Hello everyone. I am so sorry this chapter has taken me so long to write. A lack of a lot of things were to blame - mainly confidence and writing ability. There were times when I did not think I would post anything at all ever again. However, for all those brave souls who have stayed with this story through thick and thin, I thought you deserved an update. This was to be the final chapter but it became soooo long. So, the final chapter is still to come.

Chapter 13

Spike looked at her from across the table. He didn't understand what she was saying. She's moving to London, she has a job. She's leaving him and he didn't understand.

He couldn't speak. There were no words and even if he had the words his mouth was suddenly dry and there was a lump in his throat which would not disappear however hard he tried to swallow.

So he placed $50 on the table. He figured that would easily cover the two glasses of champagne. That was all they had before she tore his world apart. He stood and left without saying another word. He left her sitting at the table where they were supposed to eat and drink and laugh and where he was going to ask her to be his wife.

He walked aimlessly trying to understand. How could she have done this? He loved her - still loves her. He stopped and hailed cab.

"Spike, Hi. Aren't you supposed to be having dinner with Natalie?" Jules said in a hushed tone as she looked up from the chair. It only took seconds for her to realize Spike's face was etched with sadness.

"What happened?" She asked but she already knew. Natalie had told him about the job.

"She's leaving me. She has a job in London." He said the words but couldn't believe them. He wanted answers and as he looked at Jules he knew she didn't have any of the answers he was looking for.

Jules knew something but didn't understand it either. Natalie had told her that morning; the out of the blue announcement that she was leaving for London.

"She doesn't want me. She has friends and a job in London. She wants to get as far away from me as possible. What did I do wrong Jules? What did I do that was so bad she needs an ocean to separate us?"

"You didn't do anything Spike - please don't blame yourself for this." Jules knew he had done nothing except love the woman who was leaving him.

They talked quietly for a long time. Spike knew it was selfish. Jules had bigger problems to deal with than his relationship dramas. And, as he glanced over to Sam, his friend, lying in the hospital bed with tubes and monitors all around he felt embarrassed that he had bothered her at all. Yet, it was the only place he could be with the only person who understood.

"I'm sorry." Spike said.

"You don't have to be sorry?" Jules replied. Her tone soft as she placed her hand on his. He needed her just as she had needed him; still needed him. He had been her rock when her world had been ripped apart. To be there for her friend when he needed a rock was the least she could do.

"Would you like to stay at ours?" Jules finally said feeling Spike could use some time away from Natalie.

"Would that be okay? I'm not sure I can face her right now" Spike replied. He knew he couldn't face her. She had trampled his heart. He could barely say her name without his heart beating a million beats a second; to see her now would be impossible.

Jules rummaged through her bag until she found her keys. "Here, take these" She said as she handed the keys to Spike. "You know where everything is, just make yourself at home. I will try and speak to Natalie and find out what's going on. In the meantime go and get some rest. "

Spike left a short while later, leaving Jules contemplating what she was going to say to Natalie.

She looked at her husband sleeping and wondered how two siblings could be so different. Sam, the most unselfish, giving person she had ever known. Natalie -the complete opposite. Had she ever loved Spike at all?

Jules was angry. She wanted to know why she would leave Spike, but, more importantly her brother. She thought she understood Natalie. She had even defended her to Sam. But he had been right all along. She was selfish, plain and simple. Whatever Natalie wanted, Natalie got and to hell with the consequences.

The next morning brought renewed hope for Jules. Sam woke again, just briefly. The doctors were right. It might take awhile but Sam was waking up.

She saw Natalie later that morning when she sheepishly walked into the hospital room.

There was no Hi and Natalie saw from the look on Jules' face that she knew exactly what had happened the previous evening.

"Can I explain?" Natalie started to say as she sat down on the chair opposite Jules.

"Go ahead" Jules response was curt and dismissive. She could offer no excuse to justify her behaviour.

"I had to tell Spike. I can't marry him Jules."

"You knew he was going to ask you to marry him?"

"I found the ring when I arrived home and then when he booked the restaurant and told me to dress up, I knew he was going to propose. I couldn't let him ask me. If he had I might have lost my nerve and said yes."

Jules looked confused. "Do you love him?"

"Of course I do. I just can't marry him. I can't be like you or the other wives. I couldn't watch him leave for work one day and maybe not come home. Your job is too dangerous - look at Sam. I don't know how you handle this Jules. How you can sit here day after day just waiting for Sam to wake up. What if that were Spike, I wouldn't be able to cope. You're stronger than me."

"So your answer is to run away. Run away from the two people who love you the most. You're not only leaving Spike; you're leaving Sam too. Jesus, Natalie, how can you be so selfish?" Jules could have said more, much more but she saw an intense sadness in Natalie's eyes.

"Sam doesn't need me. He has never needed me. He has you. I can't do this anymore. I can't keep coming to the hospital and see him like this. I can't. Yes, you're right I am probably selfish but I have to leave."

"At least you have a couple of weeks before you leave. Who knows, maybe you will change your mind and stay." Jules said hoping Natalie would realize what she was throwing away.

"I changed my flight; I'm leaving on Monday. There's no point in staying any longer, it'll just make it harder for everyone."

Jules was taken aback by Natalie's change of plans "That's so soon. Are you sure you've thought this through. Did you even ask Spike to go with you?"

"I thought about what you said yesterday and you're right he loves the SRU, loves you and Sam. I couldn't ask him to give up everything he has here to come to London with me."

"And there's nothing I can say to change your mind?" Jules asked making one last attempt to stop Natalie from making the biggest mistake of her life.

"Nothing" Natalie replied.

"You're throwing away your relationship with your brother, you know that don't you? And turning your back on probably one of the best men I have ever known?"

As Natalie got up from her chair she went to Sam's bedside.

"Bye Sam, I love you. Get better real soon okay." She kissed him gently on his forehead before turning to Jules. "Goodbye Jules."

"Goodbye Natalie, safe trip."

As the door closed behind Natalie, Jules suddenly felt sad. It was an end of an era. For Natalie, for Spike but for her and Sam also. Their lives had been so intertwined over the past two years and now all that was about to change. All of them starting a new phase of their lives. Jules knew she couldn't let Natalie leave with matters still unresolved and immediately ran after her; catching up with her just as she was about to leave through the main entrance of the hospital.

"Natalie" Jules called to her sister-in-law and as she turned around Jules could see the tears falling freely down her cheeks.

The two women embraced.

"Take care Natalie; I shall miss you… so much".

"I'm going to miss you too. Look after Sam. Tell him I love him and I'll come back soon and tell Spike… tell him I'm so sorry."

"I will." Jules replied. And then Natalie was gone.

Weeks turned to months and lives carried on.

It took nearly two weeks for Sam to be fully conscious. It took a further two weeks for Sam to regain normal speech. He had what the doctors referred to as Aphasia which was fairly common following a severe brain injury. The paralysis which Sam had suffered down the left side of his body would take much longer.

It had been the worst time for them both. Jules found it difficult to see Sam struggle with his disability. And even when the doctors told them it would be unlikely he would regain more than limited movement Sam refused to give up.

"No one thought I would survive and I did. I will walk again." He had told Jules one day following a particularly grueling physiotherapy session. I just have to stay positive."

She stayed positive for him. She wouldn't let him see that her resolve was fading as she began to realize that Sam would probably spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

And when the hospital suggested a rehabilitation facility Sam wanted to go. He knew many soldiers with traumatic injuries had benefitted from rehabilitation. The hospital thought it would be beneficial for Sam in order for him to come to terms with his disability.

There was no such intention in Sam's mind. He would be wheeled into the rehabilitation facility, but he was sure as hell going to walk out.

The Rehabilitation Facility was 160 miles away and visitors would only be allowed at the weekend.

When Jules drove up to the facility, it immediately took her breath away. A beautiful large house set in a sprawling landscape of green.

"It's beautiful here." She said and she pulled the jeep into the parking lot at the side of the house. She turned to Sam sitting in the passenger seat. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too but this place is where I need to be." Sam leant across and kissed her cheek. "I love you."

"Love you too." Jules replied. She was sad, but Sam was right, this was where he needed to be.

When Jules eventually left she cried the entire journey home. She felt intensely lonely. She had spent every day of the last four months by his bedside and now she wouldn't be seeing him for another five days.

Time went on and Jules became used to being without Sam, without anyone. Occasionally the guys would come by but most of her days and nights were spent alone.

After ten days Jules realized she needed to start doing something. Her life had been so wrapped up in Sam's life and his recovery; she had stopped looking after herself. It wasn't Sam's fault she left the SRU. It wasn't his fault he was 160 miles away. Jules realized that she had put her life on hold and it wasn't doing her or Sam any good. She put on her running shoes and shorts and ran. Within a week she was running five miles a day.

A month later she had redecorated the lounge and painted the kitchen but life without Sam was lonely and life without the SRU, tedious and dull.

Sam was doing well at the rehabilitation facility. Every time Jules visited she saw an improvement. Within two months he had regained some movement in his arm.

"Look, watch this". He had said when she had visited. Jules looked on as Sam had reached for a glass which was on the table in front of him. Shakily he took the glass in his left hand and picked it up from the table a few inches before resting it back down again.

Jules could see the effort it had taken. She also saw how positive he was and did not want to dash his hopes. But she also remembered what the doctors had told them both. Sam could possibly regain movement in his left arm, yet it was unlikely he would ever be able to walk again unaided.

"That's amazing Sam." Yet Sam could tell she was still doubtful.

"I will walk again Jules, I will. You just have to have a little faith. I know I will walk out of here just as I know we will have another baby and we will get our lives back."

"Maybe Sam, but you have to prepare yourself just in case it doesn't work out the way we hope."

She wished she had his faith. She wished she could believe everything would turn out okay. Their lives had spiraled downhill and it had stripped her of her faith. Her resolve to keep trying against the odds was exhausting and draining, but she would keep going, keep believing, for Sam.

It was early one morning when Jules was preparing for her run, when she heard a knock at the door.

"Greg. How are you? Come in." Jules was always pleased to see any of her old teammates; Greg especially had always been like a father to her. They shared a special bond.

He handed her a coffee in a Styrofoam cup, as he took a seat at her kitchen table, resting his own coffee down.

"How's Sam?" he asked as he placed the steaming hot coffee to his lips and took a sip.

"He's good. He has regained some feeling in his arm. He's convinced he will walk again, but the doctors don't think it likely." She replied looking down into her coffee stirring the froth with a plastic spoon.

"And what do you think?" Greg asked touching her hand.

"If blind faith has anything to do with it and knowing Sam; then I guess anything's possible. So, what's new with the team?"

"The team is the reason I'm here. Leah is leaving at the end of the month and Watkins hasn't passed his probation. "We're going to be two men down and the recruits coming through are just not up to SRU standard."

"Why's Leah leaving?" Jules liked Leah enormously. She had also liked having another female to banter with. She was sad Leah wouldn't be on the team anymore. She made a mental note to meet up with Leah before she left.

"She's going to be teaching the new recruits at the academy. Fewer hours, less stress. You know how it is Jules; the SRU takes over your life." Greg paused and took another sip of coffee.

"I was wondering if you would consider rejoining the team. I know you have a lot on with Sam but we really could use someone with your skills. You know as well as I do the team can't operate properly with just four men."

Jules sat back in her chair. She was surprised Greg would even consider taking her back. She had let the team down when she didn't return after she had been shot. But the team had understood; they always did.

"What about everyone else? Have you spoken to the rest of the team; are they okay with me coming back?"

"You think I would be here if I hadn't spoken with the team. They all want you back Jules, without exception."

"It's tempting Greg, it really is. But there's a lot to consider. I would need to speak to Sam; find out how he feels about it. There's also the question of my fitness level, I haven't worked in over six months." Jules said but her mind was already made up. If Sam was okay with it she would be returning to the SRU.

She felt the excitement start to rise up in her body. She was going back.

"Your fitness is a minor detail. We'll soon get you fit running drills all day." Greg joked. He knew she was as fit now as she was when she left the SRU. "If Sam's okay with it, when would you be able to start?" Greg added. He was anxious to get her back on the team, back where she belonged.

"I'll speak to Sam this weekend. Can I let you know on Monday? I seem to make a habit of leaving and coming back." Jules gave Greg a smile. "I'm really happy you asked me."

The following weekend could not have come quickly enough for Jules. She wanted to see Sam; lately she had begun to miss him more and more. She also wanted to see how he felt about her rejoining Team One.

That weekend was the happiest she had seen Sam for a long time. He had made quite a few friends at rehabilitation in particular a young soldier named Christopher. He was 25 and had lost both his legs and one arm in an IAD explosion. When Sam had arrived Christopher was a depressed, withdrawn young man. The doctors were worried he was a suicide risk and kept a very close eye on him. It was amazing what a few months could do. He was now a lively, cheeky young man who had engaged in a little flirtatious banter with Jules. She knew how to handle him; after all she had a lot of experience with Sam.

"I walked today Jules." Sam suddenly told her when they were finally alone.

"You did what?!" Jules exclaimed.

"Well, walking may be stretching it a little. But at least six, maybe seven steps completely unaided, with no-one's help, all by myself." Sam said laughing as he emphasized his solo effort in walking.

Jules laughed too "That's fantastic Sam."

As if sensing she needed to witness it for herself, Sam pushed himself up from his chair. A little unsteady, but he was standing. "Walk with me" he asked as he held out his hand to her.

She stood and took his hand and they walked a few short steps. He was right, he was walking. He had proved everyone, including her, wrong. He came to the facility in a wheelchair but Jules knew now he would be walking out.

Sam turned and looked at Jules. "I know this has been hard on you; us being so far away from each other but I'll be home soon, I promise."

"You're walking, you can actually walk again Sam and you're worried about how hard this has been on me! " Jules wrapped her arms around him and cried. "I have missed you so much but now I know it has all been worth it. You're going to walk, you're going to run. You are going to be able to do everything you did before you were shot; everything!"

"Except be an SRU Officer." Sam said without any hint of remorse in his voice.

"There will be other jobs Sam. Our lives do not start and end with the SRU." She had tried to make him feel better and she knew she couldn't tell him about Greg's offer; not now.

"I'm okay Jules, really. I think everyone else is more upset about it. Ed and Spike came last week to see me under the guise of police business. They want me to appeal the decision. I'm not sure I have the energy to fight it. I need to focus on walking and getting back home to you. So, my life may not start and end with the SRU, but your life is definitely going to be all about the SRU from now on." Sam gave Jules a warm knowing smile.

"Spike and Ed told you, didn't they? I'm going to kill those two when I get my hands on them. I wanted to tell you myself. Greg asked me last week; the team is down two men. Sam nothing was definitely agreed. I don't have to go back if you don't want me to."

"Of course you have to go back. You love the team you always have. Spike told me the Sarge is going to let you have the weekends off to visit me so they must want you back pretty bad."

"And you are sure you really don't mind." Jules asked again. She needed to be sure Sam was truly happy with her returning to the team.

"I really, really don't mind. It will stop you from being bored all week until you see your fabulous husband." Sam joked.

"That is so true' Jules replied and she leaned into Sam and kissed him passionately.

Sam was right about one thing once Jules started back at the SRU, the weeks flew by. She barely had time to cook and clean and wondered how she had ever coped with it all before. Then she realized she had Sam. Once he learned how to cook he would nearly always make dinner. Jules sighed remembering how much she missed his pasta. It was like heavenly angels dancing on her tongue.

It wasn't just his cooking she missed. She missed everything about him. She missed his laughter when he was watching a ridiculous sitcom on TV. The way he would pull her in close to his body in bed and wrap his arms around her. She missed laying her head on his chest and listening to his heartbeat.

She had twelve hour shifts - six a.m. until six p.m. - all next week. There would be little time to miss Sam and as soon as Saturday morning arrived she would be on her way to see him.

She adjusted to life back on the team far more quickly than she thought she would. Her profiling skills still as sharp as they were before she left. And during one particular tough negotiation with a woman who wanted to throw herself from the fiftieth floor of a building in the centre of the city. Jules realized this was where she belonged. She had talked the woman down, just as she had done many times before, yet this time it felt different. This time Jules knew she was doing the job, not because she wanted to but because she needed to. It was the overwhelming desire to help the less fortunate that drove her. It would always be a part of her just as it was a part of them all. Jules felt exhilarated when she returned from the call. The pieces finally falling into place. She was home.

"Hey Spike want to come to over for dinner?" Jules asked her best friend as they entered the locker room.

'Can't tonight Jules - I have a date." Spike replied and Jules noticed a definite sparkle in his eyes she hadn't seen in a long time. Not since Natalie had walked out of his life.

"If I tell you, promise you'll not blab to the rest of the team."

"I would never blab!" Jules jokingly placed her hand to her heart.

Spike smiled before looking around the locker room making sure the coast was clear. "Winnie."

"Winnie?... As in despatcher Winne?"

Spike nodded enthusiastically. "No telling Jules, you promised."

"Of course not, but I want all the details first thing tomorrow morning." Jules replied smiling at her friend.

Ed had popped out from behind one of the lockers. "Winnie Camden eh. I mean Jules would that even be allowed?" Ed laughed as he mercilessly teased his Italian teammate.

"I'm not sure Ed, maybe we should discuss it with the Sarge." Jules joined in.

Spike rolled his eyes "Guys…"

"Too late, he already knows." Greg said as he walked in "I think I'm going to need a 'request to date' in writing, what do you think Wordy?"

"It definitely requires a written request." Wordy agreed.

All were laughing including Spike. "Can't a man have a little privacy?"

"Not if you're in Team One. We're family and families have the right to know everything, 'Greg said as he gave his technical officer a kindly slap on his back.

"Go, have fun. Tell us all about it tomorrow." Greg added.

When the joviality had died down and her teammates had left the locker room, Jules sat down on the bench. She had been away from the team for over six months and yet it felt as if she had never been away.

So, finally I posted it. Hope you liked it, sorry if you didn't.