A/N: I am sorry that it took so long to get this chapter up. I'm just ready to finish this story. Again, thanks to everyone who has stayed with story since the beginning. The song lyrics are Wherever You Will Go by The Calling. So, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter Twenty

There was a line of reporters outside the courthouse when Jake was ushered from the squad car to the building. Apparently word had gotten out about Caleb, the kidnapping, and the heroic ending. Cameras were thrust in his face and questions were yelled at him, but Jake kept his head down and followed the guard in front of him. There was another guard nudging him from behind. With his hands handcuffed behind his back, Jake was embarrassed. Who knew how many people were going to be watching this.

Once inside, the guards brought Jake to a holding room. No one said a word as they took a seat. After a few minutes, the two guards started conversing together quietly, throwing glances at Jake every so often. Fifteen minutes later, the guards stood up and pulled Jake to his feet. When they shuffled into the hallway, Jake stopped in his tracks at the sight that was in front of him.

So lately, been wondering

Who will be there to take my place?

When I'm gone, you'll need love

To light the shadows on your face

Sam stood with her family, wearing a light blue sundress. She had always been pretty, but in that moment, Jake realized how beautiful she was. With her auburn hair falling over her tan shoulders or the way her lips lifted in a smile when she saw him. She stared at him with a mixture of stubbornness and determination. It was one of the things that he loved about her. Suddenly, Jake didn't want to be away from her for even a minute. Just the thought of going to prison for the rest of his life and never seeing Sam again, sickened him. Jake was glad she was here, fighting for them.

If a great wave shall fall

Yeah, fall upon us all

And between the sand and stone

Could you make it on your own?

Jake wanted to say something to her, but the guards started pushing him down the hall. Before he got too far, Jake turned his head and mouthed a thank you. A look of shock came over Sam's features, she probably couldn't believe he had just thanked her for something. One of the guards gave him another shove and Jake stumbled forward.

Inside the courtroom was empty, except for the district attorney, who was sitting at the prosecutor's table. The guards led Jake down the aisle to the defense table. They uncuffed him and Jake sat down in one of the chairs. The guards walked to the back of the courtroom.

"Sorry I'm late!" came Carmen Johannes' voice as she breezed through the courtroom. She slid into the chair next to Jake. "Traffic was a nightmare."

Jake nodded absentmindedly. He could hear people shuffling in and sit down somewhere behind him. He knew Sam was one of them, but he couldn't bring himself to turn and look for some reason. Then he heard someone whispering his name, trying to get his attention. He knew it was his brothers, so he ignored them the best he could. But they weren't taking the hint, so Jake gave in and turned around.

Quinn and Nate had sat down next to Sam and Quinn was whispering something to her. Sam smothered a laugh with her hand and caught Jake's gaze. Quinn grinned at him and gave him a thumbs up. Nate leaned forward.

"Don't worry, 'lil bro," Nate whispered to him. "If the verdict doesn't go our way, we have your big escape all planned out. The getaway car is parked out back."

"Nathan Ely!" Maxine reprimanded her son with a smack to the back of his head. He ducked and when Quinn burst out laughing, Maxine hit him too. Jake shook his head at his brothers' antics and turned back around, but they had lifted his spirits some.

"All rise for the Honorable Judge Brookes!"

Jake stood, beside Carmen, his heart started to beat fast. This was it. He was either going to walk out of here a free man or in handcuffs. Jake couldn't help himself; he turned around and looked at Sam. She half-smiled at him and Jake admitted to himself that he was scared. He didn't want to leave her.

If I could, then I would

I'll go wherever you will go

Way up high or down low

I'll go wherever you will go

Jake turned around just as the judge was asking him, "How do you plead?"

He licked his lips and answered, "Not guilty, your honor."

/X/

"I call Samantha Forster to the stand," Carmen Johannes said. Jake tried to catch Sam's eye as she walked to the witness stand, but she kept her gaze fixed forward, not looking at anyone. After she had sworn the oath, Sam sat down and Carmen approached her.

"Samantha, the deceased had kidnapped you on the day of May Eighteenth," Carmen began. "Two days before that he had kidnapped your little brother, correct?"

"Yes," Sam leaned forward and spoke into the microphone. She winced when her voice came out scratchy.

"Where was Mr. Sawyer keeping you when Mr. Ely found you?" Carmen went on to ask.

"There were tunnels underneath the house in Dalton," Sam answered more confidently. "He kept me in a small cell and only let me out to do experiments, as he called them, where I was tied to a chair."

"After a shootout and a false exchange, you ended up at an abandoned Reno hotel, correct?" When Sam nodded, Carmen continued. "What happened in that hotel room, Sam?"

Jake swallowed and closed his eyes. Sam shouldn't be up there and she shouldn't have to tell a room full of strangers what Caleb did to her. He opened his eyes when he heard Sam start talking. She wasn't looking at the lawyer, instead she was staring straight at Jake.

And maybe, I'll find out

A way to make it back someday

To watch you, to guide you

Through the darkest of your days

"I was tied to the bed, when Caleb brought Jake in," Sam started, her brown eyes locked on Jake's. He wanted to look away, but she seemed to be begging him not to, so he didn't. "He tied Jake to a chair and then he came over to me. He kept talking about revenge and how I deserved everything that was coming to me. He came closer and, at first, it was just his hands...his hands sliding over my body." Sam took a shuddering breath and glanced down for a moment. When she looked back up, Sam had tears in her eyes. Jake instantly wanted to jump up, take her into his arms, and carry her from the room. But he couldn't. "Caleb raped me." Sam choked on a sob.

Carmen handed her a tissue, giving her a minute to collect herself. Then, she asked, "What happened next, Sam?"

Sam dabbed her eyes with the tissue. "I lost track of time after that. I remember hearing Caleb's voice, what sounded like a fight, and then a gunshot. When I looked, Jake was bleeding from a bullet wound in his leg and Caleb was dead. Jake saved my life."

Carmen looked at the judge. "No further questions, your honor," she said and sat back down in her seat next to Jake.

Judge Brookes looked over at the district attorney. "Would you like to cross-examine the witness?" he asked.

"Yes, your honor," D.A. Lawson stood up a little to eagerly. He walked over to Sam. "I'll make this quick. Samantha, after the rape to the gunshot you heard, what did you see?"

"I—I don't-" Sam stammered.

"I'll rephrase the question," D.A. Lawson said, seeing her hesitation. "Did you actually see this alleged fight between Mr. Ely and the deceased, before the gunshot that claimed Mr. Sawyer's life?"

"No, but..." Sam started to answer.

"So, you didn't see this 'fight'?" D.A. Lawson questioned her. "For all you know, Mr. Ely could have attacked Caleb Sawyer with the intent to kill?"

Sam shook her head furiously, tears filling her eyes again. "No, he wouldn't. Jake was just trying to protect me, like he always does. He didn't mean to kill anyone!"

"The paramedics who arrived at the scene described you as hysterical and inconsolable. They had to gave you a sedative just to get you to the ambulance, is this correct?" he went on like Sam hadn't spoken. When she nodded, the D.A continued. "So, how can you be sure that what you saw or heard was real or not?"

If a great wave shall fall

Yeah, fall upon us all

Well, then I hope there's someone out there

Who can bring me back to you

Jake nudged Carmen, wanting her to stop this man from hurting Sam. He could see that she was struggling to stay calm, but she had tears running down her face and she kept wringing the tissue between her hands. Carmen was already on her feet before Jake had even touched her.

"Objection, your honor, he's badgering the witness," Carmen interrupted.

"Overruled," the judge said. "Continue, prosecutor."

"Thank you, your honor," D.A. Lawson replied. He turned back to Sam. "Miss Forster, did you or did you not see the altercation between the deceased and Jacob Ely?"

Sam shook her head and lowered her eyes. "No, I did not." she whispered.

"So, how do you know the act Mr. Ely committed was in self-defense?" the prosecutor asked her. Sam couldn't answer. He turned to the jury. "I would like it on the record that Miss Forster was not in the right state of mind at the time of the murder and her testimony should be taken with a grain of salt."

"No!" Sam shouted. She couldn't let it end this way. Jake was counting on her.

"No further questions, your honor," D.A. Lawson said, walking back to his seat.

"No, please, you have to listen to me!" Sam pleaded, hoping someone would listen to her. "Jake isn't some psycho killer, he was only trying to protect me-"

"You may step down, Samantha," Judge Brookes told her.

If I could, then I would

I'll go wherever you will go

Way up high or down low

I'll go wherever you will go

Sam looked up at him and then to Jake. She didn't want to make a spectacle of herself, but she also couldn't let them think Jake was a murderer. In the end, Sam stood up and came down off the witness stand., dabbing at her eyes with the tissue. As she walked past the defense table, Sam kept her gaze away from Jake She could feel his eyes on her though. Sam couldn't look at him, knowing she'd failed him. Breaking into a run, Sam fled the courtroom.

Runaway with my heart

Runaway with my hope

Runaway with my love

/X/

Sam sat outside on the steps of the courthouse. She had stopped crying about ten minutes ago, and now she just felt raw, worn out, and empty. Both her mother and Brynna had been out to check on her, but she had just wanted to be alone. Every so often, a person would walk past her, either coming out or going into the courthouse, and stare at her. Sam hid her face behind her hair, but she could still feel their stares on her as they walked by.

The courthouse door opened once again, and Sam huddled deeper into herself. She waited to hear footsteps coming down the steps, but they didn't come. They were still there, Sam could feel their eyes on her. She wanted to turn around and tell whoever it was to go away, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Then, they spoke and Sam sucked in a breath. It was just one word, but it sent tingles up her spine.

"Sam,"

I know now, just quite how

My life and love might still go on

Sam turned around and almost didn't believe her eyes. Jake was standing at the top of the steps, watching her. His pressed white shirt was untucked and his hands were in the pockets of his trousers. She stood up slowly.

"Jake?"

In your heart, in your mind

I'll stay with you for all of time

When he gave her his lazy tom-cat smile, Sam flew to him. She wrapped her arms around him and, surprisingly, he did the same. They held each other for a moment, breathing in each other's scent. After a bit, Sam pulled back a little, but still within the circle of Jake's arms.

"Is this really happening?" Sam asked. "You're not going to jail?"

"Aside from probation and eight-hundred hours of community service, I'm a free man," Jake told her.

Sam smiled and before she knew what she was doing, she was kissing him. Jake kissed her back and pulled her to him. She had expected her body to tense up or freeze after the rape, but it was just the opposite. She responded to Jake, pressing herself to him. Sam wasn't completely better, but she was getting there. And now that Jake wasn't going away, they could both move on together.

A/N: Two more chapters! Please Review!