A/N: Okay, set a month after you last saw our favourite troubled detectives. Nothing eventful to report, so I'll just skip a few weeks I think! Tension is still there, yet both are getting better at ignoring it, or so they like to think… Hope you enjoy it! This is the last chapter I'm afraid, but if you all ask very, very nicely, I might just feel inclined to write a sequel! Thanks for all the reviews, and I hope this ending is okay with you guys.

'Jo…' Sam walked into the lounge, her small suitcase hidden just behind the door. She'd been watching Jo for a little while, but hadn't had the heart to break the silence until now, the brunette jumping slightly as she realised Sam's presence behind her.

'Yeah?' Jo had previously been curled up in the armchair, watching an episode of neighbours, now slightly more alert, but settled back down almost instantly.

'I think I'm going to have to go back to Sun Hill.'

'Oh. Okay.'

'I'm sorry. I'll still work on finding your father, I'm just going to have to do it from London, I really can't afford to go any longer with no salary.'

'No, I understand. When are you going to go back?'

'Um, now.'

'Oh, you've been thinking about it for a while then?'

'Only a couple of days.' She answered, receiving a doubtful look from Jo, 'Or weeks.'

'You should have said something.'

'You needed to focus on finding your father, not worrying about me leaving.'

'Didn't work though, did it?'

'No, but, well, y'know, it might have.'

'Yeah. Maybe.'

'Maybe. I'm sorry.'

'It's fine. You need to go back to your life.'

'But not at the price of yours Jo. I'll still get you off, I promise.'

'Sam, I can't let you leave like this.'

'Don't Jo, don't ruin it.'

Jo sniffed, drawing back the tears fighting to escape. 'Okay. Okay, go then, just… just go.'

The blonde walked over to Jo; the brunette standing as Sam approached her. She swept her hand down Jo's face, allowing it to linger for a moment too long, Sam pulled Jo towards her, cupping the brunette's face in her hands before leaning in, their lips meeting gently for a moment, Jo wrapping her arms around Sam's waist 'Goodbye Jo.' Sam whispered as she pulled away, still allowing Jo to grip her hips.

'Bye Sam.'

'Sorry ladies, not interrupting anything am I?'

Sam and Jo both jumped, the brunette knowing instantly the voice from the hall.

'Dad.'

'Hi Joanne. Who's this?'

'Sam.'

'New girlfriend is she?'

'No, she's, she's just a friend.'

'Kiss all your friends like that do you?'

'It's, it's complicated. Bit like you.' She added, her heart doing somersaults as she came face to face with the man that faked his own death and then killed his wife.

'I'm not complicated Joanne. I just did what I had to.'

'Why? What did you do dad? Why did you have to?'

'You know what I did Joanne. You're mother's death wasn't an accident.'

'Why did you do it? Why are you so casual about it?' Jo asked, her grip tightening on Sam's waist.

'I did what I had to Joanne. I'm sorry I hurt you so much, but I didn't have a choice.' His voice was even, not a hint of emotion in his tone.

'What do you mean? What choice? There shouldn't have been one, she was your wife, she loved you.' Jo was struggling to comprehend how calm he was, how detached.

'There were things that went on behind closed doors Joanne, things you didn't see. You don't understand what happened.'

'Then tell me.'

'I can't do that Joanne. You'll go to the police and tell then everything, I can't risk that. No, I can't risk what you and your… friend will do to me.'

'What do you mean?' Jo questioned, breaking the embrace between herself and Sam, protectively stepping in front of her.

'You know what I mean Joanne. I've seen the two of you, you've gone to all my old places, one of you figured out what happened, which one?'

'I… Sam began, though found herself cut off by Jo.

'I did dad. I saw you in the photo. You were running away from the house, weren't you?'

'Yes.'

'What do you want with us dad? Just let us go. We won't tell anyone, you can trust me dad, I'm your daughter.'

'I wish I could Joanne, but I can't risk it. Even if I could trust you, how can I trust her?'

'You can dad, she won't say anything. I promise she won't'

'I can't take that risk Joanne, I'm sorry.'

'What are you going to do?'

'You know what I'm going to do Joanne. I'm sorry, I don't have a choice.' He said, reaching inside his jacket pocket, producing a knife in his right hand.

'Dad, no, you can't, I'm your daughter.'

'I'm sorry Joanne, it's a sacrifice I have to make.'

'You can't, you can't.'

'I have to. I tell you what, I'll let you choose, do you want to die first, or second?'

'What?'

'It's a simple enough question Joanne, do you want me to kill you first, or Sam?'

'I don't want you to kill either of us.'

'You don't have a choice in that Joanne.'

'Don't kill her, please, kill me if you want, but not Sam. Please dad.'

'I can't do that Joanne, you know I can't.'

'Please, don't take her chance at a life away.'

'I'm sorry Joanne. I don't have a choice.'

'Yes you do dad. You do have a choice, these are your actions, you don't have to hurt us.'

'But I do, I killed your mother, I can't have anyone finding out, Joanne.'

'I'm on a murder charge dad, did you know that?'

'Yes, I did.'

'You can't change what happened to mum. That's done, you can't take that back, but what you do now, you have a choice about. You don't have to do this.'

'But I do Joanne, what else can I do?'

'You could turn yourself in. Do what's right.'

'I didn't want to kill her you know.' A touch of emotion ventured into his voice, his vision flicking down temporarily.

'Then do what's right by her now. Turn yourself in, let mum rest.'

'I can't go to prison Joanne.'

'Someone will dad, someone innocent if you don't. That could be anyone. What about Connor, dad?' Jo asked, a tear trickling down her face at the memories she's thought she'd lain to rest.

'What about him Joanne? What does this have to do with him?'

'He died fighting for a better world dad. To save the lives of others. If you do this, then his sacrifice meant nothing. If you kill again, then what was the point in him dying dad? Connor would have died in vein, don't let that happen. He was brave, so, so brave, don't take that away from him.' Jo tried her hardest to manipulate her father, knowing how much he'd cared for his son, always more than he had for Jo, she knew that.

'Why are you using him Joanne? Why are you using his memory to punish me?'

'I'm not using him dad, I'm not trying to punish you, he deserves a father that admits it if he's done something wrong. He died to save us dad, can't you see that, and if you don't hand yourself in, then what was the point of his life, his death?'

'Joanne, how can you use him like this?'

'I'm not using him dad, I'm showing you what you need to see.'

'He didn't die in vein Joanne, no matter what you say, he didn't.' his voice was almost a whisper, as if he was talking to himself.

'Not yet he didn't, don't make it that he did.'

His grip loosened on the knife, a loud thump signalling its fall to the floor. Sam was quick off the mark, diving for the knife before he had a chance to. Jo reacted promptly to Sam's movement, leaping forward and pinning him to the ground, Sam helping her once she'd got the knife safely out the way.

'Thanks.'

'What for?'

'Never stopping believing in me. If it wasn't for you… I might not be standing here right now.'

'Don't talk like that Jo.'

'But it's true. If you'd gone back earlier, then he would have come and killed me. And now, not only do I have my life, but also I'm not going to prison. That's all down to you Sam. I owe you my life.'

'I promised you a long time ago that I would get you off that charge Jo, and I'm not one for breaking promises.'

'You also promised you'd be waiting for me when I was cleared.'

'Jo, don't, please.'

'I can't let you go without telling you the truth Sam. I didn't mean it when I said I don't love you, because I do, more than anything.'

Sam froze, a tear creeping into her eye at the revelation. 'Then why did you?'

'I wanted to make it easier for you. Don't ask me why because my heart was breaking at the time, but I just did.'

'You did that, for me?'

'Yeah.'

'Thanks.' She managed, a tear trickling down her cheek.

'Stay?'

'What?'

'Stay here, with me. Get a job here. Please Sam, I don't want to lose you.' Jo pleaded, a tear running down her own cheek.

'I can't Jo, I'm sorry.'

'Then let me come with you back to London.'

'I'm sorry Jo…'

'Please. Please Sam.'

'I'm sorry Jo, I just can't. I'm sorry.' She stammered, eyes flooded.

'Please.' Jo begged, tears flowing from her eyes just as much as they were Sam's.

'I can't, I'm sorry, I wish I could, but I just can't.'

Jo bit her lip, she reached out to Sam, running her hand through her hair and down her cheek before leaning forward, kissing Sam gently on the lips before pulling back. 'Goodbye Sam. I love you.'

'Goodbye Jo. I'm gonna miss you.'

'Then don't…'

'I have to Jo. You know I have to.'

Jo nodded, forcing a smile as the train arrived. Sam gave a small smile in return, climbing on the train with her suitcase, a tear trickling down her face as she looked into Jo's eyes for the last time. Jo allowed one last tear to escape her eyes as the train pulled out the station, leaving Jo on an empty platform, wondering where she went wrong.