Disclaimer: CSI: NY and all the characters from the show are owned by CBS, Paramount, Jerry Bruckheimer, Anthony Zuiker, and other people who are much more creative and wealthier than me. Any other characters are my own and resemblance to any other person is a pure coincidence. Well mostly. Probably. No wait, mostly.

Here it is folks. The last Chapter. I have to say that this is very bittersweet for me. But, all good things must come to an end. Here is Chapter 37. Enjoy.

Chapter 37: Endgames

The next few hours before I brief the High Command pass as a kind of wonderful blur. The British soldiers we link up with radio ahead of time to headquarters. A whole group of both soldiers and other staff are there to greet us and they cheer our group like we had won the War ourselves. It fully hits everyone that we've really truly made it.

Both Hayes and I are taken to the medical barracks. They change my dressings but otherwise clear me. The Staff Sergeant has to stay longer, and I have to laugh at the sore look he gets when they tell him that. In the meantime, the rest of the team debriefs to some of the other officers before I have to give the big briefing to the General himself.

A Captain Wilder, the General's aide de camp comes to see me and provides me with a very welcome present; a new uniform. He tells me to shower and get ready for my meeting with his superior. Both the shower and the uniform are a refreshing change of pace. Just as I finish put my rank insignia's on my uniform, Wilder comes in.

"Major Taylor, the General will see you now."

"Thank you Captain, lead the way."

He takes me into Messina where the General's office and living quarters are. The General is in a rather lavish headquarters. I'm not surprised. He does have a flair for the dramatic.

"This way Major." Wilder leads me into the General's office. The General himself is looking out his window.

"Major Taylor here to see you Sir" Wilder calls out to his superior before leaving. I salute the General as he turns around. He is in his dress uniform with three stars on his helmet and a variety of medals on his chest. His face is very familiar to soldiers and civilians as well. He's always in the press about something.

"General Patton Sir."

He returns the salute. "Major Taylor at ease." He comes closer to me. "Now I have to say Major, you've certainly caused a stir here. Escaping from a POW camp, evading the Krauts for days and then getting to this island. That's a damn fine job soldier."

"Thank you Sir."

"I'm not done yet Taylor. First off, the rank of Major is far too low for someone who has caused the enemy that much of a headache. As of now, you're Colonel Taylor."

"Thank you Sir." I say with surprise.

"Still not finished Colonel. My subordinates have been talking with your men and they've told me all about how you acted in that Kraut camp. I'm damn impressed Colonel. You've done a hell of a lot more to harass the enemy than most of my men. In addition to your new rank you will be receiving three Purple Hearts and the Silver Star. I will also put in an application for you to receive the Distinguished Service Cross."

"Yes Sir. Thank you. Permission to speak freely Sir?"

"Granted."

"What about my men Sir?"

"Patience Colonel. As for your men, they will be given appropriate promotions and all of them will be awarded the Bronze Star. As for those women, that Italian, Ms. Bonasera, will receive the Legion of Merit and I will ensure that Ms. Angell and Ms. Monroe are also properly decorated."

"Thank You Sir."

"I have to admit Colonel, after your unit was ambushed; we had you counted as one of the casualties. It was only when we heard from our friends at the OSS about your escape plan that we realized you were alive. You sure have been given those Hun bastards hell and I respect that Colonel."

"Yes Sir. Sir, is there going to be any inquiry as to what happened to my unit?"

General Patton gives me an odd look. "Colonel, war is hell. The men in your unit died as heroes fighting the Krauts. I will personally make sure that no paper-pushing idiot tries to give you any trouble about what happened."

"Thank you Sir."

"I've been thinking about what the hell to do with you Colonel as well as your men and I've made my decision. You and your men will constitute the core group of soldiers that will train the rest of my units in dealing not only with escaping POW camps, but also evading the enemy behind their lines."

"Excuse me Sir, but does that mean that my men and I will be staying together?"

"Absolutely Colonel. You are far too effective a group to split up. If they want to, those women can stay with you too."

"Yes Sir, thank you Sir." I can't hide a smile. I really didn't believe that we would be staying together. This is a better outcome than I could have imagined. Not only is our group not being split up, but we can draw on what happened to us to help other soldiers avoid a similar fate.

"Keep fighting the Krauts in your own way Colonel. You are dismissed."

I give him a salute. "Yes Sir."

He returns the salute. "Give them Hell Colonel. Give them Hell."

For the rest of the War, my men and I follow the job given to us by General Patton. We stay in Sicily and help train Allied forces. Eventually, we are transferred to England to help with training for the Norman invasion. All the while, we are kept off the front-lines. As General Patton told me once "you all cause the Krauts more Hell back here than out there."

Our friendship as a group deepens as we spend the last three years of the War together, but sadly, eventually we have to go our separate ways as the Second World War comes to an end.

Danny Messer and Lindsay Monroe got married immediately after the War ended. Lindsay persuaded Danny to move out to Montana where the two would own and work on their own ranch. Before too long, they would have a daughter named Lucy.

Don Flack and Jess Angell also married and lived in New York. Jess became a popular local singer and Don would become a member of the New York Police Department.

Doctor Sid Hammerback returned to Boston and reunited with his wife. He would be one of the city's renowned surgeons before retiring to become a prominent local chef.

Doctor Sheldon Hawkes opened a practice in Detroit where he became not only one of the city's leading doctors, but also a leading community activist. He would later meet and march with Dr. Martin Luther King while working to desegregate Detroit.

Adam Ross went back to Scranton and married Kendal Novak. He worked as a mechanic at the local car shop for many years. Later in life, he would become fascinated by a small upstart company called IBM where he would work as well.

Tom Hayes returned to DeFuniak Springs where he became involved in politics. Elected to the Florida Legislature, he became one of that body's most forceful advocates for African-American civil rights. He would become an honorary member of the Florida NAACP.

Albrecht von Touffel was captured by the Allies and put on trial for the atrocities committed in Camp Percival. General Patton informs me that I have been called as the "star witness" for both the defense and the prosecution. I'm taken to the scene of the trial; Nuremburg. I testify to everything that happened to me and my men in the camp, including the executions of Weems, Grant, Smith and Davis and my solitary confinement for seven days with no food. Albrecht von Touffel, Commandant of Camp Percival, was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Stella Bonasera immigrates to the United States shortly after the end of the War. Before she leaves, she heads back to Umberetto, to help commemorate a plaque in honor of Sal, one young man who was a tragic casualty of War.

As for me, before I head back to Chicago, I make a detour to Baltimore. In that city, I find the parents of Sam Wesley. Throughout the entire War, I kept that letter he gave me with his dying grasp. I finally keep my promise and the letter is back with his parents.

One day, I'm sitting outside my usual deli in Chicago, enjoying a sandwich at lunch mere days before I formally resign my commission from the Army. I still am not completely sure as to what I'm going to do after my military days are over but I know it's time to move on.

"What to do now?" I wonder out loud to myself.

"I think I have an idea." A voice says behind me. I turn around and to my complete surprise, Stella is standing here, in Chicago, looking at me with a smile. I quickly scramble to my feet and give her a hug.

"What are you doing here?" I ask her.

"I'm an American now Mac. I'm looking to find a place to live in this big country of ours."

"How did you find me?"

"It wasn't too hard." She smiles mysteriously. "Mac, can you believe it? All of us survived a whole World War."

"Not all of us." I mutter, thinking of the woman I lost.

"Mac, she's still with you. You know that right?"

I let out a sigh. "You're right Stella. Thank you, for everything, especially being my friend."

She keeps that smile on her face. "You're welcome. Now, why don't you show me around this city of yours?"

"Now? But, what about…" She leans in and kisses me.

"Mac, we have time."

Yes, we have all the time in the world.

I really can't believe it, but that's it. Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with this story. I really never thought it would turn into such a long, in-depth story but it did. A very, very special thanks to everyone who reviewed my story: rocksmacked, afrozenheart412, .x, Storywriter, Ditte3, DreamerChild88, sucker-4-SMacked, Fourteen Lights, StellaBonaseraTaylor, kdzl, BlueEyedAuthor, olehobome, Yoto-Ziva-Blye, jaamiee, Lenni George, nwegh, Divinia Serit, saturn567, Electrical storm 1996, Wildweasel, ncisaholic, Catulicious, lily moonlight, HuddyAddict87, Aranna Undomiel, Kat's in the cradle, CSI4lyfNCIS13, and moska. You all are the best.

If you have any final thoughts overall or general reviews of pretty much anything, please don't hesitate to communicate with me. I've got a couple new stories that I'll get started on soon. Thanks again.

Mr. GOP88 aka

J.