This is the final chapter. Thank you so much to my wonderful readers for helping me along - you have all been amazing!

I woke to Jamie crouched near my head, pressing my hand to wake me as I lay trapped beneath Dougal's heavy arm and half crushed under his body. I let out a little cry of relief.

"Whisht my love," he said softly, "I need you to hold his arm for me, and don't look."

"Ok." I whispered nervously.

I heard Jamie swiftly wrench back Dougal's head and slice his dirk hard across his neck, slitting all the arteries open. Dougal let out a ghastly gurgle and hot blood poured out over my back. I was shocked and gasped for breath. Jamie cupped his hand over my mouth and swiftly lifted me from the ground, leading me into the woods. The man on watch stirred and we stood silent until all was quiet again.

"Follow me Sassenach, quiet as you can."

We picked our way stealthily between the trees, stopping sporadically to check that we weren't being followed. I felt disembodied and mechanical, as though my legs were moving without my control. I could feel Dougal's blood congealing on the back of my neck and I felt cold and sick. I had been covered in blood many times during the war but this was different. I felt the shock came not only from Dougal's death but also from the day before where I had been Dougal's toy and I had felt so powerless and afraid and violated. To have so many fears come to such a violent end had shaken me incredibly.

Eventually we came to a clearing where two horses were tethered, saddled and ready to ride.

"I stole these earlier," Jamie said in a low voice, "it was damn tricky."

"Mmmhhh," I muttered, still in shock.

Jamie looked at me with concern and helped me on to the horse, aware that I wasn't as functional as usual. I slumped forward in my saddle as Jamie swung himself onto his mount.

"Sassenach, we have to go." He said, "will ye be alright to ride alone?"

"Oh yes," I replied, trying to rouse myself, "yes, I'm sure I will be fine."

Jamie took another look at me and must have seen that my answer wasn't entirely honest. He quickly dismounted and attached a lead rope to the bridle of his horse before leaping on behind me. He wrapped his plaid around me and took the reins from my cold fingers. I was reminded of the first time we had met and how we had rode just like this. The warmth of his broad chest and the comfort of his familiar, trusted smell soothed me immeasurably.

"I'm sorry for what I have just put ye through my love." He said gently.

"Please Jamie, don't apologise for rescuing me! I just... I thought you cared for Dougal."

"Aye," he replied sadly, "I did care for him but he lost my allegiance when he treated ye as he did. I would have rather not killed him but I dinna think I had much choice, I couldn't risk him making any noise or we would have been caught for sure."

"Yes of course," I replied wretchedly, "I'm so sorry Jamie."

"Nay lass, dinna be sorry." He kissed my head earnestly, "I would kill a thousand Dougal's for ye."

As the sun began to rise Jamie roused me from my sleep and helped me down from the horse.

"Where are we?" I rubbed my eyes groggily. It was quite an idyllic spot with a clear stream and lush greenery surrounded by a rocky outcrop.

"The middle of nowhere Sassenach!" He replied smilingly. "I figured this was a good place to rest and we can continue north when the sun goes down."

"North?" I asked, "shouldn't we head for the coast?"

"Aye, I was thinking that to begin wi'," he replied thoughtfully, "but I'm sure that is what they will be expecting us to do. We could make our way very fast but even if we do get there first we mightn't get a boat in time."

"I see, that makes perfect sense," I said, stretching up to kiss him, "so where will we go to in the north?"

"I dinna ken that yet," Jamie laughed, kissing me and stroking my tumultuous hair, "but we will find somewhere to hide away for a few months until it is safe enough to make our way to France."

We tethered the horses and busied ourselves making a little fire near a rocky overhang that would provide some shelter for us as we rested. Jamie unpacked the few supplies he had shifted from the cart when stealing the horses. He had managed to get a spare plaid, a cooking pot and some oats, whiskey and few bannocks. We shared a loaf before gingerly stripping off in the chilly morning to wash the blood and dirt off our bodies and clothes in the stream. It was freezing but splashing myself from the bank with the icy water made me feel cleansed and purified. Dripping wet and shivering we hung up our clothes and wrapped ourselves in the plaids, curling together by the fireside until our combined body heat warmed us into sleep.

We woke in the early afternoon with insipid sunlight streaming down on us through the trees. Jamie held me close and kissed me warmly on my cheek and neck. His hand moved slowly downward, gently kneading my breast before sliding across the smooth surface of my stomach toward the warm cleft between my legs. My breath caught as I shivered into the sensation of being touched. Our last encounter has been so fervent and intense that there had been no time for such touching. I turned to kiss him passionately as his free arm closed around my chest, holding me close as I moaned with pleasure. I instinctively opened my legs so his fingers could circle expertly, lubricating me with my own wetness until I caved shudderingly into a blissful climax, my legs shaking against his hand. Panting and clinging to the plaid, I pushed him to his back and climbed astride him, desperate to feel his firm shaft deep within me.

"Trust me," I whispered as I rode him, "when we are somewhere warm with an actual bed, I am going to do all sorts of things to you."

"Likewise Sassenach." Jamie replied, his eyes burning with desire. He flipped me on to my back, lifted one of my legs into the crook of his arm and drove himself into me, grinding firmly and rhythmically. We kissed with the passion and abandon of teenagers, lost in the almighty ecstasy that consumed us.

When we had finished we lay clinging to each other, face to face with my leg wrapped around his thigh.

"Thank God." He murmured, brushing my hair tenderly from my forehead.

"What for?" I asked coyly.

"Thank God that ye are mine!" He laughed, "and thank God we are free and can do this every day."

I kissed him heartily, "amen to that."