CHAPTER FIFTEEN - CLOSURE

AN: Song belongs to Diane Warren… it's great isn't it! I'm singing it tonight at school for our performance evening tonight and I'm kind of freaking out about it… so wish me luck! Hey bit I got my picture in the paper!

But it's such a gorgeous song… so fitting! Next chapter shouldn't take too long, and I might have to take a little time off because of exams, but I should probably finish the story before then. I'm practically finished:D Yay! Go to chapter 9 for the full lyrics for the song.

And thanks to lil lost grace for your review, it helped a lot when writing this chapter.

Here we go:

The silence in the car was almost stifling as Sam drove to Jack's house. It didn't help at all to suffuse her thoughts. She gave a frustrated sigh and turned her CD player on, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel in time with the music This Kiss.

The next song came on… "There You'll Be."

As Sam sang along, trying to think of what to say to Jack, when she realised the words she were singing, "Well you showed me how it feels, to feel the sky within my reach, and I always will remember all the strength gave to me…"

Sam gaped at the CD player. That was just too perfect!

She turned the steering wheel and drove into Jack's driveway, sitting there for a moment until the end of the song. On an impulse she took the CD out, put it in its case and slipped it into her bag before she got out of the car. For once, Jack's veranda didn't look very tidy, but looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in ages. A broken gnome, a couple of rusty old keys and grassy residue littered the varnished wood, but Sam merely stepped aside them, and knocked on the door, waiting for Jack to open it.

'Hey, Jack. How are you?'

Jack stood there for a moment almost dumbfounded at the sight before his eyes until he regained his senses and invited her in.

'As good as I'll ever be', he replied with just a hint of nervousness in his voice. His face however, did not betray any sign of emotion.

His mind was reeling with questions. Why was she here and not with Pete? Did they have a fight? Did she leave..?

He didn't dare let himself hope though. But he could see by the look on her face that this wasn't just an 'I-was-in-the-neighbourhood' visit. She had come here with a specific purpose and it seemed like it was a serious one. One that she didn't need to make cliched excuses about. But he had yet to find out what that purpose was.

'Would you like a drink?' He asked as Sam sat down on his couch.

She shook her head.

Jack had a feeling that he would need one for himself later, but instead he sat down on the couch across from her, waiting for her to gather her thoughts and speak.

There was silence for a few tense minutes as Sam looked for her courage.

'Uh, Jack?' She said once she had found enough of it. 'I just opened your present.' Jack mouthed an "oh", knowing what it implied.

'It really meant a lot to me, Jack, and I wanted to thank you for it.'

'Well that's okay, Sam.' Jack mumbled thoroughly embarrassed.

They sat there for another awkward moment.

'I, um, also liked your poem, Jack. I never knew just how much you cared… I mean. I know you meant it when I said you'll always be there, but when I decided to accept Pete's proposal…' Sam trailed off, looking for the right words. 'I thought you didn't care. So I learnt to care for Pete. And I love him, I really do. And I saw you at the wedding, I saw somewhat what you were feeling, but I didn't see, you know?' Sam had said this, staring down at her lap, twiddling her fingers nervously. Curiosity made her glance up Jack's face.

His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and he looked so defeated it hurt to watch him, so she politely averted her eyes.

Once more they just sat there, this time it was a mutual silence. Jack stared out the window, barely registering Sam's presence as he tried to regain his composure.

'Is that all, Sam?' Jack asked in a surprisingly steady voice.

'No', Sam said softly.

'I wanted to say sorry, jack. I know it's probably not enough, but I need to say it. And I mean it. I'm sorry I hurt you, and I'm sorry that-' Jack cut her off before she could continue her apology speech.

'Look, Sam,' Jack held up his hand to stop her interrupting. 'You don't have to apologise. You don't need to be sorry for wanting to be happy. It's understandable. Everyone wants to be happy, and it just so happens that we have different ways of being happy, and they conflict with each other.' Jack gave her a shrug and a small smile. A small smile for her caringness. He looked at Sam.

The sadness was still there, but with Sam recognising what he was feeling (even though he had given her a hint), it made him feel slightly better.

'You know,' Sam said thoughtfully, 'Barbra Streisand said "you cannot rely on someone else for your happiness."' Jack raised his eyebrows.

'I didn't know you liked "Babs", Carter.'

'Well my sister-in-law happens to love her, and quoted it to me in a letter she sent to me once. But she's right you know.'

Jack nodded his head seriously. 'Yes, I know she's right. She also said that as you get older you learn to see that you can survive life's disappointments.'

Now it was Sam's turn to look surprised.

'Sarah.' He merely said, and Sam gave a nod of understanding.

'Look, Sam.' He said, and gently took hold of her hand. 'I don't want you to be sorry, or feel sorry for me. I don't want you to feel that you have to, and I definitely don't need it either.

'Sometimes things don't turn out the way you want them to. Life hands humanity a box of chocolates someone gets the chocolate and hazelnut before you, and you're stuck with the chocolate and mint, which everyone knows shouldn't be mixed.' Sam resisted the urge to give a chuckle. He was comparing them to chocolate.

'It's everyone's fault and no ones fault. You can't help how things turn out sometimes and the only thing that will work you is Que Sera Sera.

'I can't do anything about it. Maybe there was a time when I could've. But I wouldn't have.

'You don't need to apologise for wanting to be happy. And you don't need to feel sorry for me. I want you to be happy, and Pete makes you happy.' Jack let go of Sam's hand and reclined back onto the couch again.

'So I'll learn not to depend on other people for my happiness and I'll learn to survive life's disappointments. So go to Pete and be happy, don't worry about me.'

Unwillingly, he had to look up at Sam, her eyes filling with tears and he quickly looked away, embarrassed.

'That was beautiful, Jack' she managed to choke out. 'Thankyou.' Sam's thoughts rested on the song by Faith Hill.

'Jack, even though things didn't work out, and a small part of me will always wonder, I will never ever forget everything you've done for me, all the memories…. And I want to thankyou for that.'

Jack opened his mouth as if to say something, but Sam cut him off. 'Before you say, "let's not dwell" I would like to ask you to dance with me to this song. I only hope it will sufficiently convey what I feel.' Appearing calm, she walked over to Jack's CD player and put her CD in it and turned it on.

'She took Jack's hand into hers, making sure there was an appropriate distance between herself and Jack. "When I think back on these times…" Faith started. "And the dreams we left behind, I'll be glad 'cause I was blessed to get to have you in my life…"

Simultaneously they swayed to the music, Jack listening very carefully to the lyrics.

"In my heart there'll always be a place for you, for all my life.

I'll keep a part of you with me, and everywhere I am there you'll be."

Even though she'll be in North Carolina it was nice to know that he'd be there "in her heart."

"You were right there for me, for always" just as he had said.

Jack gave a small smile and twirled Sam around. The aching ness had lessened. When they had danced at the wedding it had been… hell basically.

This was…nice. And it certainly helped to give them some closure.

As the chords died away, Jack gave Sama a friendly smile and a hug. 'Thanks, Sam.' She smiled, looking equally grateful.

Their loose threads had been tied, problems had been resolved and now Samantha Shanahan was ready to start her new life in North Carolina with her husband Pete.