some time off. Checking her watch, she pressed the intercom and said, "Agent Spade, I will see you now" and waited for the blonde agent to enter her office. Of course, Samantha had no idea Jack had just left, but she had requested the meeting with Van Doren and knew exactly what she was doing. "What can I do for you, Agent Spade?" she asked rather cautiously. Samantha took a deep breath, held onto the chair, steeled her self and said, "I would like to speak with you about either a transfer or resignation."

Floored by her statement, Van Doren said, "What? Agent Spade, you are doing very well in this unit; aside from some OPR issues, your record is looking very good. Why are you doing this?" Okay, she thought, here comes the hard part. "It is quite simple, Agent Van Doren. As long as I'm here, Agent Malone will be a constant target by DC and Farrell. Agent Malone is the best for missing persons and you know it and he loves his job. So I need to be removed from the picture. And, no, he doesn't know I'm here. Matter of fact, he would most likely not approve of my actions."

Paula couldn't believe her ears. Spade was doing the same thing Jack had just done. Putting their career behind them to save the other's. She asked the next question, knowing full well what the answer would be, "So let me get this straight. Are you telling me you would end your career to save Agent Malone's?" Samantha looked her straight in the eye, nodded and said, "In a heartbeat, yes, I would do that for him." With the incredible sense of dejavu, she told Samantha the same thing she told Jack, dismissed her and started making a pile of phone calls. She had till noon to set the stage.

Unbeknownst to each other, Jack and Samantha wandered around the streets of New York lost in their own thoughts. At 11:45, Jack entered the building and filled out the form to get a visitor badge from Willy at the security desk since he left his badge with Paula. He went to her office and was waiting for her to get off the phone, when Samantha walked up and got immediately nervous seeing Jack already sitting in front of Van Doren's desk. She turned to go, but Van Doren caught her eye and motioned her in while finishing up the call. Sitting next to Jack, Samantha smiled quickly and mumbled, "Hello, Agent Malone." Jack did the same wondering what in the hell was going on.

Van Doren looked from one agent to the other and said, "So, you two have provided yet another interesting managerial problem for me. As agents, you two work incredibly well as a team and your solve rate within the unit is off the charts. However, outside of work, your relationship continues to hit the radar screens. After my discussions with you this morning (this caused both of them to glance at each other), I learned that each of you is willing to give up their career for the other person……and both of you have the exact same reason for doing such."

With that news, Jack turned to Samantha and said, "No, I won't let you do that. I've already been responsible for screwing up so much of your life. I won't let this happen too. You are a damned good agent and you love your job." Throwing caution to the wind, she answered, "And what about you Jaa…Agent Malone. You have worked so hard to get to where you are and you love your job too."

Flashing a look at Paula, Jack shook his head and thought to himself, oh what the hell….."Yes, I love my job, but I love you so much more." Samantha was floored by his statement in front of Van Doren and looked nervously at the unit supervisor to try and read her reaction. She was shocked when she saw a small smile on Van Doren's traditionally stoic face. Looking back to Jack, she placed her hand on his arm, smiled and said, "Back at ya."

Van Doren cleared her throat and said, "So, here is my dilemma. I lose one or both of my best agents or I come up with some ingenious way to make this work and save everyone's career. Now understanding the need to have brilliant agents around me to make the unit look good, I'm not in favor of letting either of you walk out the door.

I've called in some favors and arranged for Farrell to be assigned to another district…at a supervisory level, of course, to keep him quiet in return. As far as DC goes, the only problematic link I see is Agent Fitzgerald's father. And, the only way for Deputy Fitzgerald to know anything concrete, or even rumored, is through his son. So, I've had a lengthy discussion with Agent Fitzgerald, who has promised to keep things in our own house so long as I am generous with a recommendation when a promotion slot comes open."

Jack and Samantha couldn't believe what they were hearing. After all that happened, things were going to be just fine? But Van Doren continued in a more tense voice, "Agent Malone, I need your word that your relationship with Agent Spade during work hours is strictly work related and completely above board." He nodded and said, "You have my word, Agent Van Doren." Turning to Samantha she said, "And you, Agent Spade, I need your word that your relationship with Agent Malone during work hours is strictly work related and completely above board." She too nodded and said, "You have my word, Agent Van Doren."

"Good, now let me hear that from Jack and Samantha." They both smiled at Van Doren, then each other and nodded their concurrence. "I mean it, Jack. I don't even want to see you open a door for her!" she said as they made their way out of Van Doren's office. At that, he stopped and waited for Samantha to come open the door for him, causing Paula to throw a paper wad at him. He grinned like a kid but then sobered and told Paula, "Thank you…I promise you won't regret what you just did for us." Van Doren nodded and said, "That is good to hear. Now get to your unit and get to work. Your staff has been shorthanded for the better part of a week while you two have been 'finding' each other."

TBC...one more chapter to go.