A/N - Thanks to everyone who reviewed and read. Thanks for all the encouragement. Special thanks to my fab Beta (you know who you are)! Apologies for the wait...now let's wrap this one up!

Chapter 10

The passengers in the helicopter could only watch in horror as events unfolded ahead of them. Jack could hardly breathe as he watched the car snake out of control along the road before skidding down the embankment and ultimately flipping. It ended up upside down on the stony beach. He just stared incomprehensibly at the scene. The rest of the world seemed to evaporate. White noise engulfed him. He didn't hear the pilot as he radioed for the emergency services to attend the scene. Neither did he hear Vivian give the pilot an order to land the helicopter as close as they could to the accident site. He couldn't take his eyes off of the wreck as the chopper descended. Its wheels continued to spin as steam rose from the crushed hood. Jack willed for Samantha to get out of the wreck, but there was no movement as far as he could see.

A couple of miles back, Martin Fitzgerald heard the emergency call over the radio. He felt sick. He told the sheriff's deputy to put his foot down. The pair sped towards the scene, Martin afraid of what he'd find.

The helicopter touched down a hundred metres or so further up the pebble beach. Jack couldn't take his eyes off the car wreck. Vivian was out of the chopper and on her way to the wreck before she turned back, surprised that Jack wasn't following her. Jack looked like he was in shock. Vivian ran back, opened the door beside him and yelled at him while she pulled off his headset.

"Jack! Jack! Come on!" she yelled, instantly snapping him out of it.

He climbed out of the helicopter and followed as Vivian ran towards the overturned vehicle. She ran around to the driver's door and balked momentarily as the blood-covered hand of her colleague protruded from the smashed window. She knelt down and placed her fingers on Samantha's neck to check for a pulse. Simultaneously, Jack bent down onto his knees and looked into the back of the car. Donovan was lying on the crumpled roof, his body twisted in an unnatural position, eyes staring blankly, obviously deceased. But Jack didn't really care. He couldn't take his eyes off Finn. He too was lying on the glass-strewn roof, eyes closed, his father's limp hand cradling him. There wasn't a mark on him, but Jack could tell that he too was gone. He glanced at Vivian who, with tears in her eyes, somberly shook her head.

"No!"

In that instant, Jack's world disintegrated.

The first thing Jack heard was voices, whispering around him as he groggily opened his eyes. It felt like a herd of elephants were tap dancing in his brain. An excited voice could be heard above the pounding, announcing his attempt to open his eyes.

"He's waking up!"

It was Hanna, his Hanna. He was confused. What was she doing here?

She leaned in close and smiled broadly, taking his hand in hers. Eventually his eyes adjusted to the light. The white ceiling, bland walls, sterile smell and starched linen helped him reach the conclusion that he was in hospital.

Not again!

"Its okay, Daddy," Hanna said, her voice offering the reassurance he sought. "You're going to be okay."

"What…?" Jack tried to ask a question but wasn't exactly sure what question to ask.

"You're in the hospital, Jack," another sultry voice told him.

Pure confusion descended upon him at that point. He recognised the voice and couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the person to whom it belonged. It couldn't be. His heart rate increased noticeably on the cardiac monitor to which he was attached. His breathing altered accordingly.

"Sam?" Jack said, unsure of what was going on. "I thought you were….."

"Sssshh," she said, leaning towards him and brushing a lock of hair affectionately from his forehead. "Welcome back. You had us worried there for a while."

"I don't understand," Jack told her, his voice shaking.

"Brian attacked you, Jack," Sam told him. "You've been unconscious for the last two days," she explained, gently stroking his hair.

"I have?"

"I'm so sorry, Jack. This is all my fault," Sam said, with regret.

Jack was still trying to make sense of it all. The accident, the blood, those vacant eyes; it was all too real. His confusion and distress was evident to all in the room. The nurse whispered to Hanna that it was to be expected and that she shouldn't worry too much at this stage.

"And Finn?" Jack asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"He's fine. Vivian is looking after him for a couple of hours," Sam told him with a wide smile.

"He's okay?"

"He's fine, Jack," Sam reiterated. "Brian was predictable and took him to his apartment. It took a few hours but eventually I convinced him to get the help he needed. He's in Bellevue receiving treatment as we speak."

"He's okay," Jack sighed, tears forming in his eyes. His relief was almost palpable.

Hanna and Sam saw the tears and weren't exactly sure the reason for such raw emotions. They didn't ask.

"And you're okay," he said softly.

"Me? I am now," Samantha replied, her concern peaking.

Jack summoned a smile, which offered her and Hanna some reassurance. It had been an anxious few days. He had given them a scare or two since he had been admitted, but he was back and appeared none the worst for his close call.

"I'd better call Kate," Hanna said, referring to her younger sibling. "She's been so worried about you."

"Tell her I'm fine," Jack said, giving his daughter's hand a gentle squeeze before she pulled it away and left the room.

Once she was gone, Jack looked up at the beautiful blonde who then sat on the edge of his bed.

"I'm so sorry, Sam," he said, his eyes pleading for her forgiveness. "I should have never let him in."

"Don't blame yourself, Jack," Sam replied chastising him. "You weren't to know. I knew for some time that Brian was suffering and I shouldn't have ignored it. I tried to distance myself, you know, pretend it wasn't happening. I was wrong. He's getting the help he needs now, which is what I should have insisted on in the first place."

"You're amazing," Jack declared out of the blue.

"Sorry?"

"It's true. You're the most amazing, strong, beautiful woman I've ever known," he said, pouring his heart out. "You deserve to be happy, Sam. I want to make you happy."

"Jack, that bump on the head must have done more damage than they first thought," Sam said, trying not to take his words too seriously. He wasn't usually the sort to wear his heart on his sleeve. After all, he was only after emerging from a coma. He probably wouldn't remember anything about this conversation in the morning.

"I'm serious, Sam. I don't want to rush into anything, but I want to be there for you and Finn, not just be the babysitter!" he told her.

"You were never just the babysitter," Sam told him. "You're much more, so much more."

"Move in with me," Jack suggested, much to her surprise.

"H'uh?"

"Move in with me."

"I don't know, Jack. There's Finn…and Hanna to think about," Sam said rationally.

"Finn, Hanna, Brian, Maria, one excuse after another," Jack pointed out. "Why not just put you and me out there for a change? We've never been given a chance. I think we deserve one, don't you?"

Sam felt tears well in her eyes. She wasn't sure why. She nodded in agreement. She knew she wanted the same as he wanted. It just frightened her. Declaring their relationship to everyone, making it official scared her. She wondered how it would be greeted in work, how their friends and family would react. Then she realised that she was doing it again: putting other people's opinions ahead of their happiness. Jack was right. They had wasted years tip-toeing around. In that time, she had almost lost him….twice.

He was everything she wanted in a life partner. He was kind, reliable, a good father, a great lover. He ticked all the boxes. Finn loved him and he loved Finn. Timing had always been their problem. Maybe now the time was right?

"Let me think about it," Sam eventually said. "Talk to Hanna. I don't want to make any decision until I know it's what everyone wants."

"Really?" Jack said, taking her maybe to mean yes.

"Okay," she replied, leaning over and placing a sensual kiss on his parched lips.

The rhythm of the heart monitor quickened once more as Jack's body responded to her touch. Sam pulled away slightly, smiling at the obvious physical response. Jack too smiled, shrugging as if to say "can you blame me?"

The dancing herd of elephants disappeared. Things were looking up at last.

The End

A/N - hope you like the Dallas-esque ending. I'm also working on an alternative ending. Haven't decided yet whether its worth posting or not. Give me a few days to decide.