Author's note from Jackie

I would like to say thank you very much for all your feedback, huge thanks for letting me know what you thought of it. Your comments are ALL welcome and although the fic was written a while back, I seriously do try and take on board any comments and use what I have learned as I write more

Gargantuan thanks to Flatkatsi who is an absolute treasure – and no, she should never be buried !

Her own fics are great and she is one of my favourite authors, despite her tendency to ignore the truth out there (ducking as a cyber brick is aimed at me and our 'ship')

I really hope you guys appreciate what Flatkatsi goes through when she betas for me – I make her rock n roll, but not in a good way ... riding the 'ship' gives her a severe case of sea sickness

It is hard knowing when to stop and there is no pleasing everyone, but for me the picture of Sam sitting there, holding his hand and reassuring him and wanting him was as far as my emotions could go at that time. To run on with nothing would have been boring.

For those of you that were happy with the ending, don't bother to read further – for those who want a long fluffy sequel, then please continue to suck upon your imagination – this wee offering just came to my fingers as I caught up with some of the feedback.

and now ...

Epilogue to Soldiers of Misfortune

The slight warmth from the weak winter sun warmed his face as he held his face up to the light. Taking a deep cleansing breath he sighed contentedly.

"It's good to be alive," he whispered.

The warm hand that crept into his conveyed approval by a quick reassuring squeeze.

"Are you sure?" he asked, not turning his head. His heart beat more rapidly as he waited for re-confirmation of the response to the question he had posed earlier.

"Are you? You keep asking me. If you're having second thoughts Jack, I ..."

"No!" he began abruptly. He changed the grips of his hands to draw hers nearer, engulfing it within both of his.

He drew a deep breath and turned to face her. The sun filtered through her blond hair, lighting her face and framing her to perfection. She cocked her head slightly to one side, her blue eyes regarding him seriously, watching ... waiting...

"C... Sam." He drew another deep breath, determined not to chicken out again. Then stopped. His eyes drew down to his hands.

Cluck ... his brain sent him messages, firing through his synapses, yet he still he froze. Part of him wanted to get the hell out of dodge. Each time he looked at her he remembered how much he had hurt her. Some of what he had said and done had come back to him, but most of it was hazy. Just the small bits he could remember were bad enough, bad enough to want to beg forgiveness, bad enough to want to run away...

"Jack."

He looked up from their hands. He'd caught her flinching a time or two as he'd got better and it had almost shattered him to see that. Now she didn't flinch, nor did her gaze waver from his.

"I want you," she said simply.

The bubble of humor couldn't stay suppressed and he gave her a quick smirk and raised a brow. "Here?" He looked around the almost deserted park, just one of two people on the distant path.

She giggled back at him, "Idiot," then straightened her shoulders and brought her other hand to clasp his forearm. Her fingers caressed the soft leather, her touch doing remarkable things to his body.

"Jack, I want to spend my life with you, be with you, love you, care for you, and ..." she smirked at him, "watch your six."

Jack ignored the smirk. He swallowed the harsh lump that rose in his throat. "God Sam, I don't deserve you."

Sam half rose and tilted her head towards him. "Yes you do and I deserve you!" She kissed him lovingly, her hand moving up to thread through his soft hair, stroking the back of his neck, pressing him closer.

He broke from the kiss with a growl. "So much for keeping it under our hats," he blurted, looking around with a slightly nervous glance.

"Well, either we can continue as we were," she paused, giving him a definite pout, "or," she smiled, "we can continue together. The only way we get to broadcast our relationship is if one or both of us retire."

"Sounds simple when you put it like that." Wishing with all his heart it would be so easy.

"It is Jack. Life's too short, we do our jobs and we have each other. We may not always have our jobs ..."

"But we will always have each other," finished Jack.

Standing up her drew her with him and clasping her hand firmly, he buried it enveloped with his inside his jacket pocket.

"Let's go home."

The definite and absolute end ... just think of them walking together, his warm teasing smile, his dark eyes radiating his love ... off they go, together ... never to be parted.